DES MOINES — Members of the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association met Saturday at Principal Park in Des Moines to select the 2019 All-State baseball teams as well as team captains. Chosen were Josh Fitzgerald, of Newman Catholic, in Class 1A; in Class 2A, North Linn’s Jake Hilmer; in Class 3A Cedar Rapids Xavier’s Garrett Finley; and in Class 4A Johnston’s Peyton Williams.
Locally, Fairfield’s Austin Simpson was picked for Class 3A First Team at first base and teammate Kosta Papazogolou was Third Team catcher. Mid-Prairie’s Brad Tornow was selected to the Class 2A Third Team at pitcher. Pekin’s Tanner Bainbridge was Class 1A Third Team infielder.
Papazogolou hit .474 on the year and also finished the season with 10 doubles, one triple, 10 home runs and 38 runs batted in. His home run total was third in Class 3A. He did work on the mound as well, finishing with a 7-2 record and a 0.97 ERA.
Simpson was just behing Papazogolou with a .473 average, but led 3A in homers. He hit seven doubles and 16 home runs this season and led the Trojans with 49 RBIs.
Tornow hit .417 (which was sixth in the River Valley Conferece South) with seven doubles, four triples (which led the division) and batted in 12 runs from his spot at the top of the order. His 43 hits and 103 at bats were both first in the division and his 32 runs scored were third. he struck out just seven times.
Tornow stole 21 bases in 23 attempts, good for sixth in the division.
Bainbridge led the Southeast Iowa Super Conference North Division in hits (40), home runs (5), slugging percentage (.861), on base percentage (.608) and runs batted in (31). His .506 batting average was second.
On the mound, Bainbridge had a 4-1 record with 44 strikeouts in 22 2/3 innings pitched. He had a 2.78 earned run average and opponents batted .115 against him.
On the mound, Tornow had a 7-0 record with an earned run average of 1.02. He fanned 102 in 55 innings pitched, which led the division, with just 12 walks. Opponents batted just. 167 against him.
Class 1A captain Fitzgerald led Newman Catholic to a 38-3 record and the Class 1A state title in an 11-1, six-inning win over Alburnett. Fitzgerald went 1-2, scoring two runs and driving in a pair with a home run and a pair of sacrifice flies in the finals. During the season he ripped 26 doubles, three triples and 15 home runs, driving in 42 runs. He hit a scorching .568 with an on-base percentage of .616 while slugging at an .838 clip. In 15 mound appearances, he earned a 1-0 record with three saves with an ERA of 1.71
Hilmer added Class 2A captain to his collection of accolades, which also includes Mr. Basketball. He is the first athlete in the state to earn both awards. He and the Lynx, who finished the year at 40-6, fell 6-0 to Van Meter in the title game. He boasts a 15-2 record with one save in 18 pitching appearances. Over 85 innings he finished with a microscopic ERA of 0.75.
Class 3A captain Finley propelled Central DeWitt to the best season in program history. The catcher and three-year starter led the Sabers to a 38-win campaign and a state runner-up finish in the Class 3A tournament. Finley hit safely in 37 games for Central DeWitt, including 21 contests with two hits or more. Headed to play baseball at Central College in Pella this fall, Finley was second in 3A in runs batted in (53), third in batting average (.498) and among the top 10 in doubles (15). Besides catching a staff that included two all-state players, Finley, the WaMaC East Division player of the year, also was 6-0 on the mound with a 2.01 ERA. Among those victories was a 3-2 decision over Dubuque Wahlert in the substate final to secure the school’s third trip to the state tournament.
No one hit more home runs in the state of Iowa this season than Johnston’s Peyton Williams, the Class 4A captain. The first baseman and Iowa recruit finished the season with a .480 average, 17 doubles, 16 home runs and 57 RBIs in leading the Dragons to a 36-6 record and a state runner-up finish in Class 4A. A four-year starter, Williams was part of four state tournament teams and 140 victories. He finished his career with 27 home runs and 160 RBIs for the Dragons, who spent the majority of this season ranked No. 1.
First, second and third teams were selected in each class.
