Baseball Capsules: Taking a Quick Look at Area Baseball Teams
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
West High
Coach: Charlie Stumpff (29th season)
Assistant coaches: Jesse Searls, Jamie O’Meara
Last season: 7-9
Returning starters: Marcus Morgan, Sr., P/SS; Ian McAreavy, Sr., RF; Luke Miller, Sr., P; Nate Gudenkauf, Jr., CF; John Syata, Jr., LF
Other returning letterwinners: Aiden Clements, Sr., P/C; Schuyler Houston, Sr., P/2B; Alex McKay, Sr., OF
Top returning hitters: Marcus Morgan, .294 BA, 8 RBI; Nate Gudenkauf, .333 BA
Top returning pitchers: Marcus Morgan, 1-2, 3.18 ERA; Luke Miller, 1-1, 11.52 ERA
Headliner: Iowa recruit Marcus Morgan is one of the best overall athletes in the state and among the top pitching prospects in the Midwest. Nate Gudenkauf
Morgan emerged as one of the state’s best during a stellar sophomore season two years ago but failed to find a groove during the pandemic-disrupted 2020 season going 1-2 with a 3.18 ERA in just 22 innings.
With Morgan locked in West High is one of the toughest teams in the state to be as evidence by his 16-1 record during his first two seasons and the senior is also a major threat at the plate hitting .294 with a home run and eight RBI in 34 at bats last season.
Keep an eye on: Senior outfield Ian McAreavy is a prime candidate for a breakthrough this summer in his final prep season.
McAreavy showed the ability to be a key run producer in the middle of the West High lineup but couldn’t get on track during the uneven pandemic season in 2020 hitting .167 with six RBI.
Expect a huge increase in production this season from McAreavy who has the ability to hit for average as well as power.
Breakdown: West High failed to reach the state tournament for just the second time since 2014 last season falling to Linn-Mar 5-2 in the substate opener to close the season 7-0.
Behind senior all-state Marcus Morgan the Trojans are poised for a big-time bounce back season in 2021.
Morgan is among the top pitchers in the state and is seeking a strong senior season after an up and down 2020 and West High brings back plenty around Morgan to make another deep postseason run.
McAreavy and fellow senior Luke Miller return with varsity experience while junior Nate Gudenkauf hit .333 last season in a limited role as a sophomore.
Veteran head coach Charlie Stumpff will look for seniors Aiden Clements and Schuyler Houston to step into larger roles this season and expects a boost in the return of senior outfield Alex McKay.
Juniors Nate Stephens and Noah DeSaulniers are expected to be pieces of the Trojan pitching rotation.
City High
Coach: Brian Mitchell (10th season)
Assistant coaches: Bart Sueppel, Matt Wooldrik
Last season: 11-9 (Class 4A state quarterfinal)
Returning starters: Gable Mitchell, Jr., SS/P; Carter Seaton, Jr., INF/P; Cade Obermueller, Jr., P/OF; Egan Smith, Sr., P/OF; Joey Bouska, Jr., C; Jacob Means, Sr., 1B
Other returning letterwinners: Cedric Dunnwald, Sr., UTIL; Jay Kennedy, Jr., P; James Kriz, Sr., P
Top returning hitters: Gabe Mitchell, .433 BA, 17 RBI; Carter Seaton, .391 BA, 12 Runs.
Top returning pitchers: Cade Obermueller, 2-2, 3.74 ERA; Egan Smith, 1-3, 3.57 ERA
Headliner: Junior shortstop Gable Mitchell is already a two-year starter and is quickly becoming regarded as one of the best all-around players in the state.
Mitchell hit a career-best .433 during the pandemic-shortened season a year ago with five extra-base hits and 17 RBI in 60 at bats.
Already one of the best defensive players in the state the hard-throwing Mitchell is also a valuable part of the City High pitching staff.
Keep an eye on: Junior Carter Seaton got his feet wet at the varsity level as a freshman two seasons ago but emerged as a major piece of the City High lineup last season when he hit .391 with eight RBI in 64 at bats.
Seaton earn MVC all-division honors a year ago and should be in for an even bigger all-around role this season after also pitching eight innings a year ago.
Breakdown: City High made the most of the limited season last summer securing the program’s first trip to the state tournament since 2003.
With six starters returning from that team including Mitchell, Seaton and junior ace Cade Obermueller the Little Hawks have even bigger goals in 2021.
