Prairie Baseball

Hammer on IHSBCA all-state 1st team

Alex Hayden capped a brilliant season for the Kennedy High School baseball team Thursday by being named to the 2012 All-State "Super Team" by the Iowa High chool Baseball Coaches Association.

Eleven Metro players were selected for the all-state teams by the IHSBCA, a testament to the talent in the Metro area this year.

Hayden was named as a utility player on the "Super Team," an elite unit that honors the top 15 players in the state, regardless of classification. He compiled an 11-2 record on the mound with a 0.99 ERA, hit .386 with 28 RBIs and excelled at second base.

Cody Bell of Kennedy, Josh Jahlas of Kennedy, Jason Velvick of Prairie, Brennan Hammer of Prairie and Jake Stolley of Linn-Mar were named first team all-state in Class 4A.

Bell hit .466 this season with five homers and 45 RBIs and was selected as a first baseman. Jahlas hit .451 with 57 runs scored and 38 RBIs. He was named as an outfielder.

Velvick was picked as one of the outfielders after hitting .439 with two homers and 24 RBIs. Hammer made the squad as a utility player after excelling on the mound and at the plate. He hit .348 with 25 RBIs and compiled a 7-1 record with a 2.76 ERA. He struck out 63 batters in 45 2/3 innings.

Stolley was named a first team all-state pitcher after going 7-2 with a 1.48 ERA. He fanned 89 batters in 61 1/3 innings.

Adam Lloyd of Kennedy, Chico Lizarraga of Kennedy, Nate Greve of Linn-Mar, Chance Tiedtke of Jefferson and Brayton Carlson of Prairie were named second team all-state in Class 4A.

Lloyd was selected as a pitcher after going 9-2 with a 2.71 ERA. Lizarraga hit .311 for the Cougars with 26 RBIs and established himself as one of the top defensive catchers in the state.

Greve made second team all-state as a utility player. He hit .388 and compiled a 7-3 record on the mound with a 2.12 ERA. He fanned 83 batters in 43 innings.

Tiedtke made the club as an outfielder after hitting .445 with two homers and 34 RBIs. Carlson was named at second base after hitting .355 with five homers and 39 RBIs.

Hayden, Bell, Jahlas, Lloyd, Lizarraga, Stolley, Tiedtke, Velvick and Carlson graduated this year. Greve and Hammer made the club as juniors.

Calvin Mathews, a pitcher for Davis County, was named the Player of the Year.

For the full IHSBCA all-state teams, go to www.iowahsbca.net.

Thede selected for Wartburg Hall of Fame

WAVERLY - Cedar Rapids Prairie baseball coach Matt Thede will be inducted into the Wartburg College Athletic Hall of Fame on Oct. 20 during homecoming ceremonies at the school.

Thede, a catcher, had a lifetime batting average of .410 during his four-year career with the Knights and holds the school record with 28 home runs.

He was twice named the Iowa Conference MVP and was named to the all-conference team all four years. He still holds the league record with 45 RBIs in 2000.

Thede was a two-time All-American and a regional MVP. He signed with the Montreal Expos in 2001 and played three years in the minor leagues.

Thede teaches biology at Prairie.

4 Hawks named to all-MVC team

Alex Hayden of Cedar Rapids Kennedy has been named the Mississippi Division Athlete of the Year on the 2012 Mississippi Valley Conference honor squad in baseball.

Hayden was joined on the Mississippi Division first team by batterymate Jimmy Lizarraga and outfielder Josh Jahlas.

Linn-Mar had three first team picks: pitcher Jake Stolley, outfielder Michael Redmond and pitcher/outfielder Nate Greve, who was selected to a utility position.

Pitcher Brennan Hammer, first baseman Tyler Votroubek, infielder Brayton Carlson and outfielder Jason Velvick from Prairie were first team picks in the Valley Division.

Jefferson outfielder Chance Tiedtke and Xavier catcher/first baseman/pitcher Mack Mattke also were first team picks in the Valley.

Hayden, Jahlas, Hammer, Votroubek and Tiedtke all were unanimous selections. The teams were selected by conference coaches.

Adam Lloyd, Cody Bell and Logan Ambrosy from Kennedy, and Austin Stroschein and Mitch Stickney from Linn-Mar were second-team selections on the Mississippi Division team.

Jordan Dee, Dylan Jellison and Christian Knox from Jefferson, Adam Pick and Zach Brown from Xavier, and Ty Mougin from Prairie were second team in the Valley Division.

Washington had no selections on either the first or second teams.

Linn-Mar Coach Chad Lechner and his assistants were named Staff of the Year in the Mississippi Division.

Reid Bonner of Iowa City West was named Valley Division Athlete of the Year. Iowa City West Coach Charlie Stumpff and his assistants were named Staff of the Year in the Valley Division.

Kennedy and Linn-Mar face each other in the first round of the state tournament on Wednesday  at 6 p.m. Iowa City West plays West Des Moines Valley at noon.

