The 2023 baseball season was a prolific one for all 5 teams in the KQRadio area, with all 5 teams fielding competitive teams night in and night out, even competing with some of the best teams the state had to offer. A number of individuals stood out for their squads, but beginning with the individual awards, these players were a cut above the rest.
Player of the Year: Jake Jeske, Jr. P/C (Eagle Grove)
Hitting Stats – .507 AVG/.643 OBP/.851 SLG/1.494 OPS, 1 HR, 30 RBI, 34 H, 19 1B, 8 2B, 6 3B, 24 SB
Pitching Stats – 10 appearances, 8 starts, 4-3 record, 2.28 ERA, 20 BB, 63 K, 43 IP, 14 ER allowed
After a monstrous sophomore campaign in which his slash line read .475/.584/.775/1.359, the reigning Top of Iowa West Player of the Year was even more dominant at the plate as a junior, driving in a team-high 30 runs, while being even more efficient in the sabermetrics department at the plate.
On the mound, Jeske’s numbers weren’t as impressive as his sophomore year, but still spent a good chunk of the season as the Eagles #1 starter, and by the end of June, him and Cayden Schultz formed a dynamic 1-2 punch on the mound for Eagle Grove.
Pitcher of the Year: Cayden Schultz, Sr. (Eagle Grove)
Stats – 10 appearances, 9 starts, 5-3 record, 49 IP, 2.14 ERA, 27 BB, 96 K, 33 H allowed, .156 BAA
Mentioned above as part of a dynamic starting pitching duo for the Eagles along with Jake Jeske, Cayden Schultz had a meteoric ascension as one of the best arms in the Top of Iowa West in 2023. Schultz ranked 2nd in strikeouts with 96, and his 2.14 ERA ranked 5th among conference starters with more than 7 starts. His opponents batting average ranked 5th among regular starters in the conference as well, sitting at .156.
Defensive Player of the Year: Josh Stansfield, Jr. C (Webster City)
Defensive Stats – 31 GP, 3 errors, 8 runners thrown out stealing, 24 stolen bases allowed
Hitting Stats – .322 AVG/.443 OBP/.391 SLG/.834 OPS, 27 RBI, 28 H, 23 1B, 4 2B, 1 3B
Josh Stansfield showed flashes of his abilities behind the plate in 2022, and he capitalized on said abilities in 2023 as he become one of the leaders of the Lynx squad. Stansfield had just 3 errors in a grueling 31 game schedule and threw out 8 runners, while allowing only 24 runners to steal all season.
Stansfield was also a leader at the plate for Webster City in 2023.
Newcomer of the Year: Syrus Willard, OF/P (Eagle Grove)
Hitting Stats – .349 AVG/.411 OBP/.453 SLG/.864 OPS, 11 RBI, 30 H, 23 1B, 5 2B, 2 3B, 18 SB, 22 R
Pitching Stats – 3 appearances, 1 start, 0-0 record, 11.45 ERA, 2 BB, 4 K, 11 H allowed
In the sport of high school baseball, it’s been shown it can be the quickest way for a freshman, or even an 8th grader, to get to a varsity field in their athletic career based on the unique skill set the game requires you to have. No newcomer showed off the unique skill set more than Eagle Grove freshman Syrus Willard.
Willard showcased his ability as a contact hitter throughout the year, settling into the leadoff spot a little before the halfway mark of the season. Willard’s leadoff prowess made him a popular man to drive home with the top of the Eagles lineup.
Coach of the Year: Jordan Miller (Eagle Grove)
In nearly a clean sweep of the 2023 awards, Eagle Grove’s Jordan Miller is the area coach of the year, leading the Eagles to their 2nd straight winning season, and their best record since a 16-9 campaign in 2009 as the Eagles finished 16-10.
Eagle Grove finished 3rd in the Top of Iowa West, behind co-conference champions Forest City and Bishop Garrigan, and appear to not be done with this run of success they’ve enjoyed the last couple of years.
First-Team All-Area
Catcher – Josh Stansfield, Jr. (Webster City)
(See Stats in Defensive Player of the Year Category)
First Basemen – Briar Klaver, Jr. (Webster City)
Stats – .343 AVG/.413 OBP/.441 SLG/.854 OPS, 29 RBI, 15 R, 35 H, 26 1B, 8 2B, 1 3B, 2 SB
Klaver finished in the top 5 in the North Central Conference in RBI, becoming a key cog in yet another potent Webster City offense, while also proving a reliable glove on the right side of the infield. Klaver spent most of his sophomore season as a designated hitter, but played first base during Zach Dyvig starts on the mound.
Second Basemen – Trevyn Lyons, Jr. (Webster City)
Stats – .266 AVG/.406 OBP/.278 SLG/.684 OPS, 21 RBI, 18 R, 21 H, 20 1B, 1 2B, 6 SB
Lyons settled in as the everyday 2nd basemen for the Lynx and provided the offensive production to boot, driving in 21 runs on the season and coming up in clutch situations time and again. He also kept the mistakes a minimum defensively, allowing only 5 errors.
Shortstop – Ty McKinney, Sr. (Webster City)
Stats – .359 AVG/.492 OBP/.598 SLG/1.090 OPS, 3 HR, 18 RBI, 42 R, 33 H, 17 1B, 13 2B, 9 SB
McKinney was one of the most consistent bats in the North Central Conference a season ago, and 2023 was no different as the senior batted a team-high .359 average with 3 home runs and 18 RBI. McKinney’s 13 doubles were #1 in the NCC, and while he had 12 errors, McKinney’s overall defensive ability made him a game-changer at shortstop.