City High opens the season ranked eighth in the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association rankings and has its sights set on a state tournament return.
Senior Jacob Means and junior Joey Bouska are both back to bolster the lineup while Obermueller and senior Egan Smith return to lead the City High pitching staff.
Head coach Brian Mitchell expects a boost from junior John Klosterman who joins the roster after playing in Florida last summer and junior Jay Kennedy has a big-time arm and shows potential
Sophomores Ben Kueter and Alex Knudtson will look to contribute as well.
Clear Creek Amana
Coach: Nick Zumsande (2nd season)
Last season: 16-7 (Class 3A state quarterfinal)
Returning starters: Parker Smith, Jr., 2B; Brock Reade, Sr., P/CF; Ben Swails, Jr., 3B; Sam Young, Jr., SS
Other returning letterwinners: Sterlin Roberson, Jr., OF
Top returning hitters: Parker Smith, .435 BA, .611 OBP; Ben Swails, .36A BA, 23 RBI.
Top returning pitchers: Brock Reade, 4-0, 2.10 ERA; Sam Young, 0-1, 6.22 ERA
Headliner: Senior Brock Reade emerged as a legit top of the rotation starter last season posting a 4-0 record and 2.10 ERA in 30 innings.
The left-handed Reade struck out 35 and walked 13 last season allowing just 21 hits and holding opponents to a .193 batting average.
A strong all-around player, Reade also hit .338 with five doubles and 11 RBI and is a staple in the Clipper lineup as an outfielder.
Keep an eye on: Junior infielder Parker Smith is already a two-year starter with nearly 200 career at bats and is coming off a breakthrough sophomore season in which he ranked second on the team with a .435 batting average and led the Clippers with 28 runs and an impressive .611 on-base percentage.
Smith had six extra-base hits and 14 RBI last season and should see both of those numbers climb in 2021.
Breakdown: Clear Creek Amana will look to build on the momentum of one of the most successful seasons in program history after winning 16 games and reaching the state tournament for the first time in program history last summer.
The Clippers were hit hard by graduation leaving some holes to fill, most notably in the pitching rotation, but there is plenty of talent returning for another deep postseason run.
Smith and classmates Sam Young and Ben Swails give the Clippers one of the best infields in all of Class 3A.
Swails hit .368 with a team-high 23 RBI last season while Young is a multi-year starter and hits .280 with 14 runs scored a year ago.
Reade headlines a young pitching staff that will look to build momentum quickly.
Solon
Coach: Keith McSweeney (22nd season)
Assistant coaches: Jim White, Tim Wheeler
Last season: 14-8
Returning starters: Carson Shive, Sr., LF; Brady Jeworrek, Sr., SS/P; Brayden Rickertsen, Sr., P/OF; Kinnick Pusteoska, Jr., 1B; Brett White, Fr., 3B/OF; Blake Timmons, Soph., 2B/P; Jackson Ryan, Sr., CF; Jacob Smith, Sr., P
Other returning letterwinners: Drew Turner, Sr., C/P; Cade Chapman, Sr., C/1B/DH
Top returning hitters: Carson Shive, .359 BA, 14 RBI; Brett White, .304 BA, 18 RBI
Top returning pitchers: Jacob Smith, 4-1, 4.14 ERA; Drew Turner, 2-2, 4.00 ERA
Headliner: Senior Carson Shive returns after a varsity debut season in which he tied for the team lead in hits with 23 and ranked second on the team in batting average (.359) and was third in RBI (14).
Shive earned honorable mention all-WAMAC honors a year ago and is a big part of what should be a potent middle of the lineup for the Spartans.
Keep an eye on: Freshman Brett White showed his massive potential a year ago hitting .304 and driving in 18 runs as an eighth grader.
He showed some pop as an eighth grader as well ranking second on the team with seven extra-base hits in 69 at bats.
White played primarily in the outfield a year ago but will be used around the diamond this season including on the left side of the Spartan infield.
Breakdown: Solon is among the most intriguing teams in Class 3A this season with eight starters returning from a squad that won 14 games a year ago.
Shive, White, junior Kinnick Pusteoska (.317 BA, 8 doubles) and sophomore Blake Timmons (.262 BA, .511 OBP) return to lead the offense along with senior shortstop Brady Jeworrek (.277 BA, 13 RBI)
Veteran coach Keith McSweeney will rely on seniors Drew Turner, Jacob Smith and Brayden Rickertsen to lead a pitching rotation that lost two of its top two leaders in innings from a year ago.
