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All-Union small school baseball
Van Buren County’s Jackson Manning named captain, Warrior’s Chad Scott coach
The summer of 2023 gave baseball fans plenty of excitement through the season.
For Union area fans the narrative held true, as talented teams were scattered around the region and yet again Southeast Iowa was represented at the state tournament.
While New London represented in 2022, Van Buren County played its way into the tournament this time around.
It didn’t stop there in terms of state tournamentesque teams, as Mid-Prairie and Hillcrest Academy both came one win short of state.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to talented teams that made the season ever so enticing.
With the 2023 summer season now clearly in the rear view it’s only right to shine a light on a fair few of the athletes that showed off their talent with the 2023 installment of the All-Union small school baseball team.
COACH: Chad Scott, Van Buren County
Van Buren County head coach Chad Scott helped the Warriors take a huge leap in 2023.
A year ago, the Warriors finished with a 12-16 record and came just two games short of state after a regional semifinal loss to Mid-Prairie.
This time around, Scott and the Warriors not only punched a ticket to the 2A state tournament, but did it after getting some revenge on the Golden Hawks, who were rated No. 2, in the district final.
Van Buren County finished the season with a 26-4 overall record, its first 20 plus win season since 2015-16 and the most wins since 2014-15.
The Warriors season came to an end after a heartbreaking loss to West Lyon in the 2A state quarterfinals, 6-5.
CAPTAIN: Jackson Manning (12), Van Buren County
When it came to driving in runs, Van Buren County’s Jackson Manning was the best.
The senior was nothing short of clutch at the plate in his senior season.
Manning earned Player of the Year honors in the SEISC South this season, while helping the Warriors to the Class 2A state tournament.
Over the summer, he amassed a whopping 60 RBIs. That was more than anyone else in the entire state through all four classes. He finished the season batting .522 with 51 runs and 47 hits. All of which were team leading. Manning hit two home runs as well as 26 singles, 15 doubles and four triples.
On the mound, Manning finished with an ERA of 1.40.
As the Warrior’s closer, Manning gave up just eight hits, four runs (four earned) with 26 strikeouts. Opponents hit with an average of just .096 against him.
PITCHER: Collin Miller (12), Mid-Prairie
Mid-Prairie’s Collin Miller was one of the most dominant righties on the hill this season.
Miller was integral in helping the Golden Hawks hold both the No. 1 and No. 2 2A ranking throughout the season as well as reaching the district final.
In 11 games, the senior ace notched a 7-0 record.
Miller finished with an ERA of 1.68, giving up 41 hits, 15 runs (14 earned) and 74 strikeout against 210 opponents. The opposition batted with an average of .195.
PITCHER: Taylor Sprouse (12), Van Buren County
Van Buren County senior Taylor Sprouse was more often than not the Warriors go to on the mound through the 2023.
Rightfully so.
Sprouse started 13 games for the Warriors this season and finished with a 6-2 overall record.
With 217 opponents face, Sprouse gave up just 26 runs (17 earned) on 33 hits with 60 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.33. The opposition hit .152 against him.
At the plate, he hit .356 with 37 hits and 39 RBIs.
CATCHER: Liam Schrock (10), Hillcrest Academy
Hillcrest Academy catcher Liam Schrock was one of the best young talents in the area this season.
Schrock hit .406 in 2023 with 38 runs, 28 hits and 20 RBIs. He hit 14 singles, six doubles, two triples and a team leading six home runs.
Behind the plate he was just as good, if not better. Schrock ended with a fielding percentage of .977 and allowed just 21 steals on the year. Besides those 21, 15 runners were also thrown out by Schrock.
INFIELD: Karson Grout (11), Mid-Prairie
Mid-Prairie junior and University of Iowa commit Karson Grout showed off his talent in 2023.
Grout not only helped the Golden Hawks to a 27-7 overall record, but he posted team-best in nearly all hitting categories.
Grout batted a team high .457, while finished with 34 runs and team-best in hits, 48; and RBIs, 37. He also had four home runs on the season as well as 28 singles, 12 doubles and four triples.
The all-stater finished with a fielding percentage of .878 at short. He also stole a perfect 20-of-20 bases on the year as well.
INFIELD: Lucas Fett (11), Van Buren County
Van Buren County junior Lucas Fett had a breakout season on the ball diamond this summer.
