Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The 2025 season was a memorable one for baseball teams in the Your Prep Sports area.

City High and Liberty High each returned to the Class 4A state tournament with City High winning the first title in program history and the first ever baseball championship by an Iowa City school.

Liberty High won a program-record 31 games, claimed the first Mississippi Valley Conference divisional title in program history and advanced to the state tournament for the third time in the past four seasons.

City High capped a magical 33-9 season with a 4-1 win over Bettendorf in the Class 4A state title game.

Four Your Prep Sports area teams hit the 20-win mark this season including Clear Creek Amana (22-13) which advanced to a 3A substate final and Regina (22-6) which posted its highest win total since 2018.

There were plenty of individuals that had strong season that aided in the team success for area programs.

The annual Your Prep Sports area baseball team is a way to recognize some of those players for their performance on the diamond this season.

This year’s 26-member Your Prep Sports area team features college recruits, all-conference performers, school record holders and state qualifiers.

The 2025 Your Prep Sports all-area team has 10 repeat selections highlighted by Liberty High senior Mason Waterbury and Clear Creek Amana senior Kaden Phan who are both appearing on the YPS all-area team for the third time.

City High senior Jaxton Schroeder is the captain of the 2025 Your Prep Sports all-area team after posting a 5-3 record, 1.87 ERA and 1.00 WHIP while striking out 74 in a team-high 60 innings pitched to help the Little Hawks to the 4A state title.

2025 Your Prep Sports Area Baseball Team

*P – Jaxton Schroeder, Sr., City High: One of the top pitchers in the state Schroeder was sensational as a senior helping City High claim the first state title in program history. The 6-foot-5 left-hander went 5-3 with a 1.87 ERA and 1.00 striking out 74 in a career-high 60 innings pitched. A Kirkwood Community College recruit, Schroeder was at his best in the postseason posting a 1.21 ERA while striking out 22 in 17 1/3 postseason innings including a complete game four hitter in the Class 4A state title game.

P – Mason Waterbury, Sr., Liberty High: The ace of a deep and talented Liberty High pitch staff Waterbury capped an incredible three-year stretch as one of the best pitchers in the state with a strong senior season in which he went 4-0 with a 2.24 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 42 strikeouts in 40 2/3 innings. A Southeastern Community College recruit, Waterbury was 20-2 with a 1.57 ERA and 154 strikeouts in 143 innings pitched over the past three seasons.

P – Adam Bowman, Jr., City High: Bowman was outstanding in his first varsity season ranking in the top 10 in Class 4A in ERA while solidifying a spot as one of the top returning pitchers in the state. The hard-throwing right-hander went 7-1 with a .99 ERA and .99 WHIP while fanning 51 in 49 1/3 innings.

P – Kyle Cherry, Sr., West High: One of the most durable and consistent pitches in the state over the past three seasons Cherry capped a stellar prep career with a strong senior season in which he led West High in innings pitched for the third consecutive season. The left-handed throwing Cherry went 5-3 with a 3.33 ERA and struck out 48 in 42 innings this season finishing his prep career with 15 wins and 153 strikeouts in 166 1/3 innings.

P – Will Litton, Soph., Regina: Litton emerged as one of the top pitchers in Class 2A during a dominant sophomore season that saw him earn River Valley Conference South Division first team honors. The sophomore right-hander went 5-1 with a 1.37 ERA and 1.20 WHIP while striking out 54 in 41 innings and also hit .407 with 10 extra-base hits and 18 RBI.  

P – Tate Miller, Fr., Solon: Miller was one of the most effective freshman hurlers in the state this summer posting an impressive varsity debut season that saw him earn second team all-WAMAC East Division honors. The right-handed Miller went 7-0 with a .77 ERA and .74 WHIP while holding opponents to a .120 batting average and striking out 34 in a team-high 45 2/3 innings.

P – Nick Meredith, Sr., City High: After throwing 16 innings as a junior Meredith blossomed as a senior stabilizing a City High pitching staff that was among the best in the state. Meredith went 7-2 with a 1.74 ERA and 1.11 WHIP, striking out 26 in 44 1/3 innings pitched. The right-hander was at his best during City High’s state title run allowing one earned run in 7 1/3 postseason innings.

C – Brayden Mayer, Sr., Liberty High: A talented two-way player, Mayer was at his best as a power producer in the middle of the Lightning lineup. Mayer batted .330 and led Liberty High in extra-base hits (19), home runs (3) and RBI (39) while scoring 27 runs. An Iowa Central recruit, Mayer led 4A with 40 walks and team highs in on-base percentage (.516), slugging percentage (.589) and OPS (1.105) and also went 3-2 with a 3.84 ERA in 27 1/3 innings pitched while earning Mississippi Valley Conference first team all-division honors.

C – Declan Bunn, Sr., West High: Always an excellent defensive catcher Bunn enjoyed an offensive breakthrough as a senior hitting a career-high .373 with 19 RBI while leading West High in hits (44), runs (39), doubles (8), stolen bases (21), walks (25), hit by pitch (12), on-base percentage (.523), slugging percentage (.441) and OPS (.963).

C – Carson Kidwell, Jr., Solon: Kidwell came up huge for Solon both behind the plate and in the batters box in his first season of extended varsity action. The junior catcher hit .353 with seven doubles and 25 RBI and posted a .430 on-base percentage and .851 OPS on his way to earning WAMAC East Division honorable mention status.

INF – Ty Fuller, Sr., Clear Creek Amana: A career .408 hitter, Fuller cemented his status as one of the best pure hitters in the state this season ranking sixth in Class 3A with a .460 batting average. The senior shortstop led the Clippers in batting average, runs (51), hits (52), on-base percentage (.566) and OPS (1.186) and drove in 17 runs from his leadoff spot.

