Top stars, best performances in Iowa high school baseball (June 12-18)

By Barry Poe 

Here are some stars from this week’s high school baseball games across Iowa.

If you know of a top performance we should include, please email nate@scorebooklive.com. 

Tyler Welch, Davenport Assumption

Welch had four hits in eight plate appearances in a sweep of Davenport North. Welch pitched a three-hitter in the first game, and the Knights pounded 20 hits in the nightcap.

Ryer Crichton, West Lyon

Crichton went 3-for-3 with a triple and five RBIs from the leadoff spot as the Wildcats (11-1) rolled past Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley, 19-4. Crichton also stole two bases and scored four runs.

Nick Severson, Ankeny Centennial

The senior catcher was 4-for-4 with two RBIs as the Class 4A top-ranked Jaguars beat Urbandale, 12-1, in the first game of a doubleheader. Urbandale, though, handed Centennial just its second loss with a 2-1 win in the nightcap.

Cal Sullivan, Cedar Rapids Prairie

The senior catcher had two doubles and a homer, driving in four runs for the 4A second-ranked Hawks in a 7-4 win over No. 8 Cedar Rapids Kennedy. Kennedy won the first game of the doubleheader, 7-6.

Sam Hesselman, Johnston

The senior drove in four runs with a single and double, leading the third-ranked Dragons past Waukee Northwest, 13-5, in the second game of a doubleheader.

Karson Keesey, Southeast Polk

The senior homered and drove in three runs for the fourth-ranked Rams in a 13-5 victory over Des Moines East.

Caden McDermott, Pleasant Valley

The senior outfielder collected four hits in five at-bats with two triples, driving in a pair for the No. 5 Spartans in a 16-4 win over Linn-Mar. McDermott also scored a couple of runs.

Jack Doolittle, Lewis Central

The senior had a single and double and a key RBI in the Class 3A second-ranked Titans’ 5-3 victory over Waukee. Logan Manz also had two hits and drove in a run.

Nick Cox, North Polk

The senior dialed a four-hit shutout, striking out 12, as the third-ranked Class 3A Comets blanked Saydel, 3-0.

Beau Leisure, Knoxville

The senior struck out 16 batters and allowed only two hits in 6.1 innings of a 6-1 win over Davis County. The 3A fourth-ranked Panthers (22-1) have won nine in a row.

Kaden Frommelt, Marion

The senior hit two homers and drove in five runs and was the winning pitcher in an 18-2 win over Center Point-Urbana in the second game of a doubleheader. Frommelt had three hits and knocked in three as Marion won the first game, 10-6.

Rhett Pleggenkuhle, Van Meter

The top-ranked and defending Class 2A state champions blanked Woodward-Granger, 2-0, as Pleggenkuhle struck out 10 and gave up one hit in 6.2 innings of relief. That avenged a 4-3 loss to W-G in the opener.

Karson Grout, Mid-Prairie

The junior shortstop was 4-for-5 with a triple and six RBIs in a 16-2 win over Treynor for the 2A second-ranked Hawks.

Luke Schietz, Dyersville Beckman

The senior was 5-for-5 with two doubles and three RBIs as the Class 2A fourth-ranked Trailblazers rolled to a 14-4 win over South Winneshiek.

Mason Boothby, Underwood

The junior picked up a pitching win and had two hits and an RBI as the Eagles won their 11th straight, 5-4, over Woodbury Central.

Doug Taylor, Mason City Newman

The senior and future Iowa Hawkeye had 18 strikeouts and allowed three hits in a 9-0 triumph over Nashua-Plainfield for the Class 1A top-ranked Knights. Vinny Joslin collected four hits and drove in four.

Jackson Nissen, Kingsley-Pierson

The junior was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and picked up a pitching win, allowing no hits while striking out nine in four innings. The second-rated 1A Panthers (18-1) bounced back from their first loss of the season, 5-1, to Don Bosco.

Jaxon Bunkers, Remsen St. Mary’s

The Hawks won three games in the Granville Spalding tournament, running their winning streak to 11 games. Bunkers was a combined 5-for-8 at the plate with two doubles, a home run and five RBIs, while going nine innings for a pitching win in a 3-2 victory over Akron-Westfield.

Corder Noun Harder, Lynnville-Sully

The Class 1A fourth-ranked Hawks stayed unbeaten at 18-0 with a doubleheader sweep of West Marshall. Noun Harder was 5-for-6 with a homer, four RBIs and three runs scored.

Mason Bechen, North Linn

Bechen, a sophomore shortstop, was 3-for-3 with a single, triple, homer and three RBIs in a 12-3 win over North Fayette Valley. North Linn (17-3) bounced back from a 4-3 loss to Dyersville Beckman.

Sam Harris, Urbandale

The senior had two hits, including a homer, in a 6-5 win over West Des Moines Valley. Harris leads the state with 13 round-trippers.

Kayden Anderson, Glenwood

The junior picked up three hits in a 6-5 win over Harlan. Anderson leads the state with a .686 batting average, with 24 hits in 35 at-bats.

William Kiburis, Gladbrook-Reinbeck

The senior stole two bases against Hampton-Dumont-CAL, giving him a state-high 40 for the season. Kiburis has been thrown out just four times in 44 attempts and also has a state-leading seven pitching wins and 87 strikeouts.

Jackson Manning, Van Buren County

The senior shortstop had four RBIs for the 17-2 Warriors in a 16-0 win over Highland. Manning ranks second in the state behind Mason City Newman’s Doug Taylor with 37 RBIs.

Koleson Evans, West Harrison

The senior collected four hits in two wins in the West Harrison tournament. Evans is hitting a robust .604 for the season, second in the state.