Pioneer Press All-State - 2008

Pioneer Press - All-State - 2008

 

2008 Pioneer Press all-state baseball team

Pioneer Press

Article Last Updated: 06/17/2008 12:30:09 PM CDT

STARTERS

 

PITCHER / BRAD HAND, CHASKA, SENIOR

Selected as the Pioneer Press' player of the year. Drafted by the Florida Marlins in the second round, and his father says there is a "good chance" a contract agreement with the Marlins could be reached this week. Lefty finished the season 8-2 with a 0.61 earned-run average and 105 strikeouts. Played first base when not pitching and batted .352 with eight homers and 24 RBIs.

 

CATCHER / SAM RYAN, TARTAN, SENIOR

One of the leading home run hitters in the metro area with nine on the season. Batted .485 with 25 RBIs and 34 runs scored. Threw out all eight base runners who tried to steal on him. Three-year starter at catcher and caught every game this year. Minnesota Twins draft pick (35th round), but undecided on a professional contract or going to the University of North Dakota. Classic Suburban player of the year.

 

FIRST BASE / CHASE HENTGES, SHAKOPEE, SENIOR

Batted .466 with 16 RBIs. Nine of his 27 hits were for extra bases. Struck out three times in 68 plate appearances. Throws in the low 90s. Compiled a 4-0 record with a 1.60 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 35 innings of work as a pitcher. Drafted and signed by the Kansas City Royals in the 14th round.

 

SECOND BASE / MATT VOLDNESS, BLOOMINGTON JEFFERSON, SENIOR

Led the Jaguars to a runner-up finish at the Class AAA state tournament. Scored the winning run in the quarterfinals and pitched the seventh inning for his fourth save of the season. Tossed a complete game in the state semifinals, allowing four hits and no earned runs in a 3-1 victory and went 2 for 3 against St. Michael-Albertville. Finished with a 5-2 record and a 2.40 ERA with 47 strikeouts. Plans to play baseball at Hamline next season.

 

THIRD BASE / JOE LOFTUS, HOLY ANGELS, SENIOR

Helped the Stars win the Missota Conference three of the past four years. Batted .471 with 10 doubles and 31 RBIs. Drafted in the 29th round by the Minnesota Twins but will attend Vanderbilt in the fall. As a pitcher was 5-1 with a 0.73 ERA. Struck out 49 hitters in 38 1/3 innings.

 

SHORTSTOP / JACOB ESCH, CRETIN-DERHAM HALL, SENIOR

Rangy shortstop with a strong arm. Hit .469 with 27 RBIs and five home runs. Despite battling illness throughout the season and losing some velocity on his fastball, was 4-1 with three saves. Struck out 41 hitters in 37 2/3 innings. Attending Georgia Tech next year on a baseball scholarship.

 

OUTFIELD / SPENCER BRADY, ROCHESTER JOHN MARSHALL, SENIOR

Big Nine Conference player of the year. Hit .415 in leading the Rockets to the Class AAA state tournament. Few runners attempted to take an extra base on the center fielder. Will attend Iowa Western Community College next year as a pitcher. Struck out 56 batters in 41 1/3 innings.

 

OUTFIELD / DYLAN PORTER, ROSEMOUNT, SENIOR

Three-year starter. An athletic player who can play anywhere on the field. One of the fastest outfielders in the Lake Conference. Had 27 hits and scored 23 runs. Stole eight bases in nine attempts. Had some interest from Division I and II schools but is going to play junior hockey.

 

OUTFIELD / NICK COLWELL, IRONDALE, SENIOR

Two-year captain and four-year starter. Batted .474 with a .523 on-base percentage and a .776 slugging percentage. Had nine doubles, four triples, two homers and 23 RBIs for the Knights. Walked seven times and struck out twice in 87 plate appearances.

 

DESIGNATED HITTER / CHRIS PETERSON, ST. ANTHONY VILLAGE, SENIOR

Led the Huskies to the Class AA state title, hitting .333 with two homers and three RBIs. Also went 2-0 in the tournament with nine strikeouts in 10 innings. Batted .494 for the season with 29 RBIs, 33 runs and eight homers. Compiled an 11-1 record with two saves and 88 strikeouts in 71 innings. Accepted a baseball scholarship to Concordia-St. Paul.

 

RESERVES

 

C-P / JOE ALTHOFF, DELANO, SENIOR

Finished the season with 49 hits, five shy of Joe Mauer's single-season record. Batted .516 with 21 extra-base hits (19 doubles, three short of the state record). Was 8-3 with a 2.03 ERA and 88 strikeouts. Will likely make his college decision at the Lions All-Star Game with South Dakota State, Grand View (Iowa) and St. Cloud State as his final choices.