Smith is a candidate for a breakthrough after going 4-1 with a 4.14 ERA in 22 innings last season while Turner was 2-2 with a 4.00 ERA in 21 innings pitched last season.
Rickertsen went 2-2 with a 5.73 ERA in 18 1/3 innings last year.
Solon should also get a boost from the bats of freshman Gehrig Turner and senior Cade Chapman.
Regina
Coach: Steve Pacha (1st season)
Last season: 7-5
Returning starters: Levi Quinlan, Sr., P/OF; Kyle Schooley, Sr., P; Danny Molony, Sr., P/INF; Declan McCoy, Sr., P/C/INF; Cam Lehman, Jr., P/INF; Jack Tierney, Soph., UTIL
Other returning letterwinners: Jack Brandt, Sr., INF; Luke Moore, Sr., OF; Sean Nugent, Sr., OF; Danny Gavin, Soph., OF; Jack Clark, Fr., C
Top returning hitters: Levi Quinlan, .323 BA, 8 Runs; Declan McCoy, .281 BA, 8 RBI
Top returning pitchers: Kyle Schooley, 1-1, 3.91 ERA; Cameron Lehman, 1-0, 1.62 ERA
Headliner: Senior Levi Quinlan was named to the River Valley Conference South Division squad last season after hitting .323 and tying for the team lead with seven stolen bases.
Quinlan scored eight runs and drove in five last season drawing seven walks and posting a .462 on-base percentage.
Also a soccer standout, Quinlan will look to build on those numbers this summer.
Keep an eye on: Senior Declan McCoy is looking for a strong finish to his career after hitting .281 with eight RBI a year ago.
McCoy is a prime candidate for a breakthrough season and could be used all over the diamond this season playing catcher and infield and also being used in the pitching rotation this season.
Breakdown: Steve Pacha takes over the Regina program as the Regals look to build on a 7-5 record in a pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
Six starters return for the Regals led by Quinlan, McCoy and senior pitcher Kyle Schooley who was second on the team with 14.1 innings pitched a year ago.
Schooley headlines a Regina rotation that will look to build depth around junior Cameron Lehman and sophomore Jack Tierney after posting a 1-1 record and 3.91 ERA a year ago.
Senior Adam Connell is expected to help bolster the rotation while Tierney hit .304 in limited at bats last season and senior Danny Molony will help the lineup.
West Branch
Coach: Andy Lapel (3rd season)
Assistant coaches: Manny Jeffery
Last season: 6-10
Returning starters: Gavin Hierseman, Sr., INF; Kaleb Sexton, Sr., P/OF; Cael Fiderlein, Sr., C/UTIL; Gage Gingerich, Jr., C/OF; Lucas Pierce, Jr., P/1B
Top returning hitters: Gage Gingerich .373 BA, 7 RBI; Cael Fiderlein, .390 BA, 11 RBI
Top returning pitchers: Lucas Pierce, 1-2 3.05 ERA; Bryce Pickett, 0-0, 7.88 ERA.
Headliner: Senior Cael Fiderlein is poised for a breakthrough senior season after hitting .390 with seven extra-base hits in the first extended action of his career a year ago.
Fiderlein had six doubles and a home run and drove in 11 runs in just 41 at bats a year ago posting a .610 slugging percentage and .500 on-base percentage as a junior.
Expect the senior to provide some pop in the middle of a revamped Bear lineup this season.
Keep an eye on: Junior Gage Gingerich is a rising star in the River Valley Conference after hitting .373 a year ago on his way to earning all-conference honors.
Gingerich had three-extra base hits, scored eight runs and drove in seven runs last season in 51 at bats and should bolster those run-producing numbers this season as an upperclassman.
Breakdown: A year after breaking through with a state tournament appearance in 2019 the Bears won just six games in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
With five starters returning the Bears will look for a bounce back season bolstered by a strong group of seniors.
Seniors Gavin Hierseman, Kaleb Sexton and Cael Fiderlein all return with varsity experience and join juniors Gingerich and Lucas Pierce to give the Bears a rock solid nucleus to build around.
Pierce is the top returning arm in the West Branch rotation after going 1-2 with a 3.05 ERA in 18 1/3 innings last season and will look to take on an even bigger role this summer.
Head coach Andy Lapel expects key contributions from Brady Knoop, Quinn Hayden and Logan Highly as West Branch seeks to build depth.
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