The all-state second-baseman hit .378, while tallied 46 runs with 37 hits and 21 RBIs. In the field, Fett finished with a fielding percentage of .994.
He also did a little bit of pitching as well.
On the hill, Fett tallied a 4-1 record with an ERA of 3.26. He gave up 28 runs (20 earned) on 32 hits with 44 strikeouts on the season.
INFIELD: Luke Schrock (12), Hillcrest Academy
Hillcrest Academy senior Luke Schrock was fantastic for the Ravens all season and was one of the main reason they finished 21-5 on the season and a perfect 15-0 in SEISC South play.
The SEISC North Player of the Year hit .468 at the plate this year, hitting three home runs with 37 hits, 21 singles, 12 doubles and one triple, while knocking in 28 RBIs to add to his totals.
On the mound, he finished the year 5-0 with a 1.15 ERA and 38 strikeouts.
INFIELD: Aidan Anderson (12), Keota
Keota senior Aidan Anderson did a little bit of everything for the Eagles this season.
At the plate the senior led the Eagles with a batting average of .338, tallying 22 hits with 19 RBIs and 14 runs.
Maybe where Anderson shined most was on the pitchers mound. Anderson started in 10 games for the Eagles, finishing the season with an ERA of 1.98 and a 5-5 record. He gave up 30 runs (18 earned) on 36 hits with 64 strikeouts. Opponents hit .136 against him.
OUTFIELD: Alex Bean (12), Mid-Prairie
Mid-Prairie’s Alex Bean took his game to another level this summer. After a solid junior campaign, Bean made his presence felt in the outfield and on the mound for the Golden Hawks.
Bean batted a team second-best .375 on the season. He notched 22 runs with 39 hits and 28 RBIs, both of which were team second-bests, through the 33 games.
In the field, Bean finished with a fielding percentage of .948.
Bean did a good amount of pitching as well, ending with a 6-2 record and a 3.50 ERA. He gave up 28 hits, 24 runs (19 earned) with 40 strikeouts.
OUTFIELD: Brady Weber (10), Mid-Prairie
One of two sophomore’s on the 2023 All-Union list is Mid-Prairie’s Brady Weber. Weber really stepped up his game this season after the Golden Hawks lost some integral pieces from a year ago.
In Weber’s 28 games, he notched 18 runs with 29 hits, 20 RBIs and a .341 average in the box, which was third-best for the Golden Hawks.
On the hill, Weber pitched to a 5-0 record. In eight games played he gave up 20 hits, seven runs (seven earned) with 29 strikeouts with an ERA of 1.58.
OUTFIELD: Grant Bender (12), Hillcrest Academy
Hillcrest Academy senior Grant Bender was huge for the Ravens on the ball diamond in 2023 and helped them to one of their best finishes in school history.
Bender hit .354 through 26 games and carded 28 hits with a team-high 39 RBIs. He also scored 27 runs as well. Bender hit 13 singles, six doubles, four triples with five home runs.
In center field he was pretty good too. In 58 total chances, he had just one error.
UTILITY: Brendan Richey (11), New London
New London’s Brendan Richey was just one of two upper classmen for a youthful Tigers squad this season and the only returning starter from the state championship team in 2022.
Richey dabbled in a little bit of everything for New London this season.
At the plate he batted .333, notching 18 runs, 23 hits and 17 RBIs. He hit 16 singles and seven doubles through 2023.
He was also the Tigers ace as he started eight games. Richey finished with a 2-6 record and had an ERA of 2.62.
The junior gave up 58 runs (15 earned) on 46 hits with 46 strikeouts.
UTILITY: Ethan Paisley (12), Highland
Highland senior Ethan Paisley was a threat on the mound and in the batters box this past season.
In 26 games, Paisley tallied 19 runs, a team-high 29 hits and 13 RBIs. He ended the season with an average of .358 to pace the Huskies.
On the mound is where he thrived.
In 12 starts, Paisley finished with an ERA of 1.02, that was the lowest of every in the SEISC with double digit starts. Opponents hit .175 against him.
He ended with a record of 5-4, giving up just 45 hits, 22 runs (10 earned) with 102 strikeouts against 257 batters faced. His strikeout numbers were the 11th most in the entire state across all classes.