 

OF / DAVID BETTENBURG, CRETIN-DERHAM HALL, JUNIOR

Batted .441 with eight home runs and five doubles. Great speed and a very strong arm in the outfield. Missed a week of the season with a hamstring injury. Batted second and was a tough out setting up the heart of the Raiders' order. Being recruited by the University of Minnesota.

 

C-P / DAVID EDDY, WOODBURY, SENIOR

Batted in the top three spots in the order throughout the season, finishing with a .414 average with seven doubles and three homers. Hits to all fields with decent power. Often called upon to close out games after catching for six innings. Was 3-0 with a 2.05 ERA and eight saves in 27 1/3 innings. Struck out 27 hitters.

 

OF-P / TRAVIS FISHER, ST. FRANCIS, SENIOR

Broke his own school record for stolen bases with 27 this season, giving him 53 in the last two years. Batted .440 with 32 runs and 14 RBI. Of his 33 hits, 13 were for extra bases including four triples. Used his speed to run down balls in the right center-field gap. Undecided between walking on at Minnesota State Mankato and Lake Superior State.

 

P-1B / SPENCER JOHNSON, THIEF RIVER FALLS/GOODRIDGE, SENIOR

Threw consecutive no-hitters against Moorhead and Roseau. Threw a complete game two-hitter against Albany in the Class AA state quarterfinals with nine strikeouts and no earned runs. Finished the season 9-1 with 106 strikeouts and a 0.68 ERA in 62 innings. Throws in the mid 80s with a decent curveball and slider. Attending North Dakota State next year.

 

3B / KIRK KENNEALLY, ANDOVER, SENIOR

Led the Northwest Suburban Conference in batting average (.486), RBIs (32), hits (34), and extra-base hits (11 doubles, 3 homers). Coach Don Gawreluk said he is the best baseball player to come out of Andover High School. The co-captain of the team increased his batting average by almost 200 points from last season.

 

P-1B / T.J. OAKES, JORDAN, JUNIOR

Had a stretch when he struck out 50 hitters without allowing a walk. Was 6-1 with a 0.42 ERA. Struck out 72 hitters while walking two in 49 2/3 innings. Throws a mid-80s fastball with the ability to mix speeds. Hit .327 with 14 RBIs.

 

P-OF-IF / TIM O'KEEFE, DELASALLE, SENIOR

Primarily a pitcher but can play anywhere. Was 8-2 with seven complete games and two shutouts. Struck out 115 batters in 66 1/3 innings. Throws in the mid-80s and used his slider for his main out pitch. Batted .450 with 28 RBIs and six doubles. Stole 15 bases in 17 attempts. Plans to walk on next season at Boston College.

 

C / BRETT PIOSKE, SIBLEY EAST, SENIOR

Great defensive catcher with a strong arm. Selected Minnesota River Conference MVP with a .536 batting average and 35 RBIs. Of his 30 hits, 16 were for extra bases. Hits to all fields. Will hit for power early in the count and then for contact with two strikes. Teams would pitch around him or intentionally walk him (.638 on-base percentage). Plans to walk on at Minnesota State Mankato and projected to play outfield in college.

 

OF / LUKE SCHMITZ, WHEATON, JUNIOR

Three-year starter with great speed and a strong arm in the outfield. Batted .561 with seven home runs, 47 RBIs and 28 runs. Had 19 stolen bases. In his last game of the season, he was robbed of a game-winning extra-base hit when a player from Hawley made a diving catch on the warning track to end the game.

 

HONORABLE MENTION

Ryan Abrahamson, Tartan, SS, jr.

Aaron Anderson, Stillwater, 1B, sr.

Eric Anderson, Concordia Academy (Bloomington), IF/C/P, sr.

Blaine Barthel, St. Michael-Albertville, P, sr.

Brooks Bielke, Buffalo, C, jr.

Madison Boer, Eden Prairie, P, sr.

Kyle Boughner, Anoka, C/SS, sr.

Jordan Buck, Apple Valley, C, sr.

Zach Budish, Edina, C, jr.

Casey Cardinal, Red Lake County, C, sr.

Travis Cariveau, Sauk Rapids-Rice, SS, sr.

Dane Carlson, St. Michael-Albertville, OF, sr.

Mike DeBolt, Rochester Century, P, sr.

