Star Tribune

All-Metro

2008

2008 Star Tribune All-metro first team

Last update: June 11, 2008 - 8:11 PM

Brad Hand

Chaska

Pitcher • senior

Drafted in the second round by the Florida Marlins, Hand led the Hawks to the Class 3A state tournament with a 90-plus mph fastball and an excellent curve. Regular season: 5-1 record, 0.55 ERA, 69 strikeouts.

 

Chase Hentges

Shakopee

P • senior

The 6-3 righthander throws in the low 90s and chalked up a 4-0 record with a 1.70 ERA and 39 strikeouts. Selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 14th round of the major league draft.

 

T.J. Oakes

Jordan

Pitcher • junior

The son of Gophers pitching coach Todd Oakes was 5-0 with a 0.19 ERA in the regular season. He struck out 53 in 35.2 innings while walking only one. He pitched a perfect game against Montgomery-Lonsdale.

 

Madison Boer

Eden Prairie

P/1B • senior

Boer rebounded from a injury that sidelined him in 2007 with a stellar senior year. Went 7-2 with a 1.50 ERA and hit four home runs with a .315 batting average in the Lake Conference. Boer has signed to play at Oregon.

 

Sam Ryan

Tartan

Catcher • senior

Ryan was the most dominant player in the Classic Suburban. He hit .485 with a metro-leading nine home runs and had 25 RBI. Also considered excellent defensively, he was drafted by the Twins in the 35th round.

 

Joe Althoff

Delano

Catcher • senior

One of the top hitters in the metro, Althoff hit .516 (49-for-95) with 31 RBI, 21 extra-base hits and a .779 slugging percentage. He also was 8-3 record with 2.01 ERA and 82 strikeouts as a pitcher.

 

Joe Loftus

Holy Angels

3B/P • senior

Despite being pitched around for most of the season, the Vanderbilt recruit hit .471 with 31 RBI. He also was 5-1 with a 0.73 ERA. The Twins drafted him in the 29th round. He finished with 25 career home runs.

 

Jacob Esch

Cretin-Derham Hall

SS/P • senior

The 2007 Metro Player of the Year led the Raiders in hitting with a .492 average and 23 RBI during the regular season. He was 4-0 with a 2.10 ERA as a pitcher. He has committed to play at Georgia Tech.

 

Cory Glieden

Chaska

Shortstop • senior

Coach Troy Stein calls Glieden, a four-year starter, the "best shortstop in Minnesota." A smooth fielder, he hit. .382 from the leadoff spot with a .435 on-base percentage. He will play at Iowa next year.

 

Troy Larson

Hill-Murray

SS • senior

The Gophers recruit has anchored the middle of the infield for the Pioneers for three years. Very fast, he has exceptional range and makes difficult plays look routine. Hit .425 on the season with 17 runs scored and 12 RBI.

 

John Licht

Minneapolis Southwest

SS/P • senior

Licht was the main cog for the only team to finish the regular season undefeated (22-0). On the mound he was 6-0 with a 0.98 ERA and two shutouts. He also batted .405, scored 35 runs, had 31 RBI and a .703 slugging percentage.

 

Matt Voldness

Bloomington Jefferson

SS • senior

Hit .341 overall but played his best in big games, including a 3-for-4 performance in the Jaguars' Section 6, Class 2A championship game victory over Wayzata. Very dependable at shortstop and was 4-2 with a 2.78 ERA.

 

All-metro second team

Last update: June 11, 2008 - 8:12 PM

Pitchers

• Matt Lutz, Centennial, jr.

• Tim O'Keefe, DeLaSalle, sr.

• Chris Peterson, St. Anthony, sr.

• Dave Picha, Northfield, sr.

• Joe Ramberg, Cambridge-Isanti, sr.

Fielders

• Jeff Butler, Prior Lake, jr., OF

• Nick Colwell, Irondale, sr., IF/P

• Paul Giel, Minnetonka, sr., CF

• Nick Judkins, Lakeville North, sr., SS

• Kirk Kenneally, Andover, sr., 3B

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

• Matt Puhl, North St. Paul, sr., SS

• Lucas Skjefte, Eden Prairie, sr., 2B

JIM PAULSEN