Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The 2026 season was filled with success for baseball teams in the Your Prep Sports area.

Five different area teams won at least 20 games this season highlighted by Liberty High which finished 26-17 and returned to the 4A state tournament for the second consecutive season.

The success doesn’t stop with the Lightning.

City High won 22 games, Solon went 24-10 and advanced to a 3A substate final where it fell to the eventual 3A state champ.

Clear Creek Amana finished 24-12, won its first WAMAC West Division title in four seasons and advanced to a 3A substate final where it lost to the eventual state runner-up.

Regina (26-4) posted its highest win total since 2018 and West Branch (17-15) impressive turnaround season in which it had its first winning season and highest win total since 2019.

Now is the time for Your Prep Sports to recognize some of the individual that helped aid in that team success.

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

This year’s 24-member Your Prep Sports area team features college recruits, all-conference performers, school record holders and state qualifiers.

The 2026 Your Prep Sports all-area team has nine repeat selections highlighted by Liberty High senior Evan Schmierer who is appearing on the YPS all-area team for the third time.

Schmierer is also the captain of the 2026 Your Prep Sports all area team after ranking in the top five in Class 4A in batting average, hits and stolen bases while helping the Lightning to a second consecutive state tournament appearance.

The senior second baseman hit .496 with 16 extra-base hits, 45 runs scored, 30 RBI, 21 walks and 40 stolen bases and owned a .577 on-base percentage and 1.241 OPS.

2026 Your Prep Sports Area Baseball Team

P – Adam Bowman, Sr., City High – One of the top pitchers in the state over the past two seasons Bowman capped an impressive career with a stellar senior season in which he went 7-0 with a 1.55 ERA and .92 WHIP while holding opponents to a .180 batting average. The hard-throwing right-hander struck out 72 in a team-leading 58 2/3 innings this season on his way to earning Mississippi Valley Conference first team all-division honors. A Johnson County Community College recruit Bowman went 14-1 with a 1.29 ERA, 123 strikeouts and 27 walks in 108 innings pitched over the past two seasons combined.

P – Jaryn Sertterh, Sr., Liberty High – Last season Sertterh carved out a role as a reliever during Liberty High’s state tournament run. This season the senior right-hander thrived in his role as the leader of the Lightning staff. Sertterh posted a 6-3 record and 2.73 ERA with a 1.27 WHIP and 38 strikeouts in a team-high 51 1/3 innings on his way to earning Mississippi Valley Conference all-division honorable mention honors. Sertterh was at his best in the postseason allowing just two runs on six hits in 10 2/3 postseason innings.

P – Tate Miller, Soph., Solon – A repeat Your Prep Sports all-area pick, Miller backed up a strong freshman season with an even better sophomore campaign. The right-hander went 8-0 with a 1.41 ERA and 1.17 WHIP, striking out 59 in a team-high 54 2/3 innings pitched. A

Second team all-WAMAC East Division pick this season Miller is a combined 15-0 with a 1.12 ERA in 100 1/3 over the past two seasons.

P – Blayne Roberts, Sr., Clear Creek Amana – One of the best stories in the state this season was Roberts who rebounded from an injury that limited him to two innings each of the previous two seasons to become one of the top pitchers in Class 3A. A first team all-WAMAC West Division pick, the hard-throwing Roberts went 6-0 with a 1.56 ERA and .84 WHIP while striking out 88 in 45 innings. A Black Hawk College recruit Roberts allowed just 20 hits and 18 walks and limited opponents to a .124 batting average.

P – Alex DuBay, Jr., Clear Creek Amana – A breakthrough season from DuBay was a big reason Clear Creek Amana was able to win the WAMAC West Division title and advance to the 3A substate title game. DuBay went 5-1 with a 2.40 ERA and 1.40 WHIP while striking out 45 in 35 innings pitched. A second team all-WAMAC West Division pick, the right-handed throwing DuBay limited opponents to a .231 batting average against.

