Hat trick for two Trojans
West Marshall’s three-time all-conference picks lead Heart of Iowa honorees
After a 24-12 season that culminated with the West Marshall baseball team losing two games short of state, the Trojans’ top players were recognized on the Heart of Iowa’s All-Conference teams.
Four West Marshall players landed on the HOIAC first team — seniors Kaden Davis and Cody Braddy, junior Kinnick Christensen and freshman Owen Siegert.
Davis was 20-of-41 at the plate in conference action, batting .488 (third in the conference) and driving in 20 runs in for the Trojans, which was second in conference play. He had a slugging percentage of .878, good enough for third in the league, and had three home runs while striking out just six times. It was Davis’ third-straight season making first-team all-conference going back to West Marshall’s time in the NICL West Division.
Braddy was the only West Marshall player with a better conference batting average than Davis, as he hit .500 during HOIAC play (16-of-32). Nine of his new state record 29 hit-by-pitches came in conference play as well.
Christensen starred for the Trojans as a pitcher and shortstop. In conference play, Christensen made eight appearances on the mound and went 4-1 with a 4.25 earned run average and 1.35 WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched). Of the 115 batters he faced in 29 2/3 innings, Christensen struck out 33 and gave up 24 runs (18 earned) on 29 hits, 12 walks and five hit batsmen.
At the plate, Christensen was 10-of-38 and had a .263 batting average. He walked eight times and struck out seven while driving in seven runs.
Siegert had the second-best ERA in the conference (0.68) in 20 2/3 innings of work over four starts. He struck out 40 batters, walked 14 and gave up just five runs on 13 hits.
He was productive at the plate as well, batting .381 in 42 at-bats, collecting 16 hits and seven RBIs while striking out only two times and reaching via walk five times.
Sophomore pitcher/second baseman Peyton Hart missed the final week of the regular season thanks to a shoulder injury, but before then he did well enough to earn a spot on the all-conference second team.
Hart hit .286 in 42 conference at-bats, driving in six runs and hitting three home runs.
In four pitching appearances, Hart went 1-0 and had a 2.74 ERA in 15 innings of work. He gave up 10 runs (six earned) on 14 hits, 13 walks and 21 strikeouts.
Junior Parker Reese, the starting third baseman for the Trojans, and freshman outfielder/pitcher Clay Cuva were named as honorable mentions by the conference.
Heart of Iowa Activities Conference
All-Conference Baseball Teams
FIRST TEAM
Alex Berends, jr., P, Roland-Story
Owen Siegert, fr., P, W. Marshall
Caleb Duinink, sr., C, PCM
Nolan Faber, sr., INF, Roland-Story
Brock Galetich, sr., INF, S. Hamilton
Carter Hewitt, sr., INF, S. Hamilton
Sage Burns, sr., INF, PCM
Zach Magnuson, sr., OF, Roland-Story
Thomas Matthes, jr., OF, Roland-Story
Kaden Davis, sr., OF, W. Marshall
Kinnick Christensen, jr., UT, W. Marshall
Cody Braddy, sr., UT, W. Marshall
Tycin Barkema, jr., UT, S. Hamilton
SECOND TEAM
Mason Hicks, so., P, Saydel
Beau Webb, sr., P, PCM
Elihah Balderas, jr., C, S. Hamilton
Calvin Carew, sr., INF, Roland-Story
Lane Swenson, jr., INF, S. Hamilton
Andrew Mitchell, sr., INF, PCM
Bryce Stalder, jr., INF, Greene Cty
AJ Twedt, sr., OF, Roland-Story
Tanner Blue, jr., OF, S. Hamilton
Gavin Melohn, jr., OF, Nevada
Steven Berends, sr., UT, Roland-Story
Peyton Hart, so., UT, W. Marshall
Nick Gudin, sr., UT, Saydel
HONORABLE MENTION
Greene County — Peyton Kinsey, sr.; Kole Teeples, jr.
Nevada — Karter Beving, so.; Christian Hawbaker, jr.
PCM — Durant Van Dyke, jr.; Connor Bennett, sr.
Roland-Story — Jackson Anthony, so.; Matthew Phelan, jr.
Saydel — Judd Roberts, jr.; Jayden Cordova, so.
South Hamilton — Kyler Hodnefield, sr.; Freddie Lewis, sr.
West Marshall — Parker Reese, jr.; Clay Cuva, fr.
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Final Conference Standings
Roland-Story 10-2
West Marshall 9-3
South Hamilton 8-4
PCM, Monroe 5-7
Saydel 5-7
Greene County 4-8
Nevada 1-11