Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Luke Ira made steady progress in each of his first three seasons as a varsity starter.  

In year four Ira had a breakthrough.

Ira posted career highs in nearly every statistical category this season as a junior on his way to being named a unanimous first-team all-conference selection when the WAMAC released it’s postseason awards on Thursday.

The Solon shortstop ranked third in Class 3A with a .511 batting average this season while leading Solon to a 27-14 record and a spot in the substate finals.

A South Dakota State commit, Ira was a unanimous first-team pick in the East Division as an infielder headlining a list of seven Spartans to be honored by the conference.

Clear Creek Amana senior Kobey Schlotman was a first-team pick as a pitcher in the West Division.

Ira put together the best season of his career and one of the best for any player in the conference this summer.

He led Solon in hits (71), runs (54), extra-base hits (21), doubles (14), home runs (6), RBI (39) and stolen bases (17).

Ira was also 3-5 with a 3.16 ERA on the mound.

Freshman Cam Miller, senior Nick Hofsommer and juniors Tyler Linderbaum and Kendrick Harris were all second-team selections in the East Division.

Juniors Payton Bandy and Eric Weetman both received honorable mention honors for Solon.

Schlotman was a first-team pick in the West Division after posting a 7-1 record and a 1.74 ERA in 60 1/3 innings.

The senior left-hander struck out 70 and walked just nine on the season while helping the Clippers to a 18-20 record.

Schlotman also led Clear Creek Amana with a .353 batting average and scored 23 runs and had 24 RBI as an outfielder.

Senior first baseman Tyler Hallett was named to the West Division second team while juniors David Jensen and Cody Ogden were both honorable mention picks for the Clippers.

East Division

First Team – P: *Dylan Gotto, Sr., Western Dubuque; C.J. McDermott, Jr., Dyersville Beckman. C: Calvin Harris, Fr., Western Dubuque. INF: *Luke Ira, Jr., Solon; Gregory Bennett, Sr., Western Dubuque; Jarod Harris, Jr., West Delaware; Jared Booth, Sr., Mount Vernon. OF: Jack Cochrane, Sr., Mount Vernon; *Max Steffen, Sr., Western Dubuque; Nick Lembezeder, Sr., Western Dubuque. UTIL: Jackson Bennett, Jr., Dyersville Beckman; McGwire Eden, Sr., Central DeWitt; Justin Snyder, Sr., Maquoketa.

Second Team – P: Cam Miller, Fr., Solon; Sam Goodman, Soph., Western Dubuque. C: Joel Vaske, Jr., Dyersville Beckman. INF: Riley LeGrand, Sr., Dyersville Beckman; Tyler Elliott, Soph., Mount Vernon; Tyler Linderbaum, Jr., Solon; Brock Marbach, Soph., Dyersville Beckman. OF: Sam Stelken, Sr., Dyersville Beckman; Tony Garcia, Sr., Mount Vernon; Kendrick Harris, Jr., Solon. UTIL: Nick Casey, Soph., West Delaware; Dunston Werner, Jr., West Delaware; Nick Hofsommer, Sr., Solon.

Honorable mention (area athletes only) – Eric Weetman, Jr., Solon; Payton Bandy, Jr., Solon.

Coach of the year – Casey Bryant, Western Dubuque

West Division

First Team – P: Kobey Schlotman, Sr., Clear Creek Amana; Rick Atkins, Soph., Marion. C: Maverick Miller, Sr., Marion. INF: *Tanner Davis, Sr., Vinton-Shellsburg; *Jared Thompson, Sr., Vinton-Shellsburg; Parker Ridge, Sr., Marion; Baylor Fish, Sr., Marion. OF: *Wes Edwards, Sr., Vinton-Shellsburg; *Owen Carstensen, Sr., Marion; Conner Miracle, Sr., Vinton-Shellsburg. UTIL: *Nathan Struve, Sr., Vinton-Shellsburg; Scottie Wirth, Sr., Vinton-Shellsburg; Skylar Frese, Sr., Benton Community.

Second Team – P: Brady Donohue, Sr., Marion; Luke Wiebel, Jr., Benton Community. C: Will Edwards, Sr., Vinton-Shellsburg; INF: Tyler Hallett, Sr., Clear Creek Amana; Tom Reiff, Sr., Independence; Kamron Korsmo, Sr., Benton Community; Derek Greiner, Sr., Williamsburg. OF: David Bray, Sr., Vinton-Shellsburg; Blair Brooks, Jr., Marion; Jon Karteus, Jr., Center Point-Urbana. UTIL: Spencer Touro, Jr., Benton Community; Logan Schmitt, Fr., Independence; Lane Koch, Jr., South Tama.

Honorable mention (area athletes only) – David Jensen, Jr., Clear Creek Amana; Cody Ogden, Jr., Clear Creek Amana

Coach of the year – Jim Struve, Vinton-Shellsburg  

*- Unanimous selection