P – Will Litton, Jr., Regina – Among the best overall players in Class 2A Litton continued to build on his impressive career resume with a stellar junior season. Litton was a unanimous first team all-River Valley Conference South Division selection after going 5-1 with a save while posting a .93 ERA and .96 WHIP with 60 strikeouts in 45 innings pitched. Opponents hit just .196 off Litton this season as the junior right-hander allowed just 33 hits and 10 walks in 45 innings. Litton also hit .449 with two home runs, 25 runs and 31 RBI.

C – Carson Kidwell, Sr., Solon – A leader for Solon both behind the plate and in the lineup Kidwell capped an impressive two-year stretch with a strong senior season to help the Spartans to a 24-10 record and spot in a 3A substate title game. Kidwell batted .366 with nine extra-base hits, 24 walks and 34 RBI while earning second team all-WAMAC East Division honors. A Luther College recruit, Kidwell had a .477 on-base percentage and .952 OPS.

C – Kaleb Moeller, Jr., Regina – A breakthrough season from Moeller played a key role in Regina posting its highest win total since 2018 with its 26-4 season. Moeller earned first team all-River Valley Conference South Division honors after batting .435 with 12 extra-base hits, 24 runs, a team-high 18 stolen bases and 23 RBI. Moeller posted a .523 on-base percentage and 1.110 OPS.

C – Pryor Reiners, Jr., Liberty High – Reiners followed up a stellar debut season with another strong season behind the plate while helping the Lightning make back-to-back state tournament appearances. A Mississippi Valley Conference all-division honorable mention pick, Reiners batted .313 with five extra-base hits, 24 RBI and 16 runs scored.

INF – Luke Young, Jr., Clear Creek Amana – The WAMAC West Division player of the year, Young continued to cement his status as one of the top infielders in Class 3A. Young batted .392 with 16 extra-base hits, three home runs, 32 runs and 29 RBI while posting a .524 on-base percentage and 1.153 OPS. Young also went 2-1 with two saves, a 2.33 ERA and 11 strikeouts in nine innings pitched.

INF – James O’Connor, Jr., Liberty High – In his varsity debut season O’Connor solidified the shortstop spot for Liberty High while also making an immediate impact in the lineup. O’Connor batted .344 with seven extra base hits, 10 RBI, 17 stolen bases and 35 runs scored while drawing 21 walks and posting a .884 OPS.

INF – Eric Strunk, Jr., Liberty High – Another first-year player to make a major impact for the Lightning during their state tournament season Strunk emerged as an efficient run producer in the middle of the Liberty High lineup. Strunk batted .392 with 12 extra-base hits and a team-high 31 RBI while scoring 38 runs and posting a .991 OPS on his way to earning Mississippi Valley Conference all-division second team honors.

INF – Jaydon Leonard, Jr., Regina – Leonard made a massive impact in his first season in the Regina lineup earning first team all-River Valley Conference South Division honors after helping the Regals to their highest win total since 2018. The slick-fielding shortstop batted .410 with eight extra-base hits, 37 runs, 12 stolen bases and 30 RBI while posting an OPS of 1.001. Leonard also went 4-0 with a save while posting a .78 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with 36 strikeouts in 18 innings of relief.

INF – Owen Harms, Sr., West High – Harms had a monster senior season leading the Trojans in seven major offensive categories on his way to being a Mississippi Valley Conference all-division first team selection. The senior first baseman led West High in batting average (.432), hits (48), extra-base hits (20), RBI (35), on-base percentage (.530), slugging percentage (.658) and OPS (1.188) and scored 29 runs, with two home runs and nine stolen bases. Harms also went 2-4 with a 6.77 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 30 innings pitched.

*INF – Evan Schmierer, Sr., Liberty High – A three-year starter and three-time Mississippi Valley Conference all-division pick Schmierer cemented his status as one of the state’s best players with a monster senior season in which he ranked in the top five in 4A in batting average (.496), hits (65) and stolen bases (40). A unanimous MVC all-Mississippi Division selection, Schmierer scored 45 runs and had career-highs in extra-base hits (16), doubles (10), triples (6), RBI (30), on-base percentage (.577) and OPS (1.241). Schmierer drew 21 walks, had a team-high eight sacrifice bunts and struck out just four times in 164 plate appearances. A career .404 hitter, Schmierer closed his prep career with 149 hits, 120 runs, 83 stolen bases, 68 RBI, 58 walks and just 27 strikeouts.

