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Iowa all-state baseball 2021: 3A champion Marion has 4 first-teamers
Owen Puk named Class 3A captain
K.J. Pilcher
Aug. 3, 2021 12:00 am
Marion produced its best season in school history, concluding with the program’s first state baseball title and a single-season record 37 victories.
Marion reaped team success and players have individual honors to accompany it.
Four Indians (now Wolves) earned first-team all-state honors from the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association, including Owen Puk, who was named captain of the Class 3A team.
Senior Gage Franck was selected as an outfielder and Puk was a utility pick for his work at first and on the mound. They were joined by pitcher Boede Rahe and freshman shortstop Myles Davis.
“The entire roster of players — 1 through 19 — has made an impact and accepted roles,” Marion Coach Steve Fish said. “The culture of this team is so accepting.
“Our senior class, led by Owen and Gage, are unsung heroes. They are truly a special group.”
Franck and Puk have been varsity members since their eighth-grade season and have been a part of four state tournament teams, including two semifinal finishes and Saturday’s championship.
“It’s neat to see them grow up, mature and take on that leadership,” Fish said. “Those are our purebred baseball guys.”
Puk will continue his career at Florida International University. Franck will play at DMACC. According to Fish, those schools are getting quality people on and off the field.
“They’re even better kids than they are baseball players,” Fish said. “They’ve been awesome to coach.”
Puk hit .425 with a .516 on-base percentage. He finished with 51 hits, including 18 doubles (third in 3A), three triples and three home runs. Puk tallied 48 RBIs as well.
The 6-foot-5, 185-pounder posted a 6-0 record and three saves with a 1.54 earned-run average. Puk struck out 55 batters in 36 1/3 innings, limiting batters to a .103 batting average. He made 10 pitching appearances and five starts, earning the 9-2 win against DeWitt Central in a state semifinal.
Franck earned his second all-state honor from the IPSWA, receiving third-team honors in 2019. He batted .424 with a .527 on-base percentage. Franck rapped 61 hits — second only to Davis in 3A — and scored a 3A-best 68 times. He also stole 35 bases in 38 attempts.
The team accomplishment was more important than personal accolades.
“I can’t think of anything better than this to end my high school career,” Franck said after scoring the winning run in a 7-6 victory over Dubuque Wahlert in the 3A final. “State championship walk-off.”
Davis led 3A with 70 hits, ranking second with 50 singles, and was third in the class with 96 total bases. His 16 doubles was good for fifth in 3A. Davis batted .496 with a .565 on-base percentage and drove in 48 runs, hitting a sacrifice fly to score Franck with the winning run Saturday. He was also 7-0 on the mound. The University of Iowa commit came in to retire Wahlert’s last batter to get the win.
“The kid is 15 years old, but he plays a lot older,” Fish said of Davis. “His body isn’t physically developed yet, but he just has that stuff you can’t coach.”
Rahe was Marion’s ace. He went 11-0 with a 1.07 earned-run average. Rahe struck out 90 batters in in 65 2/3 innings. He earned the win in the state quarterfinals and received a no-decision working 6 2/3 innings in the championship game.
Cedar Rapids Xavier reached the state semifinals for the second time in three seasons. The Saints placed two on the first team and three overall were chosen.
Junior pitcher Alex Neal and senior middle infielder Jack Lux were named to the first team. Neal finished 9-0 with a 1.56 ERA. He struck out 86 batters in 63 innings, fanning six through three innings in an 18-3 state quarterfinal win over MOC-Floyd Valley. He also batted .378 with 43 RBIs.
Lux led 3A with nine triples and hit .411 with a .557 on-base percentage. Twenty-four of his 46 hits were for extra bases and he drew 36 walks.
Xavier teammate Myles Butkowski was selected to the third team.
Western Dubuque’s Sawyer Nauman had a monster offensive season and was first-team first baseman. He led 3A in batting average (.548), on-base percentage (.686), slugging percentage (1.140) and RBIs (57). The Mississippi Valley Conference Mississippi Division Player of the Year was second in the class with 12 home runs and 106 total bases.
Maquoketa’s Kannon Coakley claimed first-team honors as a catcher. He led 3A with 22 doubles, batting .486 with a .574 on-base percentage and 52 total hits.
Cedar Rapids Kennedy junior Dylan Davis, Cedar Rapids Prairie center fielder Bronx Lewis and Iowa City West pitcher Marcus Morgan were first-team selections in Class 4A.
Dylan Davis led 4A with 13 home runs, sharing the all-class lead with Wahlert’s Jake Brosius. Davis batted .466 with a .559 on-base percentage, 55 hits and 53 RBIs. He also was named MVC Valley Division Player of the Year. Davis tapped into his power early.
“At the beginning of the season, I found myself getting jammed a lot by inside pitches, so I took my big leg kick away,” Davis said. “I just stay slow on the bottom and keep my hands back. I’m already to swing no matter how fast the pitcher is throwing.”
Lewis batted leadoff for Prairie’s high-powered offense that reached the state semifinals. He was one of three Hawks to receive all-state honors. Lewis batted .394, reaching base at a .497 clip. His six triples tied for second in 4A. He finished with 56 hits, 12 doubles, 45 runs and 28 stolen bases.