Nick Dolsky, Eastview, P, jr.

Christopher Eichten, Wabasso, SS/P, sr.

Anders Engberg, Burnsville, IF, sr.

Orry Engebretsen, Duluth Marshall, SS, sr.

Cory Eul, Eastview, SS/P, sr.

Erik Fabry, Eastview, OF, sr.

Kyle Fischer, New Ulm Cathedral, SS/P, sr.

Mike Flicek, Montgomery-Lonsdale, C, sr.

David Freed, Mounds View, P/OF, jr.

Paul Giel, Minnetonka, OF, sr.

Cory Gleiden, Chaska, SS, sr.

Justin Gominsky, Mahtomedi, OF/SS/P, sr.

Jose Gonzalez, Park, P, jr.

Cordell Greene, Maple Grove, P, sr.

Mark Halstengard, Minnehaha Academy, p-2B

Chad Hanson, Mounds Park Academy, SS/P, jr.

Blake Haugen, Canby, 1B/2B, sr.

Jacob Hawes, Armstrong, OF/P, sr.

Erik Hovet, Grand Rapids, 1B/P, sr.

Derek Hovick, Rochester John Marshall, P, jr.

Ben Hughes, Blake, P/OF, sr.

Aanders Johnson, Fosston, 3B/P, jr.

Bennett Johnson, Minneapolis Southwest, P, jr.

Brashad Johnson, Benilde-St. Margaret's, SS, sr.

Tom Jubarian, Park Rapids, SS, sr.

Nick Judkins, Lakeville North, SS, sr.

Erik Klefsaas, Eastview, 2B, sr.

Richard Klein, Woodbury, P, jr.

Ben Knaus, Kimball, OF, jr.

Eric Koehler, Holy Family Catholic, OF, jr.

Glen Kruger, Adrian, IF, sr.

Troy Larson, Hill-Murray, SS, sr.

Paul Lavold, Mesabi East, SS/P, sr.

Anders Lee, Edina, 3B, jr.

Ben Lemke, Rosemount, SS/P, sr.

John Licht, Minneapolis Southwest, SS/P, sr.

Scott Lieser, Browerville/Eagle Valley, P, jr.

Nathan Maher, Rockford, IF, sr.

Kyle Melcher, Owatonna, P, jr.

Alex Miller, Math & Science Academy, P/2B, jr.

Mike Nelson, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton, OF, sr.

Brian Ness, Rochester John Marshall, SS, sr.

Zach Olson, Luverne, SS/P, jr.

Aaron Overson, Tartan, IF, sr.

Shawn Palmer, Rochester Mayo, SS, sr.

Glen Parker, Lakeville North, P, sr.

Dave Picha, Northfield, P/OF, sr.

Travis Piepho, Concordia Academy (Roseville), OF, sr.

Matt Puhl, North St. Paul, SS/P, sr.

Greg Quist, Pipestone, P/SS, sr.

Mark Radmacher, Rosemount, C, sr.

Joe Ramberg, Cambridge-Isanti, P/1B, sr.

Chris Ransom, Minneapolis Washburn, OF, sr.

Steve Rindelaub, St. Cloud Cathedral, SS, sr.

Jordan Rishavy, Rochester John Marshall, 3B, sr.

Ben Ruter, MACCRAY, 3B, sr.

Andrew Rynda, Bloomington Jefferson, P/1B, sr.

Cody Schenck, Hawley, 1B, sr.

Jake Schmesing, Stillwater, P, jr.

Steve Schroer, Coon Rapids, P, sr.

Cody Schwantes, South St. Paul, IF, sr.

Blake Schwartz, Rosemount, P/1B, sr.

Peter Schwartz, St. Paul Academy, P/OF/1B, sr.

Terry Schwartz, St. Paul Academy, P,OF/2B, sr.

Antonio Siebenaler, Como Park, IF, sr.

Lucas Skjefte, Eden Prairie, IF, sr.

Beau Sorenson, Hawley, P, jr.

Tydan Storrusten, Pelican Rapids, SS, jr.

John Straka, Chaska, P/C, sr.

Tommy Thompson, Irondale, OF/P, sr.

Dan Ubl, Park, 1B, sr.

Kyle Van Dyke, Moorhead, P, sr.

Calvin Walker, St. Anthony Village, OF, sr.

Eli Walters, Maple River, P/SS, sr.

Andy Wolfe, Winona Cotter, SS, sr.

Gabe Wood, Grand Rapids, P, sr.

Kyle Young, Forest Lake, SS, jr.