CLASS 1A FIRST TEAM
Pitcher: Blaine Harpenau, Remsen St. Mary, Sophomore; Keaton Parker, Alburnett, Senior; Caleb Banowetz, Calamus-Wheatland, Junior
Catcher: Colby Page, SE Warren, Senior
First Base: Reed Stallman, Alburnett, Sophomore
Infield: Evan Paulson, Newman Catholic, Senior; Cael Frost, Don Bosco, Sophomore; Tyler Tscherter, Gladbrook-Reinbeck, Junior
Outfield: Josh Fitzterald, Newman Catholic, Senior; Hunter Rickles, Calamus-Wheatland, Senior; Dylan Fry, Belle Plaine, Senior
Utility: Colin Kramer, St. Ansgar, Senior; Drew Schurke, AR-WE-VA, Senior
CLASS 1A SECOND TEAM
Pitcher: Christian Cook, Coon Rapids-Bayard, Senior; Brody Wolf, HLV, Junior; Nathan Keck, Kingsley-Pierson, Senior
Catcher: Tyler Vandewater, Nodaway Valley, Junior
First Base: Aaron Fleming, GMG, Senior
Infield: Bryce Coppock, Newell-Fonda, Junior; Layne Pryor, Woodbine, Sophomore; Cy Patterson, St Albert, Sophomore
Outfield; Dean Schaull, HLV, Senior; Luke Oleson, Kingsley-Pierson, Junior; Kendall Becker, Don Bosco, Senior
Utility: Bryce Schares, Don Bosco, Senior; Skylar Waldschmitt, Remsen St. Mary, Junior
CLASS 1A THIRD TEAM
Pitcher: Carter Nelson Baxter Junior, Isaac Gavin, Martensdale St. Mary, Junior; Doug Taylor, Newman Catholic, 8th
Catcher: Kody Timm, HLV, Junior
First Base: Trey Baker, Martensdale St. Mary, Sophomore
Infield: Hunter Caves, Alburnett, Senior; Landon Gilliland, Lamoni, Sophomore; Tanner Bainbridge, Pekin, Senior
Outfield: Damon Schmidt, Kingsley-Pierson, Freshman; Austin Huber, Alburnett, Junior; Carson Butz, Moravia, Junior
Utility: Kade Schlepp, Coon Rapids-Bayard, Junior; Noah Tieskoetter, South Winneshiek, Junior
CLASS 2A FIRST TEAM
Pitcher: Jake Hilmer, North Linn, Senior; Briar Rowley, Estherville-Lincoln Central, Senior; Hunter Dekkers, West Sioux, Junior
Catcher: Connor Lange, Missouri Valley, Senior
First Base: Brock Farley Denver Senior
Infield: Christian Davidson, Pocahontas Area, Sophomore; Jalyn Gramstad, West Lyon, Junior; Aiden Brock, Hinton, Junior
Outfield: Owen Grover, Beckman Catholic, Senior; David Seber, North Linn, Senior; Tyler Hopp, Central Lee, Senior
Utility: Jace Davidson, Pocahontas Area, Senior; Colin McCrabb, Wilton, Senior
CLASS 2A SECOND TEAM
Pitcher: Brett Shelton, Des Moines Christian, Senior; Jared Townsend, Wilton, Senior; A. J. Schreck, Kuemper Catholic, Senior
Catcher: Jaxon Schumacher, Treynor, 8th
First Base: Brett Berg, Van Meter, Junior
Infield: Nick Ravlin, Underwood, Junior; Matt Paulsen, West Branch, Junior; Will Dembski, Pella Christian, Senior
Outfield: Kayden Kruse, Ogden, Senior; Ryan Anderson, Pocahontas Area, Junior; Jon Mootz, Monticello, Senior
Utility: Anthony Pothoff, Van Meter, Junior; Gavin Lorenzen, West Lyon, Junior
CLASS 2A THIRD TEAM
Pitcher: Brad Tornow, Mid-Prairie, Senior; Zak Scott, MVOACOU, Senior; Aaron Michael, MVOACOU, Senior
Catcher: Michael Ryherd, Alta-Aurelia, Junior
First Base: Nate McCombs, Treynor, Junior
Infield: Josh Van Beek, West Lyon, Junior; Grant Christy, Des Moines Christian, Senior; Chase Becker, Iowa City Regina, Sophomore
Outfield: Drake Adair, Underwood, Senior; Jacob Blomgren, Van Meter, Sophomore; Hunter Pesek, New Hampton, Junior
Utility: Austin Hilmer, North Linn, Freshman; Keelan Klommhaus, Mount Ayr, Junior
Class 3A FIRST TEAM
