Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Summer isn’t quite here but baseball is back.

Teams across the state open play on Monday with every team seeking a trip to the state tournament that runs from July 26 – August 3 at Principal Park in Des Moines.

Before the season gets underway we take a look at nine area players that will be key pieces to the puzzle for their teams this season.

Here are nine players in the Your Prep Sports to watch this summer.

DJ Heck

Senior, City High

Heck emerged as one of the top players in the Mississippi Valley Conference last season when he hit .346 with 12 extra base hits.

An Iowa recruit, Heck hit .346 with 40 runs and 21 stolen bases in his first season as a full-time varsity starter.

The speedy centerfielder had 12 extra-base hits including a pair of home runs and drove in 15 runs while earning MVC second-team all-division honors.

Tyler Dahm

Junior, Liberty High

A team loaded with underclassmen last season Liberty High found its leader last season in Dahm.

The smooth fielding infielder hit a team-high .371 and led Liberty High in runs (27), walks (20), on-base percentage (.533) and slugging percentage (.461).

Dahm’s bat and leadership will be a critical for Liberty High this season as the Lightning make the jump to Class 4A and joins the Mississippi Valley Conference.

Cam Miller

Junior, Solon

After bursting onto the varsity scene two years ago with an 8-0 record and .67 ERA as a freshman Miller backed it up last season with a work horse sophomore campaign.

Miller went 9-3 with a 1.16 ERA in a career-high 66 innings last season to help Solon return to the state tournament.

Opponents hit just .135 against the hard throwing right-hander and Miller struck out 82 while allowing just 37 hits on his way to being named second team Class 3A all-state.

Miller also hit .322 with a home run and 25 RBI in his role as a corner infielder last season.

Marcus Morgan

Sophomore, West High

Morgan impressed last season as a freshman flashing his huge potential dynamic stuff while going 6-1 with a 1.75 ERA in 36 innings.

The 6-foot-2 right-hander will step into the role of ace of a West High staff that annual ranks among the best in Iowa.

A starter in both basketball and football and a state high jump qualifier this spring Morgan appears poised for a breakthrough season on the diamond.

Opponents hit just .194 against Morgan last season as she struck out 47 and walked just eight. 

Camden Smyka

Senior, Clear Creek Amana

An important two-way player for Clear Creek Amama Smyka was one of the top pitchers and hitters for the Clippers last season.

Smyka hit .330 with 11 extra-base hits and 23 RBI as a position player and went 2-2 with a 3.53 ERA in 39 2/3 innings on the mound.

Matt Paulsen

Junior, West Branch

Paulsen emerged as the ace of the West Branch staff during a breakthrough sophomore season in which he posted a 4-3 record while leading the Bears with a 1.20 ERA in a team-high 46 2/3 innings.

The right-hander struck out 42 and walked 21 while allowing 36 hits in better than 46 innings of work.

Paulsen also hit .298 with five doubles, 11 runs and 11 RBI.

Liam McComas

Senior, City High

A Northern Iowa football recruit McComas emerged as one of the top catchers in Class 4A last season when he hit .344 and led City High with five home runs and 41 RBI.

A versatile athlete, McComas had a team-high 13 doubles and tied for the team lead with 20 extra-base hits last season while posting a .594 slugging percentage.

Jason Strunk

Senior, West High

A rare four-year starter, Strunk is looking to close a stellar prep career with a big senior season after hammering a career-high seven home runs last year.

Strunk hit .342 last season, drove in 31 runs, stole 18 bases and led West High with 33 runs scored.

The senior outfield led West High in slugging and on-base percentage while posting an impressive 1.198 OPS.

Adam Bock

Senior, Solon

A four-sport standout headed to South Dakota State to play football, Bock will wrap up his prep career on the baseball diamond.

Already a two-year starter at catcher, Bock had a breakthrough season at the plate last season when he hit a career-high .316 with three home runs and 41 RBI.

Bock will be a big key in the middle of a Solon lineup that graduated six of its top eight hitters from last year’s 3A quarterfinal team.