INF – Garrett Sotzen, Jr., West Branch – One of the top hitters in Class 2A over the past several seasons Sotzen took his game to a different level with a monster junior season in which he ranked 11^th in the state in batting average. Sotzen batted .552 with 20 extra-base hits, six home runs, 42 RBI and 46 runs scored. A first-team all-River Valley Conference South Division pick, Sotzen had 35 stolen bases, drew 16 walks and had an OPS of 1.487. Sotzen also went 3-2 with a 3.53 ERA and struck out 47 in 37 2/3 innings pitched.

INF – Jack Gavin, Jr., Regina – A stalwart in the Regina lineup the past several seasons Gavin continued to produce at a high level while helping the Regals to a 26-4 record. The junior third baseman batted .383 with 12 extra-base hits, two home runs, 26 runs and 29 RBI with a 1.061 OPS on his way to earning first team all-River Valley Conference South Division honors.

OF – Luke Merrick, Soph., Solon – Merrick enjoyed a major breakthrough season leading Solon in batting average (.396), extra-base hits (23), home runs (11), RBI (43), stolen bases (14), on-base percentage (.527) and OPS (1.368) on his way to earning first team all-WAMAC East Division honors. Merrick also went 1-1 with a 4.33 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 21 innings pitched.

OF – Dylan Gorham, Sr., Solon – A four-year starter in center field for the Spartans, Gorham closed his career with his best season earning first team all-WAMAC East Division honors after leading Solon in both hits (43) and runs (47). Gorham batted a career-best .384 with 13 extra-base hits, a home run, 11 RBI and nine stolen bases while posting a 1.037 OPS.

OF – Hunter Knorr, Sr., West Branch – In his first season in the West Branch lineup Knorr made an immediate impact both at the plate and on the mound to help the Bears to their best season since 2019. Knorr batted .396 with 18 extra-base hits, four home runs, 36 RBI, 10 stolen bases and 35 runs scored. A first-team River Valley Conference South Division pick, Knorr also went 3-3 with a pair of saves while posting a 3.84 ERA and striking out 41 in 34 2/3 innings pitched.  

OF – Texton Bollers, Soph., Clear Creek Amana – One of the most exciting young players in the state Bollers flashed impressive potential in a breakthrough sophomore season in which he earned second team all-WAMAC West Division accolades. A two-way standout, Bollers batted .364 with eight home runs, 32 RBI, 32 runs and 20 stolen bases while posting a 1.119 OPS. Bollers also struck out 27 in 20 1/3 innings pitched while posting a 6.54 ERA.

UTIL – Paxton Bell, Sr., City High – One of the top two-way players in Class 4A this season Bell posted the best season of his career this summer as a senior helping City High to a 22-19 record. A unanimous Mississippi Valley Conference all-division first team pick, Bell batted .369 with 14 extra-base hits, two home runs, 38 runs scored, 22 RBI and 38 stolen bases. As a pitcher Bell was just as impressive going 5-3 with a save, posting a 3.42 ERA and 1.56 WHIP while striking out 43 in 43 innings pitched.

UTIL – Del Brewer, Jr., City High – In his first varsity season Brewer emerged as the next in a long line of impressive two-way weapons for the Litle Hawks. The junior infielder/pitcher batted .301 with 24 runs scored, 18 RBI and 30 stolen bases and also went 3-3 with a save while logging a 2.35 ERA and 1.32 WHIP with 45 strikeouts in 41 2/3 innings pitched while earning Mississippi Valley Conference all-division second team honors.

UTIL – Luke Deike, Jr., Solon – A two-way standout for the Spartans Deike was a first team all-WAMAC East Division pick after enjoying a breakthrough season both at the plate and on the mound. Deike went 6-4 with a 2.72 ERA and 1.33 WHIP while striking out 56 in 54 innings pitched. Deike also batted .383 with 39 RBI, 10 runs and an OPS of .831.

*- Denotes Captain

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