Top stars, best performances in Iowa high school baseball (May 15-21)
By Barry Poe
Here are some stars from the first week of high school baseball games across Iowa.
If you know of a top performance we should include, please let us know.
Luke Sigwarth, Dyersville Beckman
The junior outfielder had two singles, a double and a home run, three RBIs and three stolen bases in a doubleheader sweep of Monticello. Then, in a 16-8 loss to North Scott, Sigwarth had four hits, including a homer, and knocked in five runs and finished the week 10-for-11.
Kade Knock, Cedar Rapids Prairie
The senior was 8-for-15 at the plate as the Hawks opened the season with doubleheader sweeps over Linn-Mar and Iowa City High.
Rowan Donels, Cedar Rapids Kennedy
The senior collected eight hits in his first nine at-bats of the season, with two doubles, seven RBI and five stolen bases. Kennedy won three of its first four contests and Daniels finished 11 of 17 with 10 RBIs and notched two pitching wins.
Isaac Then, Western Dubuque
The senior first baseman was 7-for-13 with two doubles and six RBIs as the Bobcats started the season with four straight victories.
Jeremy Anderson, Calamus-Wheatland
The freshman third baseman had a hot start to his first varsity season. He was 7-for-13 with a double and eight RBIs in the Warriors’ first three games.
Jonathan Wille, Dubuque Senior
Although the Rams lost their first four games, Wille, a senior, had six hits, including three triples and a double.
Jack Walsh, Dubuque Wahlert
The senior was 6-for-14 at the plate and pitched three scoreless innings with two saves, as the Golden Knights swept Dubuque Hempstead and Cedar Rapids Washington.
Brody Hoffmann, Cedar Rapids Xavier
The Saints started the season with three wins in their first four games. Hoffmann, a senior first baseman, was 6-for-15 with two doubles and three RBIs, along with a couple of stolen bases.
Cooper Schenck, Cedar Rapids Xavier
The senior chipped in six hits (11 at-bats) and four RBIs for the Saints in their first four games of the season.
Eli Cedillo, Sioux City North
The junior collected six hits in 12 at-bats for the Stars as they started the season with sweeps of Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln and Harlan. For the week, he was 11-for-18 with 11 RBIs.
Brett Harris, Western Dubuque
The freshman utility player drove in nine runs in the Bobcats’ first five games. Harris was 6-for-16 for a .375 average in that span as Western Dubuque got off to a 5-0 start.
Lucas Moore, Boone
The sophomore had five hits in his first seven at-bats of the season. Moore collected two doubles, a triple and a homer, driving in seven runs.
Reid Tigges, Spencer
In his first five at-bats of the season, the senior had three singles, a triple, home run and seven RBIs.
Kolby Scott, MVAOCOU
The senior had a torrid start to his season, getting six hits in nine at-bats (.667) with a double and six RBIs. Scott was also the winning pitcher in a 5-3 victory over Missouri Valley, striking out eight in four innings.
Cael Shepley, Baxter
Shepley, a senior shortstop-pitcher, had a double, two singles and six RBIs in his first five at-bats. He also picked up a pitching win, working five innings with six strikeouts.
Gavin Sleezer, Alta-Aurelia
The sophomore was 4-for-9 with a double, home run and five RBIs as the Warriors won two of their first three games.
Kyle Smith, North Scott
The sophomore was the winning pitcher in each of the Lancers’ first two contests. Smith gave up six hits in eight innings striking out 16.
Justin Thomas, Waterloo East
Thomas recorded pitching victories in East’s first two games of the season. Thomas worked a total of four innings, allowing no runs and fanning four.
Nate Anderson, Iowa City West
The senior picked up pitching wins against Muscatine and Cedar Rapids Xavier. Anderson threw 4.2 innings of hitless ball, striking out four.
Tanner Anderson, Western Dubuque
The sophomore was the pitcher of record in two of the Bobcats’ five wins to start the season. Anderson struck out five in 4.1 innings.
Grant Jansen, ADM
The sophomore struck out 17 Van Meter batters in a complete-game two-hitter. He threw 101 pitches and walked two as ADM blanked the defending 2A state champions.
Cael Turner, Creston
Turner won two games and struck out a combined 20 batters for the Panthers, who are off to a 4-0 start. He allowed two earned runs in 10.2 innings.
Sam Kueter, Iowa City High
The junior hit .400 with three doubles and nine RBIs. Kueter collected eight hits in 20 at-bats in the Little Hawks’ first five games.
Milo Kelley, Davenport Central
The sophomore slugged three home runs in his first 13 at-bats of the season. Kelley finished the week hitting .538 with nine RBIs.
Jayden Cordova, Saydel
The senior struck out 19 batters in 8.2 innings pitched. He won one and lost one during the first week of action.
Ethen Roberts, Mason City
The senior righthander pitched a no-hitter in a 6-0 win over Clear Lake. Roberts struck out 17 and the only blemishes on his slate were three walks.
Mack Ortner, Don Bosco
The senior struck out 16 while throwing a complete-game no-hitter against Gladbrook-Reinbeck. The Iowa Western baseball commit had a busy week, placing in both the discus and shot put in the state track meet.
Aidan Mundt, Chariton
The senior pitched a no-hitter against Southeast Warren, striking out 14. He walked four in the 98-pitch effort.