Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Over the course of the 2019 season the West High baseball team rolled up 34 wins, claimed a Mississippi Valley Conference title and reached the semifinals of the Class 4A state tournament.

The Trojans continued to reap the benefits of their stellar season this week with three players earn all-state honors from the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association.

Seniors Ryan Cooper and Jason Strunk were both named to the Class 4A first team while sophomore Marcus Morgan was named to the 16-member Super Team that consists of the top players from all four classes.

Morgan won three consecutive postseason starts on his way to a 10-0 season in which he led 4A in wins (10) and strikeouts (105) and ranked fourth with a .71 ERA in 59 1/3 innings.

Cooper ranked fifth in 4A with a team-leading .450 batting average and was third in 4A with 52 RBI that also led the Trojans.

The senior catcher had a team-high 12 doubles and tied for the team lead with 16 extra-base hits while posting a .642 slugging percentage.

Cooper also doubled as the Trojan’s top reliever, posting a 3-0 record and a team-best four saves with a 3.73 ERA in 30 innings.

Strunk led 4A in runs (56) and on-base percentage (.629) and ranked second among big school players with 42 walks on the season.

The senior center fielder hit .404 with eight home runs and 35 RBI and led West High with 16 stolen bases.

Liberty High junior Nolan Frey was a second-team pick as an outfielder in Class 4A after leading the Lightning with a .431 batting average and 42 RBI.

Frey had 15 doubles and ranked second in 4A with eight triples and scored 37 runs. As a pitcher Frey went 4-2 with a 3.86 ERA in a team-high 49 innings.

West Branch senior Brady Lukavsky was a first-team selection as a catcher in Class 2A.

Lukavsky hit a team-high .435 with three home runs and 25 RBI while helping West Branch to a 20-8 record and its first state tournament appearance since 2012.

Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association All-State Teams

Super Team

P: Marcus Morgan, Soph., West High; Ty Langenberg, Jr., Urbandale; Rick Atkins, Sr., Marion. C: Cade Moss, Sr., Johnston; Calvin Harris, Jr., Western Dubuque. 1B: Peyton Williams, Sr., Johnston. 2B: Luke Schaben, Sr., Harlan. SS: Jake Hilmer, Sr., North Linn. 3B: Evan Paulus, Sr., Mason City Newman. OF: Josh Fitzgerald, Sr., Mason City Newman; Brook Heinen, Sr., Urbandale; Andrew Nord, Sr., Johnston; Colten Perkins, Sr., North Polk. UTIL: Brett Sears, Sr., Harlan; Nick Gottilla, Sr., Davenport Assumption; Colin McCrabb, Sr., Wilton.

Class 4A

First Team – P: Wade Canaday, Sr., Marshalltown; Jacob Tobey, Sr., Johnston; Grayson Drezek, Jr., North Scott. C: Ryan Cooper, Sr., Iowa City West; Alec Patino, Jr., Sioux City East. 1B: Kip Cullinan, Sr., Urbandale. 2B: Peyton Lindmark, Sr., Pleasant Valley. SS: Bryce Crabb, Sr., Des Moines East. 3B: Alex Pentergast, Jr., Des Moines Roosevelt. OF: Logan Gluba, Sr., Davenport West; Evan Martin, Jr., Southeast Polk; Nathan Steenblock, Sr., West Des Moines Dowling; Joe Simpson, Soph., Clinton. UTIL: Jason Strunk, Sr., Iowa City West; Alec Nigut, Jr., Des Moines Roosevelt; Sam Goodman, Sr., Western Dubuque.

Second Team – P: Jon Cross, Sr., Cedar Rapids Jefferson; Jack Matthaidess, Jr., North Scott; Jackson Wentworth, Soph., Waukee. C: Ryan Vermeer, Jr., Ankeny Centennial; Casey Sole, Sr., Cedar Falls. 1B: Drew Logel, Sr., Muscatine. 2B: Carson Schau, Sr., Waukee. SS: Sam Link, Sr., Dubuque Senior. 3B: Joseph Harris, Jr., Marshalltown. OF: Nolan Frey, Jr., Liberty High; Lincoln Riley, Sr., Cedar Rapids Washington; Desean Giboo, Sr., Des Moines East; Colton DeRocher, Sr., Sioux City East. UTIL: Jack Young, Jr., Pleasant Valley; Gehrig Christensen, Soph., Urbandale; Adam Schneider, Sr., Southeast Polk.

