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 Central DeWitt’s Garrett Finley; and in Class 4A Johnston’s Peyton Williams.
Members participating included Jim Gries, Oskaloosa Herald; Jerry Giese, Sergeant Bluff Advocate; K.J. Pilcher, Cedar Rapids Gazette; Troy Banning, Webster City Daily Freeman-Journal; Mark Schafer, Carroll Times-Herald; Lori Wiser-Dyas, The Ocheyedan Press-Melvin News; Greg Grabinowski, Algona Publishing;Matt Coss, Quad-City Times; Zach James, Sioux City Journal; Brian Rathjen, Atlantic News-Telegraph; Colin Peters, Centerville Daily Iowegian; Tyler Hetu, Creston News-Advertiser; Mike Oeffner, Harlan Newspapers; Carter Eckl; Creston News; and Kyle Ocker, Centerville Daily Iowegian.
Coach Aaron Davidson, Pocahontas Area, also participated.
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 ⅓ innings he finished with a microscopic ERA of 0.75.
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. Marys Sophomore
Pitcher: Keaton Parker Alburnett Senior
Pitcher: Caleb Banowetz Calamus-Wheatland Junior
Catcher: Colby Page Southeast Warren Senior
First Base: Reed Stallman Alburnett Sophomore
Infield: Evan Paulus Newman Catholic Senior
Infield: Cael Frost Don Bosco Sophomore
Infield: Tyler Tscherter Gladbrook-Reinbeck Junior
Outfield: Josh Fitzgerald Newman Catholic Senior
Outfield: Hunter Rickels Calamus-Wheatland Senior
Outfield: Dylan Fry Belle Plaine Senior
Utility: Colin Kramer St. Ansgar Senior
Utility: Drew Schurke AR-WE-VA Senior
CLASS 1A SECOND TEAM
Pitcher: Christian Cook Coon Rapids-Bayard Senior
Pitcher: Brody Wolf HLV Junior
Pitcher: Nathan Keck Kingsley-Pierson Senior
Catcher: Tyler Vandewater Nodaway Valley Junior
First Base: Aaron Fleming GMG Senior
Infield: Bryce Coppock Newell-Fonda Junior
Infield: Layne Pryor Woodbine Sophomore
Infield: Cy Patterson St. Albert, Council Bluffs Sophomore
Outfield; Dean Schaull HLV Senior
Outfield: Luke Oleson Lawton-Bronson Junior
Outfield: Kendall Becker Don Bosco Senior
Utility: Bryce Schares Don Bosco Senior
Utility: Skylar Waldschmitt Remsen St. Marys Junior
CLASS 1A THIRD TEAM
Pitcher: Carter Nelson Baxter Junior
Pitcher: Isaac Gavin Martensdale-St. Mary’s Junior
Pitcher: Doug Taylor Newman Catholic 8th
Catcher: Kody Timm HLV Junior
First Base: Trey Baker Martensdale-St. Mary’s Sophomore
Infield: Hunter Caves Alburnett Senior
Infield: Landon Gilliland Lamoni Sophomore
Infield: Tanner Bainbridge Pekin Senior
Outfield: Damon Schmid Kingsley-Pierson Freshman
Outfield: Austin Huber Alburnett Junior
Outfield: Carson Butz Moravia Junior
Utility: Kade Schlepp Coon Rapids-Bayard Junior
Utility: Noah Tieskoetter South Winneshiek Junior
CLASS 2A FIRST TEAM
Pitcher: Jake Hilmer North Linn Senior
Pitcher: Briar Rowley Estherville-Lincoln Central Senior
Pitcher. Hunter Dekkers West Sioux Junior
Catcher: Connor Lange Missouri Valley Senior
First Base: Brock Farley Denver Senior
Infield: Christian Davidson Pocahontas Area Sophomore
Infield: Jalyn Gramstad West Lyon Junior
Infield: Aiden Brock Hinton Junior
Outfield: Owen Grover Beckman Catholic Senior
Outfield: David Seber North Linn Senior
Outfield: Tyler Hopp Central Lee Senior
Utility: Jace Davidson Pocahontas Area Senior
Utility: Collin McCrabb Wilton Senior
CLASS 2A SECOND TEAM
Pitcher: Brett Shelton Des Moines Christian Senior
Pitcher: Jared Townsend Wilton Senior
Pitcher: A. J. Schreck Kuemper Catholic Senior
Catcher: Jaxon Schumacher Treynor 8th
First Base: Brett Berg Van Meter Junior
Infield: Nick Ravlin Underwood Junior
Infield: Matt Paulsen West Branch Junior
Infield: Will Dembski Pella Christian Senior
Outfield: Kayden Kruse Ogden Senior
Outfield: Ryan Anderson Pocahontas Area Junior
Outfield: Jon Mootz Monticello Senior
Utility:: Anthony Potthoff Van Meter Junior
Utility: Gavin Lorenzen West Lyon Junior
CLASS 2A THIRD TEAM
Pitcher: Brad Tornow Mid-Prairie Senior
Pitcher: Zak Scott MVAOCOU Senior