“He’s the straw that stirs the drink,” Prairie Coach James Nelson said after winning the Bob Vrbicek Metro tournament. “His presence at the top of the lineup, knowing he’s going to put up a good at-bat every time and his speed.”
Prairie eft-handed pitcher and Kentucky signee Jackson Nove made the second team, while catcher Brandon Vlcko was on the third team.
Morgan finished 4-2 with a 1.48 ERA, striking out 108 batters in just 56 2/3 innings. He also batted .396 with a .517 on-base percentage. Morgan added six home runs and 48 RBIs for West.
North Linn’s Austin Hilmer was a first-team pick in 1A. The Lynx junior was 10-1 with a 1.16 ERA, collecting 73 strikeouts in 60 1/3 innings. He also batted .439 with a .521 on-base percentage. Hilmer scored 70 times and had 58 hits. He set the state’s single-season stolen base record with 75.
“He is the motor that drives this team,” North Linn Coach Travis Griffith said. “We got a lot of young kids that played this summer and they all look up to him on how we do things at this level. He had another phenomenal year offensively and defensively.
“He is an extremely hard worker that never takes a play off. One of the most competitive players I have ever coached.”
In Class 2A, Mid-Prairie’s Aidan Rath was named to the first-team outfield. He hit .494 with 12 home runs and 40 RBIs, posting a 1.106 slugging percentage. Jesup infielder Brodie Kresser was picked as a first-team infielder.
Class 4A
FIRST TEAM
Pitchers — Brody Brecht, sr., Ankeny; Seth Clausen, sr., Pleasant Valley; Jackson Wentworth, sr., Waukee
Catcher — Gehrig Christensen, sr., Urbandale
First base — Weston Fulk, sr., Ankeny
Infield — Jesus Jaime, sr., Ottumwa; Ben Wilmes, sr., Johnston; Kellen Strohmeyer, jr., Dubuque Hempstead
Outfield — Dylan Davis, jr., Cedar Rapids Kennedy; Bronx Lewis, sr., Cedar Rapids Prairie; Carter Thomas, jr., Mason City
Utility — Marcus Morgan, sr., Iowa City West; Alex Clemons, sr., Pleasant Valley
Captain — Brody Brecht, sr., Ankeny
SECOND TEAM
Pitchers — Jackson Nove, sr., Cedar Rapids Prairie; Blake Larson, fr., West Des Moines Dowling; Evan Borst, sr., Norwalk
Catcher — Dominic DeLaPaz, sr., Davenport West
First base — John Doty, sr., Waukee
Infield — Jase Bauer, sr., Ankeny; Mitch Wood, sr., Ottumwa; Gabe Swansen, sr., Johnston
Outfield — Shea Stickell, jr., Des Moines Roosevelt; Logan Runde, sr., Dubuque Hempstead; Ryan Mumey, sr., Pleasant Valley
Utility — Charlie Corell, sr., West Des Moines Dowling, Alex Gold, sr., Mason City
THIRD TEAM
Pitchers — Colton McKinnon, sr., Ottumwa; Jake Pemble, jr., Johnston; Cade Obermueller, jr., Iowa City High
Catcher — Brandon Vlcko, jr., Cedar Rapids Prairie
First base — Ben Phillips, jr., Cedar Falls
Infield — Gable Mitchell, jr., Iowa City High; Sam Skarich, jr., North Scott, Gavin Guns, sr., Dubuque Senior
Outfield — Kael Kolarik, jr., Indianola, Max White, sr., Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Dillon Kuehl, jr., Urbandale
Utility — Cael Boever, sr., Sioux City East; Evan Helvig, sr., Sioux City North
Class 3A
FIRST TEAM
Pitchers — Boede Rahe, jr., Marion; Aaron Savary, jr., Dubuque Wahlert; Alex Neal, jr., Cedar Rapids Xavier
Catcher — Kannon Coakley, sr., Maquoketa
First base — Sawyer Nauman, sr., Western Dubuque
Infield — Myles Davis, fr., Marion, Jack Lux, sr.; Cedar Rapids Xavier; Sam Petersen, sr., Ballard
Outfield — Jake Brosius, sr., Dubuque Wahlert; Gage Franck, sr., Marion; Mike Hudson, sr., Knoxville
Utility — Boomer Johnson, sr., DeWitt Central; Owen Puk, sr., Marion
Captain — Owen Puk, Marion
SECOND TEAM
Pitchers — Tyler Olson, sr., Webster City; Joe Husak, sr., North Polk; Mark Eddie, sr., Storm Lake
Catcher — Keegan Schmitt, jr., Independence
First base — Ian Gill, jr., Sioux City Heelan
Infield — Kayden Anderson, fr., Glenwood; Blake Timmons, soph., Solon; Chance Key, jr., Waverly-Shell Rock
