Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

In a season that was anything but ordinary many area baseball players turned in extraordinary performances.

The Your Prep Sports baseball team recognizes those players for their efforts on the diamond during a season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Your Prep Sports baseball team is selected annually as a way to honor some of the top players in the area for their accomplishments.

This year’s 16-member team features state tournament qualifiers, college prospects and all-state and all-conference selections.

The fourth edition of the Your Prep Sports squad features a trio of repeat selections in Liberty High senior Nolan Frey, West High junior Marcus Morgan and Regina junior Chase Becker.

City High sophomore shortstop Gable Mitchell is the captain of the 2020 team after hitting a team-high .433 and leading the Little Hawks to the state tournament for the first time since 2003.

Mitchell led City High with 17 RBI and 11 stolen bases on his way to being a unanimous all-MVC divisional selection.

2020 Your Prep Sports Baseball Team

P – Cade Obermueller, Soph., City High: In his first full-time varsity season Obermueller emerged as the ace of the City High pitching staff posting a 2-2 record and 2.96 ERA in 23 2/3 innings. The sophomore left-hander allowed just 11 hits and struck out 26 while walking 16.

P – Marcus Morgan, Jr., West High: Widely considered one of the most dominant pitchers in the state, Morgan went 1-2 with a 3.18 ERA in 22 innings as a junior allowing 15 hits while striking out 34. Morgan also hit .294 with a home run and eight RBI and led West High with 20 runs scored.

P – Ethan O’Donnell, Jr., Liberty High: O’Donnell was stellar as both a starter and out of the bullpen, going 2-0 with a save while posting a 2.06 ERA with 16 strikeouts in a team-high 17 innings. The right-hander allowed just 16 hits and four walks.

P – Chase Becker, Jr., Regina: A Minnesota recruit, Becker backed up a strong debut season at Regina with a stellar junior campaign that established him as one of the best all-around players in Class 2A. Becker went 2-0 with a 1.37 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 15 1/3 innings and also hit .385 with five extra-base hits including two home runs and drove in 13 runs.

C – Grant Jensen, Sr., Clear Creek Amana: A career year from Jensen was key factor in Clear Creek Amana making its first ever state tournament appearance. Jensen hit a career-best .473 and led the Clippers with nine extra-base hits while ranking second on the team in both runs (27) and RBI (20) on his way to being a unanimous first-team all-WAMAC West Division pick.

C – Peter Espensen, Sr., West Branch: Espensen matched his production from a breakthrough junior season in his final prep season leading West Branch in RBI and walks for the second straight season. A River Valley Conference Elite Team pick for the second straight season, Espensen hit .311 two home runs and 15 RBI and led the Bears with 12 walks.

INF – Gable Mitchell, Soph., City High: Among the best defensive shortstops in the state, Mitchell had a breakthrough offensive year in his second varsity season. Mitchell led City High with a .433 batting average, 17 RBI and 11 stolen bases while producing five extra-base hits including three triples on his way to being named a unanimous all-MVC divisional selection.

INF – Eliezer De Los Santos, Jr. Regina: In his first season at Regina the slick fielding shortstop proved himself as an elite talent in the field and at the plate. De Los Santos led the Regals in batting average (.545), on-base percentage (.659) and runs (17) and tied for the team lead in extra-base hits (5) and stolen bases (7) on his way to being named to the RVC Elite Team.

INF – Cole Arduser, Sr., Solon: Arduser posted the best season of his career in his final year in a Solon uniform leading the Spartans in hits (23), runs (22) and RBI (21) while hitting a career-best .371. The senior third baseman also drew 14 walks while leading the Spartans with a .512 on-base percentage en route to first-team all-WAMAC East Division honors.

INF – Parker Smith, Soph., Clear Creek Amana: Few players in the state made as big of a jump this season as Smith who match his production from a solid freshman season in 41 less at bats as a sophomore. Smith raised his batting average by nearly 200 points from .252 to .435 and scored more runs (28) and had the same number of RBI (14) as he did a year ago. He also cut his strikeouts from 20 in 103 at bats last year to four in 62 at bats this season while leading the Clippers with a .611 on-base percentage.

INF – Garrett Bormann, Sr., City High: Bormann closed his career with a stellar senior season leading City High in runs scored (23) and walks (14) while ranking second on the team in on-base percentage (.486) and RBI (10) and third in batting average (.357) and stolen bases (10).

OF – Nolan Frey, Sr., Liberty High: Smooth swinging lefty followed up a breakthrough junior campaign with an equally impressive senior season that featured a career-high .434 and a team-best 17 RBI. A career .383 hitter, Frey had four extra-base hits scored 13 runs.

OF – Carter Seaton, Soph., City High: Another stellar sophomore that stepped up with a big season the offensive emergence of Seaton helped City High snap a 17-year state tournament drought. A versatile piece that played infield and outfield, Seaton ranked second on the team with a .391 batting average and 11 stolen bases and was at his best in the postseason going 6-for-11 in three playoff games.

OF – Jacob Norris, Sr., Liberty High: One of the most improved hitters in the state, Norris closed his career with a stellar senior season in which he hit a career-best .426 and led the Lightning in extra-base hits (8), runs (16) and on-base percentage (.509). A .176 hitter in his first two varsity seasons, Norris exceeded his season total for extra-base hits and matched his hit total from a year ago in fewer than half the number of at bats this summer.

UTIL – Ben Vander Leest, Sr., West High: Versatile senior was a true utility man for the Trojans this season playing infield, outfield and pitching while earning first-team MVC all-division honors. Vander Leest hit a team-leading .432 with 15 runs scored and 12 RBI and went 1-3 with a 3.21 ERA in a team-high 28 1/3 innings pitched.

UTIL – Brock Reade, Jr., Clear Creek Amana: Reade emerged as the ace of the Clear Creek Amana pitching staff posting a 4-1 record and a 1.75 ERA while striking out 40 in a team-high 36 innings. The junior also hit .338 with 24 runs and 11 RBI.

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