Class 3A

First Team – P: Bryson Bastian, Sr., Cedar Rapids Xavier; Lucas Bixby, Sr., Central DeWitt; Brant Hogue, Jr., Sioux City Heelan. C: Garrett Ries, Sr., Cedar Rapids Xavier; Garrett Finley, Sr., Central DeWitt. 1B: Austin Simpson, Sr., Fairfield. 2B: Mike Pithan, Sr., Sioux City Heelan. SS: Devin Hurdle, Sr., Central DeWitt. 3B: Kyle Moeder, Sr., Cedar Rapids Xavier. OF: Brady Kauzlarich, Soph., Centerville; Bret Price, Sr., Boone; Nate Schlichting, Jr., Davenport Assumption; Nile Foss, Jr., Carlisle. UTIL: Jayden Gibson, Sr., Grinnell; Casey Young, Jr., Winterset; Jeff Lamb, Sr., North Polk

Second Team – P: Logan Smith, Jr., Dallas Center-Grimes; Brandon Schlichting, Sr., Davenport Assumption; Daniel Wright, Jr., Sergeant Bluff-Luton. C: Spencer Kleene, Jr., Sergeant Bluff-Luton; Kade Reinhertson, Jr., Ballard. 1B: Isaiah Henrichs, Sr., Carlisle. 2B: Connor Havlovic, Sr., Waverly-Shell Rock. SS: Jared Sitzmann, Jr., Sioux City Heelan. 3B: McCain Oden, Jr., Centerville. OF: Gage Frank, Soph., Marion; Isaac Boley, Jr., Dallas Center-Grimes; Tyler Miller, Jr., Oskaloosa; Gabe Thomas, Sr., Pella. UTIL: Connor Bruck, Jr., Harlan; Jack Luster, Sr., Ballard; Merrick Mathews, Soph., Centerville.

Class 2A

First Team – P: Jared Townsend, Sr., Wilton; Hunter Dekkers, Jr., West Sioux; Will Dembski, Sr., Pella Christian. C: Connor Lange, Sr., Missouri Valley; Brady Lukavsky, Sr., West Branch. 1B: Brock Farley, Sr., Denver. 2B: Chantz Stevens, Sr., Wilton. SS: Reece Jamison, Jr., Woodward-Granger. 3B: Trevor Boge, Sr., North Linn. OF: Owen Grover, Sr., Dyersville Beckman; David Seber, Sr., North Linn; Kaden Davis, Soph., West Marshall; Kayden Kruse, Sr., Ogden. UTIL: Reece Beuter, Jr., Dike-New Hartford; Anthony Potthoff, Jr., Van Meter; Christian Davidson, Soph., Pocahontas Area. 

Second Team – P: Steven Nicolay, Sr., Oelwein; Brett Shelton, Sr., DM Christian; Carter Petsche, Sr., Dyersville Beckman. C: Blake Beller, Sr., Hinton; Riley Reed, Sr., Cascade. 1B: Brett Berg, Jr., Van Meter. 2B: Grant Fouch, Sr., Pleasantville. SS: Logan McCoy, Jr., Alta-Aurelia. 3B: Blake Hall, Soph., Underwood. OF: Kyle Christensen, Sr., Treynor; Hunter Pesek, Jr., New Hampton; Zach Osborn, Sr., Mediapolis; Karson Cantrell, Sr., Louisa-Muscatine. UTIL: Jace Davidson, Sr., Pocahontas Area; Trevor Slayton, Sr., Davis County; Alex Bice, Jr., Woodward-Granger.

Class 1A

First Team – P: Keaton Parker, Sr., Alburnett; Collin Kramer, Sr., Saint Ansgar; Blaine Harpeneau, Soph., Remsen St. Mary’s. C: Skyler Waldschmitt, Jr., Remsen St. Mary’s; Colby Page, Sr., Southeast Warren. 1B: Reed Stallman, Soph., Alburnett. 2B: Bryce Hall, Jr., Southeast Warren. SS: Tanner Bainbridge, Sr., Pekin. 3B: Cole Cassady, Jr., Martensdale-St. Marys. OF: Caleb Comstock, Sr., Pekin; Dean Shaull, Sr., HLV; Kendall Becker, Sr., Don Bosco; Carson Elbert, Soph., Martensdale-St. Marys. UTIL: Caleb Banowetz, Jr., Calamus-Wheatland; Cael Frost, Soph., Don Bosco; Cy Patterson, Soph., CB St. Albert

Second Team – P: Brody Wolf, Jr., HLV; Tyler Tscherter, Jr., Gladbrook-Reinbeck; Isaac Gavin, Jr., Martensdale-St. Marys. C: Connor Franzen, Sr., Wapsie Valley; Max Burt, 8th, Mason City Newman. 1B: Austin Degen, Sr., Ridge View. 2B: Jack McGuire, Sr., Mason City Newman. SS: Josh Walleser, Sr., Kee. 3B: Spencer Schorg, Jr., Remsen St. Mary’s. OF: Hunter Rickels, Sr., Calamus-Wheatland; Dylan Fry, Sr., Belle Plaine; Damon Schmid, Fr., Kingsley-Pierson; Lance Wright, Jr., CB St. Albert. UTIL: Bryce Schares, Sr., Don Bosco; Trevor Sauerbrei, Soph., Wapsie Valley; Kaleb Bauer, Sr., Southeast Warren.

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