Outfield — Carson Jager, soph., MOC-Floyd Valley; Max Stein, jr., Davenport Assumption; Dawson Forgey, jr.; Winterset
Utility — Cael Luzum, sr., Decorah; Justin Hackett, jr., Winterset
THIRD TEAM
Pitchers — Jett Neuberger, jr., Clear Lake; Brady Steward, jr., Grinnell; Morgan Smith, sr., Boone
Catcher — Jack Walsh, soph., Dubuque Wahlert
First base — Clayton Campidilli, soph., Dallas Center-Grimes
Infield — Brett White, fr., Solon; Slade Sibenaller, sr., Carroll; Jason Thurman, sr., Fort Madison
Outfield — C.J. Hisler, soph., Webster City; Justin Recker, sr., Monticello; Alex Godfredsen, sr., Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley
Utility — Myles Butkowski, sr., Cedar Rapids Xavier; Noah Mack, jr., Davenport Assumption
Class 2A
FIRST TEAM
Pitchers — Dante Dolash, sr., South Hardin; Nolan Faber, sr., Roland-Story; Gannon Archer, jr., Van Meter
Catcher — Brody Boehnke, sr., Garner GHV
First base — Merrick Mathews, sr., Centerville
Infield — Tanner Schouten, sr., Unity Christian; Trey Oehlertz, sr., Pocahontas Area; Brodie Kresser, sr., Jesup
Outfield — Zach Pleggenkuhle, sr., Van Meter; Kaden Davis, sr., West Marshall; Aidan Rath, sr., Mid-Prairie
Utility — Brady Kauzlarich, sr., Centerville; Drew Taylor, sr., Panorama
Captain — Zach Pleggenkuhle, Van Meter
SECOND TEAM
Pitchers — Jake DeJoode, jr., Pleasantville; Jack Emer, sr., Garner GHV; Nate Cagley, jr., Jesup
Catcher — Evan Taylor, sr., Panorama
First base — Carter Hewitt, sr., South Hamilton
Infield — Mike Delzell, jr., Camanche; Bryce Phelps, sr., Denver; Clayton Bosma, sr., Unity Christian
Outfield — Jaxson Schumacher, soph., Treynor; Seth Busch, jr., Estherville-Lincoln Central; Jacob Blomgren, sr., Van Meter
Utility — Reese Moore, jr., Forest City; Tyler Oberfoell, jr., Osage
THIRD TEAM
Pitchers — Nate Dierickx, sr., Durant; Brady Seuntjens, sr., Mapleton MVAOCOU; Cade Hughes, jr., Northeast
Catcher — Dawson Townsend, jr., Davis County
First base — Easton Stusse, jr., Hinton
Infield — Ben Orr, jr., Durant; Michael Shull, sr., Clarinda; Aaron Wilkins, sr., Pleasantville
Outfield — Levi Weldon, sr., Williamsburg; Alex Feldman, sr., Waterloo Columbus; Cade Ward, jr., Interstate 35
Utility — Caleb Wulf, jr., West Liberty; Blake Hall, sr., Underwood
Class 1A
FIRST TEAM
Pitchers — Blaine Harpenau, sr., Remsen St. Mary’s; Austin Hilmer, jr., North Linn; Leyton Nelson, sr., Tri-Center
Catcher — Max Burt, soph., Mason City Newman
First base — Isaac Sherrill, sr., Council Bluffs St. Albert
Infield — Cy Patterson, sr., Council Bluffs St. Albert; Cael Frost, sr., Don Bosco; Ryan Cole, sr., Saint Ansgar
Outfield — Brendon Monahan, soph., Council Bluffs St. Albert; Ryan Naughton, jr., Don Bosco; Carter Bleil, jr., Woodbury Central
Utility — Lane Spieker, jr., Anita CAM; Nash Holmgaard, jr., Mason City Newman
Captain — Blaine Harpenau, Remsen St. Mary’s
SECOND TEAM
Pitchers — Evan Neumann, soph., Kingsley-Pierson; Doug Taylor, soph., Mason City Newman; Dalton Dibert, jr., Lansing Kee
Catcher — Carter Salz, sr., Saint Ansgar
First base — Reed Stallman, sr., Alburnett
Infield — Levi Waldschmitt, sr., Remsen St. Mary’s; Jaixon Frost, soph., Mount Ayr; Casey Hanson, sr., Lake Mills
Outfield — Damon Schmid, jr., Kingsley-Pierson; Tyson Cota, jr., Lansing Kee; Cade Molyneux, jr., Sigourney
Utility — Parker Sternhagen, sr., Maquoketa Valley; Colby Rich, jr., Anita CAM
THIRD TEAM
Pitchers — Spencer Hansen, soph., Colo-Nesco; Kale Rose, sr., Alburnett; Ethan Luzum, sr., South Winneshiek
Catcher — Tucker Gibbar, jr., New London
First base — Jace Gentz, sr., Northwood-Kensett
Infield — Jackson Howe, jr., Kingsley-Pierson; Trent Kozeal, sr., Tri-Center; Kasey Carter, Martensdale-St. Marys
Outfield — Brady Templeton, sr., Bellevue Marquette; Kyphus Goche, sr., Algona Garrigan; Ryan Greenfield, soph., Newell-Fonda
Utility — Brayden Sawyer, jr., Grundy Center; Matthew Henrich, jr., Mason City Newman
Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com