Pitcher: Rick Atkins, Marion, Senior; Lucas Bixby, Central DeWitt, Senior; Bryson Bastian, Cedar Rapids Xavier, Senior
Catcher: Garrett Finley, Central DeWitt, Senior
First Base: Austin Simpson, Fairfield, Senior
Infield: Kyle Moeder, Cedar Rapids Xavier, Senior; Brett Sears, Harlan, Senior; Mike Pithan, Sioux City Heelan, Senior
Outfield: Casey Young, Winterset, Junior; Brady Kauzlarich, Centerville, Sophomore; Eric Salazar, Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley, Junior
Utility: Nick Gottilla, Davenport Assumption, Senior; Spencer Kleene, Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Junior
CLASS 3A SECOND TEAM
Pitcher: Tyler Olson, Webster City, Sophomore; Cam Miller, Solon, Junior; Alex McAleer, Central DeWitt, Junior
Catcher: Garrert Ries, Cedar Rapids Xavier, Senior
First Base: Isaiah Henrich, Carlisle, Senior
Infield: Trevor Paulsen, Marion, Senior; Chase McLaren, Atlantic, Senior; Jaen Sitzmann, Sioux City Heelan, Junior
Outfield: Brett Price, Boone, Senior; Tyler Miller, Oskaloosa, Junior; Nate Schlichting, Davenport Assumption, Junior
Utility: Dylan Steen, Webster City, Senior; Daniel Wright, Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Junior
CLASS 3A THIRD TEAM
Pitcher: Logan Smith, Dallas Center-Grimes, Junior; CLark Hood, North Polk, Senior; Connor Bruck, Harlan, Junior
Catcher: Kosta Papazogolou, Fairfield, Senior
First Base: Owen Newton, Humboldt, Senior
Infield: Jeff Lamp, North Polk, Senior; Marcus Klemme, Spencer, Senior; McCann Oden, Centerville, Junior
Outfield: Gage Franck, Marion, Sophomore; Nile Foss, Carlisle, Junior; Easton Darling, Winterset, Junior
Utility: Colton Butler, Oskaloosa, Junior; Brant Hogue, Sioux City Heelan, Junior
CLASS 4A FIRST TEAM
Pitcher: Marcus Morgan, Iowa City West, Sophomore; Jacob Tobey, Johnston, Senior; Ty Langenberg, Urbandale, Junior
Catcher: Calvin Harris, Western Dubuque, Senior
First Base: Peyton Williams, Johnston, Senior
Infield: Alex Pentergast, Des Moines Roosevelt, Junior; Sam Link, Dubuque Senior, Senior; Adam Schneider, Southeast Polk, Senior
Outfield: Andrew Nord, Johnston, Senior; Jason Strunk, Iowa City West, Senior; Evan Martin, Southeast Polk, Junior
Utility: Jack Young, Pleasant Valley, Junior; Carter Baumler, Dowling Catholic, Junior
CLASS 4A SECOND TEAM
Pitcher: Wade Canaday, Marshalltown, Senior; Sam Goodman, Western Dubuque, Senior; Jackson Wentworth, Waukee, Sophomore
Catcher: Ryan Vermeer, Ankeny Centennial, Junior
First Base: Drew Longel, Muscatine, Senior
Infield: Max Holy, Clinton, Junior; Trenton Frerichs, Sioux City North, Senior; Ben Wilmes, Johnston, Sophomore
Outfield: Brock Heinen, Urbandale, Sophomore; Logan Gluba, Davenport West, Senior; Nolan Frey, Iowa City Liberty, Junior
Utility: Alec Patino, Sioux City East, Junior; Hallison Cook, Cedar Rapids Prairie, Senior
CLASS 4A THIRD TEAM
Pitcher: Nick Crandell, Johnston, Junior; Graysen Drezek, North Scott, Junior; Alex Nieman, Sioux City West, Senior
Catcher: Cade Moss, Johnston, Senior
First Base: Ben Sheridan, Dowling Catholic, Senior
Infield: Andrue Henry, Dubuque Hempstead, Junior; Carson Schau, Waukee, Senior; Bryce Crabb, Des Moines East, Senior
Outfield: Greg Hall, Linn-Mar, Senior; Jonah Pomrenke, Lewis Central, Sophomore; Lincoln Riley, Cedar Rapids Washington, Senior
Utility: Brody Brecht, Ankeny, Sophomore; Liam McComas, Iowa City High, Senior