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY CONFERENCE
BASEBALL TEAMS
(* - Unanimous selections)

MISSISSIPPI DIVISION

Athlete of the Year - Alex Hayden (CRK)

Coach of the Year - Chad Lechner and staff (LM)

First Team
P - *Alex Hayden (CRK)
P - Jake Stolley (LM)
C - Jimmy Lizarraga (CRK)
1B - Josh Crosby (ICH)
IF - Sam Mrstik (ICH)
IF - *Connor Grant (DS)
IF - Derek Vaughn (WW)
OF - *Josh Jahlas (CRK)
OF - Michael Redmond (LM)
OF - Ryan Duncan (ICH)
UTIL - Nate Greve (LM)
UTIL - Zach Fricke (WW)

Second Team
P - Adam Lloyd (CRK)
P - Alex Steines (DS)
C - Tyler Stika (ICH)
1B - Cody Bell (CRK)
IF - Levi Nauman (DW)
IF - Austin Stroschein (LM)
IF - Jack Frakes (ICH)
OF - Logan Ambrosy (CRK)
OF - Sam Kullen (WW)
OF - Mitch Stickney (LM)
UTIL - Mitch Wieland (ICH)
UTIL - Anthony Ruden (DW)

Honorable Mention
CRK - Nick Appleget, Devon Jacobus
CRW - Noah Dostal. Noah Burdt
LM - Justin Wyant, Keaton Blackford

All-Academic
CRK - Cody Bell, Josh Jahlas
CRW - Robert Hogg, Grant Dostal
LM - Jake Stolley, Michael Redmond

VALLEY DIVISION

Athlete of the Year - Reid Bonner (ICW)

Coach of the Year - Charlie Stumpff and staff (ICW)

First Team
P - *Brennan Hammer (CRP)
P - *Nick Grimsman (ICW)
C - J.T. Sole (CF)
1B - *Tyler Votroubek (CRP)
IF - Shawn Hagarty (CF)
IF - Brayton Carlson (CRP)
IF - Reid Bonner (ICW)
OF - *Chance Tiedtke (CRJ)
OF - Jason Velvick (CRP)
OF - Jesse Billings (WE)
UTIL - Mack Mattke (CRX)
UTIL - Luke Crimmins (ICW)

Second Team
P - Jordan Dee (CRJ)
P - Chris Tomkiins (CF)
C - Nathan Sahr (WE)
1B - Adam Pick (CRX)
IF - Nick Stevenson (DH)
IF - Dylan Jellison (CRJ)
IF - Ty Mougin (CRP)
OF - Ryan Siems (ICW)
OF - Clint Fletcher (CF)
OF - Christian Knox (CRJ)
UTIL - Zach Brown (CRX)
UTIL - Tyus Adkins (ICW)

Honorable Mention
CRJ - Sam Tchau, Colten Jourdan
CRP - Tyler Butz, Bryce Alberts
CRX - Bryce Grimm, Mitch St. Andrews

All-Academic
CRJ - Austin Goodell, Jordan Dee
CRP - Bryce Alberts, Connor Steffens
CRX - Mack Mattke, Tyler Hines

Hammer, Velvick named to all-Metro team

Alex Hayden of Kennedy has been named the Athlete of the Year on the 2012 All-Metro Baseball Team, as selected by the Metro coaches.

Hayden excelled for the Cougars this season as a pitcher, second baseman and hitter as Kennedy compiled a 32-6 record and qualified for the Class 4A state tournament.

Cody Bell and Chico Lizarraga from Kennedy joined Hayden on the first team.

The Linn-Mar Lions, who will face Kennedy in the first round of the state tournament Wednesday night, also landed three spots on the first unit with Jake Stolley, Michael Redmond and Austin Stroschein.

Brennan Hammer and Jason Velvick of Prairie were named first team all-Metro. Trev Biery and Addison Johnson of Marion also made the top squad.

Mack Mattke of Xavier, Noah Dostal of Washington and Chance Tiedtke of Jefferson rounded out the first unit.

There was a tie for the Coaching Staff of the Year between Chad Lechner of Linn-Mar and Bret Hoyer of Kennedy and their assistants.

2012 ALL-METRO BASEBALL

FIRST TEAM

Alex Hayden (Kennedy), Cody Bell (Kennedy), Chico Lizarraga (Kennedy), Brennan Hammer (Prairie), Jason Velvick (Prairie), Mack Mattke (Xavier), Noah Dostal (Washington), Jake Stolley (Linn-Mar), Michael Redmond (Linn-Mar), Austin Stroschein (Linn-Mar), Trev Biery (Marion), Addison Johnson (Marion), Chance Tiedtke (Jefferson).

SECOND TEAM

Nick Appleget (Kennedy), Adam Lloyd (Kennedy), Josh Jahlas (Kennedy), Tyler Votroubek (Prairie), Brayton Carlson (Prairie), Adam Pick (Xavier), Johnny Dobbs (Washington), Nate Greve (Linn-Mar), Mitch Stickney (Linn-Mar), Mitch Wagner (Marion), Tyler Hedtke (Marion), Jordan Dee (Jefferson).

HONORABLE MENTION

Austin Goodell (Jefferson), Christian Knox (Jefferson), Devon Jacobus (Kennedy), Logan Ambrosy (Kennedy), Ty Mougin (Prairie), Tyler Butz (Prairie), Grant Dostal (Washington), A.J. Puk (Washington), Zach Brown (Xavier), Mitch St. Andrews (Xavier), Justin Wyant (Linn-Mar), Kevin Bogert (Linn-Mar), Cale Cannoy (Marion), Christian Stekl (Marion).