Third Basemen – Owen Duns, Jr. (South Hamilton)
Stats – .388 AVG/.468 OBP/.403 SLG/.871 OPS, 12 RBI, 26 H, 25 1B, 1 2B, 13 R, 11 SB
Owen Duns is the only player preventing the infield from being a party of Webster City players, as the junior led South Hamilton in average, hits and singles. While he did accrue 10 errors on the season at 3rd, his glove became one of the most consistent on the Hawks roster by season’s end.
Outfield – Nevan Foss, Sr. (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows)
Stats – .443 AVG/.602 OBP/.682 SLG/1.284 OPS, 2 HR, 27 RBI, 46 R, 39 H, 27 1B, 5 2B, 5 3B, 42 SB
Despite a 9-22 record, the play of Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Nevan Foss made him a must watch everywhere the Cowboys went. Foss led Class 2A in stolen bases with 42, and was in the top 10 in the entire state with those 42 stolen bags. His .443 average came with a number of clutch and timely hits, and helped CGD pull some stunners in 2023.
Outfield – Keegan Hisler, Jr. (Webster City)
Stats – .351 AVG/.515 OBP/.567 SLG/1.082 OPS, 2 HR, 27 RBI, 39 %, 34 H, 21 1B, 7 2B, 4 3B, 16 SB
After showing a lot of promise as a sophomore, Keegan Hisler stepped up and became a large on-the-field presence for the Webster City lineup in 2023. With an OPS over 1.000, Hisler could hurt teams in a number of different ways at the plate, and was a steady presence in right field with his glove.
Outfield – Preston Gardner, Sr. (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows)
Stats – .357 AVG/.462 OBP/.469 SLG/.931 OPS, 27 RBI, 24 R, 35 H, 26 1B, 7 2B, 2 3B, 24 SB
Being opposite of Nevan Foss provided many opportunities for Preston Gardner to contribute in his senior season and he did just that, especially on the offensive end. His 27 RBI was tied with Foss for the team lead and provided a steady, reliable glove in left field for the Cowboys.
Pitcher – Cayden Schultz, Sr. (Eagle Grove)
(See Pitcher of the Year for stats and description)
Utility – Jake Jeske, Jr. C/P (Eagle Grove)
(See Player of the Year for stats and description)
Second-Team All-Area
Catcher – Tjerdan Johnson, Jr. (South Hamilton)
Stats – .383 AVG/.500 OBP/.500 SLG/1.000 OPS, 1 HR, 16 RBI, 1 R, 23 H, 17 1B, 5 2B, 1 3B, 8 runners caught stealing, 0 errors, 1.000 fielding percentage
First Basemen – Calvin Schultenhoeffer, Jr. (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows)
Stats – .262 AVG/.454 OBP/.288 SLG/.742 OPS, 16 RBI, 20 R, 21 H, 19 1B, 2 2B, 8 SB, .961 fielding percentage, 6 errors, 139 putouts
Second Basemen – Ryland Ubben, Jr. (South Hamilton)
Stats – .233 AVG/.292 OBP/.317 SLG/.609 OPS, 11 RBI, 8 R, 14 H, 9 1B, 5 2B, 2 SB, .878 fielding percentage, 5 errors, 34 putouts
Shortstop – Preston Van De Pol, Jr. (South Hamilton)
Stats – .244 AVG/.253 OBP/.385 SLG/.638 OPS, 1 HR, 19 RBI, 14 R, 19 H, 11 1B, 6 2B, 1 3B, 8 SB, .745 fielding percentage, 14 errors, 40 putouts
Third Base – Nolan Krauss, Jr. (Eagle Grove)
Stats – .246 AVG/.358 OBP/.308 SLG/.666 OPS, 1 HR, 23 RBI, 8 R, 16 H, 14 1B, 1 2B, 9 SB, .886 fielding percentage, 4 errors, 14 putouts, 17 assists
Outfield – Mack Morgan, Jr. (Eagle Grove)
Stats – .405 AVG/.462 OBP/.464 SLG/.926 OPS, 21 RBI, 28 R, 34 H, 29 1B, 5 2B, 16 SB, .875 fielding percentage, 2 errors, 14 putouts
Outfield – Connor Hanson, Sr. (Webster City)
Stats – .291 AVG/.396 OBP/.512 SLG/.908 OPS, 2 HR, 25 RBI, 22 R, 25 H, 12 1B, 9 2B, 2 3B, 3 SB, 0 errors, 1.000 fielding percentage
Outfield – Syrus Willard, Fr. (Eagle Grove)
(See Freshman of the Year for Stats and Description)
Pitcher – Brett Schmitz, Sr. (Roland-Story)
Stats – 15 appearances, 6 starts, 6-1 rec, 47 IP, 1.49 ERA, 19 BB, 67 K, 10 ER allowed, 30 H allowed, .170 BAA
Utility – Landen Skartvedt, Sr. (South Hamilton)
Stats – .309 AVG/.455 OBP/.529 SLG/.984 OPS, 4 HR, 7 RBI, 24 R, 21 H, 15 1B, 1 2B, 1 3B, 20 SB, .927 fielding percentage, 49 putouts | 6 appearances, 2 starts, 1 save, 14.1 IP, 2.93 ERA, 10 BB, 23 K, 15 H allowed, .238 BAA
Honorable Mention
Pitcher – Carson Nesheim, Jr. (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows)
Pitcher – Brady Asklund, So. (Webster City)
Pitcher – Landon Sogard, So. (South Hamilton)
Infield – Matthew Tesdahl, Fr. (Webster City)
Infield – Jordan Morris, Sr. (Eagle Grove)
Infield – Caden Hankins, Jr. (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows)
Outfield – Dillon Lettow, Sr. (Roland-Story)
Outfield – CJ Hisler, Sr. (Webster City)
Outfield – Braden Young, So. (South Hamilton)
Catcher – William Zamzow, So. (Roland-Story)