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Hat trick for two Trojans

West Marshall’s three-time all-conference picks lead Heart of Iowa honorees

T-R FILE PHOTO - West Marshall senior Kaden Davis, left, congratulates junior Kinnick Christensen after Christensen’s home run gave the Trojans a 3-1 lead against Pleasantville during their Class 2A district final baseball game July 17 in State Center.

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.

——

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

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