INF – Evan Schmierer, Jr., Liberty High: A catalyst at the top of the Liberty High lineup Schmierer built on an impressive debut season with an even better junior campaign. Schmierer batted .353 while leading Liberty High in runs (48) and hits (48) and ranking second on the team in on-base percentage (.464) and stolen bases (21).

INF – Maclane Morgan, Sr., Clear Creek Amana: A stalwart in the Clipper lineup the past three seasons Morgan continued to produce at a high level this season earning second team all-WAMAC West Division honors. A Southeastern Community College recruit, Morgan batted .374 with 21 extra-base hits, 36 runs, 34 RBI and 19 stolen bases while posting a 1.129 OPS.

INF – Cooper Hughes, Sr., Liberty High: Another stalwart in the Liberty High lineup to come up big this season, Hughes enjoyed his best season on way to earning Mississippi Valley Conference first team all-Mississippi division honors. A Southeastern Community College recruit, Hughes batted .353 with 12 extra-base hits, 37 runs, 34 RBI and an OPS of .921.

INF – Dominic Salibi, Sr., City High: A three-year starter at third base, a strong finish from Salibi was a key for City High in claiming its first ever state title. Salibi batted .311 with 12 extra-base hits, four home runs and a team-high 33 RBI to go with 34 runs scored and 18 stolen bases.

INF – Maddox Kelley, Soph., Solon: Among the top infielders in Class 3A Kelley followed up a strong freshman season with a stellar sophomore campaign in which the shortstop led Solon in batting average (.418), hits (46), runs (39), extra-base hits (14), home runs (3), on-base percentage (.476), slugging percentage (.609) and OPS (1.085).

INF – Jack Gavin, Soph., Regina: A big-time breakthrough from Gavin was an integral part of Regina posting its highest win total since 2018. Gavin hit a team-high .423 with seven extra-base hits and led the Regals with 29 RBI and a 1.085 OPS while earning first team all-River Valley Conference South Division honors.

INF – Pryor Reiners, Soph., Liberty High: The emergence of Reiners was a huge boost to a Liberty High lineup as the sophomore third baseman/catcher established himself as one of the top young players in Class 4A. Reiners hit .351 with seven doubles, 26 RBI, 22 runs scored and 20 walks and also stole 10 bases on his way to earning Mississippi Valley Conference first team all-division honors.

INF – Drake Obermueller, Sr., City High: Obermueller established himself as one of the top two-way players in the state with a monster senior season at the plate and on the mound. A Des Moines Area Community College recruit, Obermueller hit a team-high .396 leading City High in runs (38), hits (53), doubles (16), triples (4), extra-base hits (21), on-base percentage (.484), slugging percentage (.597) and OPS (1.081) and also went 7-0 with a 1.84 ERA, .79 WHIP and .135 batting average against with 43 strikeouts in 38 innings pitched.

OF – Kaden Phan, Sr., Clear Creek Amana: A three-time member of the Your Prep Sports all area team, Phan put the finishing touches on a stellar career with another strong season. The Wabash Valley College recruit batted .343 with 11 extra-base hits, 32 runs, 26 RBI and a .935 OPS while being named to the WAMAC West Division first team.

OF – Dallas Miller, Sr., Liberty High: A breakout season from Miller played a pivotal role in the most successful season in Liberty High history. A Sioux Falls football recruit, Miller batted a team-best .357 with seven extra-base hits, 32 runs, 26 RBI and a team-high 22 stolen bases.

OF – Trey Streb, Soph., Regina: One of the top young outfielders in Class 2A Streb flashed his impressive potential during a huge sophomore season in which he earned first team all-River Valley Conference South Division honors. Streb batted .380 with 28 runs, 23 RBI and also stole a team-leading 15 bases.

OF – Paxton Bell, Soph., City High: Bell flashed an impressively diverse offensive skill set in his first season in the City High lineup leading the Little Hawks in home runs and stolen bases. The sophomore batted .323 with 11 extra-base hits including five home runs, drove in 21 runs, scored 21 runs and stole a team-high 25 bases.

UTIL – Reece Cochran, Sr., Clear Creek Amana: Cochran was among the top two-way players in Class 3A this season excelling on the mound and at the plate while helping the Clippers reach a substate title game. An Ellsworth Community College recruit, Cochran batted .434 with 14 extra-base hits, three home runs, 32 runs and 33 RBI and also went 5-3 with a 2.93 ERA and 1.35 WHIP while striking out 59 in 45 1/3 innings.

UTIL – Connor Nicpon, Sr., Regina: On the mound, at the plate and in the field Nicpon was a leader for Regina helping the Regals rattle of 22 wins and earn a top-10 rankings in Class 2A. A Gustavus Adolphus College recruit, Nicpon went 5-0 with a 3.09 ERA in 31 2/3 innings pitched and also batted .307 with 30 runs, 14 RBI and 15 stolen bases.

UTIL – Garrett Sotzen, Soph., West Branch: Sotzen emerged as one of the top young two-way players in the River Valley Conference with a breakthrough sophomore season that saw him named to the RVC South Division first team. The sophomore catcher/pitcher led West Branch in batting average (.362), extra-base hits (7), home runs (2), walks (13), on-base percentage (.464), slugging percentage (.551), OPS (1.015) and ranked second on the team in runs (16) and RBI (13) while also going 2-3 with a 4.89 ERA and 37 strikeouts in a team-high 44 1/3 innings pitched.

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