Pitcher: Aaron Michael MVAOCOU Senior
Catcher: Michael Ryherd Alta-Aurelia Junior
First Base: Nate McCombs Treynor Junior
Infield: Josh Van Beek West Lyon Junior
Infeld: Grant Christy Des Moines Christian Senior
Infield: Chase Becker Iowa City Regina Sophomore
Outfield: Drake Adair Underwood Senior
Outfield: Jacob Blomgren Van Meter Sophomore
Outfield: Hunter Pesek New Hampton Junior
Utility: Austin Hilmer North Linn Freshman
Utility: Keelan Klommhaus Mount Ayr Junior
Class 3A FIRST TEAM
Pitcher: Rick Atkins Marion Senior
Pitcher: Lucas Bixby Central DeWitt Senior
Pitcher: 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
Infield: Brett Sears Harlan Senior
Infield: Mike Pithan Sioux City Heelan Senior
Outfield: Casey Young Winterset Junior
Outfield: Brady Kauzlarich Centerville Sophomore
Outfield: Eric Salazar Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley Junior
Utility: Nick Gottilla Davenport Assumption Senior
Utility: Spencer Kleene Sergeant Bluff-Luton Junior
CLASS 3A SECOND TEAM
Pitcher: Tyler Olson Webster City Sophomore
Pitcher: Cam Miller Solon Junior
Pitcher: Alex McAleer Central DeWitt Junior
Catcher: Garrett Ries Cedar Rapids Xavier Senior
First Base: Isaiah Henrich Carlisle Senior
Infield: Trevor Paulsen Marion Senior
Infield: Chase McLaren Atlantic Senior
Infield: Jared Sitzmann Sioux City Heelan Junior
Outfield: Brett Price Boone Senior
Outfield: Tyler Miller Oskaloosa Junior
Outfield: Nate Schlichting Davenport Assumption Junior
Utility: Dylan Steen Webster City Senior
Utility: Daniel Wright Sergeant Bluff-Luton Junior
CLASS 3A THIRD TEAM
Pitcher: Logan Smith Dallas Center-Grimes Junior
Pitcher: Clark Hood North Polk Senior
Pitcher: Connor Bruck Harlan Junior
Catcher: Kosta Papazogolou Fairfield Senior
First Base: Owen Newton Humboldt Senior
Infield: Jeff Lamp North Polk Senior
Infield: Marcus Klemme Spencer Senior
Infield: McCain Oden Centerville Junior
Outfield: Gage Franck Marion Sophomore
Outfield: Nile Foss Carlisle Junior
Outfield: Easton Darling Winterset Junior
Utility: Colton Butler Oskaloosa Junior
Utility: Brant Hogue Sioux City Heelan Junior
CLASS 4A FIRST TEAM
Pitcher: Marcus Morgan Iowa City West Sophomore
Pitcher: Jacob Tobey Johnston Senior
Pitcher: Ty Langenberg Urbandale Junior
Catcher: Calvin Harris Western Dubuque Senior
First Base: Peyton Williams Johnston Senior
Infield: Alex Pentergast Des Moines Roosevelt Junior
Infield: Sam Link Dubuque Senior Senior
Infield: Adam Schneider Southeast Polk Senior
Outfield: Andrew Nord Johnston Senior
Outfield: Jason Strunk Iowa City West Senior
Outfield: Evan Martin Southeast Polk Junior
Utility: Jack Young Pleasant Valley Junior
Utility: Carter Baumler Dowling Catholic Junior
CLASS 4A SECOND TEAM
Pitcher: Wade Canaday Marshalltown Senior
Pitcher: Sam Goodman Western Dubuque Senior
Pitcher: Jackson Wentworth Waukee Sophomore
Catcher: Ryan Vermeer Ankeny Centennial Junior
First Base: Drew Logel Muscatine Senior
Infield: Max Holy Clinton Junior
Infield: Trenton Frerichs Sioux City North Senior
Infield: Ben Wilmes Johnston Sophomore
Outfield: Brock Heinen Urbandale Sophomore
Outfield: Logan Gluba Davenport West Senior
Outfield: Nolan Frey Iowa City Liberty Junior
Utility: Alec Patino Sioux City East Junior
Utility: Harrison Cook Cedar Rapids Prairie Senior
CLASS 4A THIRD TEAM
Pitcher: Nick Crandell Johnston Junior
Pitcher: Graysen Drezek North Scott Junior
Pitcher: Alec Nieman Sioux City West Senior
Catcher: Cade Moss Johnston Senior
First Base: Ben Sheridan Dowling Catholic Senior
Infield: Andrue Henry Dubuque Hempstead Junior
Infield: Carson Schau Waukee Senior
Infield: Bryce Crabb Des Moines East Senior
Outfield: Greg Hall Linn-Mar Senior
Outfield: Jonah Pomrenke Lewis Central Sophomore
Outfield: Lincoln Riley Cedar Rapids Washington Senior
Utility: Brody Brecht Ankeny SophomoreUtility: Liam McComas Iowa City High Senior
The Iowa Print Sports Writers Association 