Nodaway Valley’s leader on and off the field

GREENFIELD— On the field, there was little doubt who was the leader for Nodaway Valley’s baseball team, particularly on the mound.

The impact this player had was more than just between the white lines.

His impact in the clubhouse, during practice and away from games made him a key cog in leading the Wolverines to the state baseball tournament for the first time in school history.

Jackson Lamb’s efforts on the field have helped earn state-wide recognition.

Lamb was named to the Iowa Newspaper Association’s Class 1A all-state team. He earned a spot on the third team as a pitcher.

On the mound, Lamb was the one who took the ball in most every big game for the Wolverines. He led the Wolverines in every key category. Lamb went 8-5 with a 2.20 earned run average in 76 and one-third innings of work. He struck out 74 and walked 22. Opponents batted only .218 against him.

“He’s a great competitor out on the hill,” said Nodaway Valley coach Dan Jameson. “He always gave us a fighting chance.

“He always gritted down.”

Lamb finishes his career with 23 wins over four years of pitching.

His eight wins this season were notable because the Wolverines only played 25 regular season games.

“For him to go 8-5 this year is a big accomplishment for the season,” Jameson said.

Lamb commanded the ball well from the number one starter’s role.

Jameson often gave the ball to Lamb when a big game came around.

“Whenever we had a big game, he wanted the ball,” Jameson said. “He didn’t shy away from anyone. He wanted the ball.”

Lamb started showing his pitching prowess as a freshman. That season, he came in and helped pitch the Wolverines to the district final.

“He picked up a couple wins there as a freshman,” Jameson said. “He bulldozed his way in there. He knew how to get things done.”

Jameson called on his crafty right-hander often the next three seasons.

“He was consistent on the hill,” Jameson said. “He’s been tremendous for the program.”

“He’s meant a lot.”

Lamb single-handedly helped pitch the Wolverines to the state tournament.

In the district semifinal against Orient-Macksburg, he allowed two runs in four innings with eight strikeouts as the Wolverines rallied past the Bulldogs 6-5.

In the district final against Lenox, he threw a complete game gem, scattering four hits, allowing one earned run with eight strikeouts in the win.

Four days later in the substate final against perennial state power Martensdale-St. Marys, Lamb pitched the final four and two-thirds innings, helping the Wolverines earn their first state trip.

“He didn’t shy away from anyone,” Jameson said. “He wanted the ball. His attitude was tremendous. He was one of the main reasons why we got where we got.”

Lamb struggled a bit at times early in the outing against Martensdale-St. Mary’s. During the hour-long delay because the lights wouldn’t turn on at Panther Field in Creston, Jameson pulled out a basketball reference to help his ace calm down.

“We related it to him in basketball terms,” Jameson said. “Just think of it as a free throws. Take a breath, go through your routine and get it done. He got it done. He settled in.”

Even with an exhausted arm, Lamb still wanted the ball two days later in the state first-round game against top-ranked Newman Catholic.

While he only went an inning-plus against the Knights, Lamb’s desire and heart were on display that night at Principal Park.

“He wanted the ball when we went to state,” Jameson said. “He might not have been 100 percent, but he wanted to battle for us. He wanted that start at state. He got us there. He was fighting every bit of the way.”

In the field, Lamb had only one error in 50 attempts fielding, between pitcher, shortstop and the outfield.

“I could put him in about any position,” Jameson said. “He played shortstop, he played a little first this year. I put him in the outfield, just wherever we needed to get things done.”

At the plate, Lamb hit .318 with five doubles, 18 runs batted in and a team-best 34 runs from the third position in Jameson’s lineup.

“He always did a nice job at the plate,” Jameson said.

On the field or in practice, Lamb was demanding, yet compassionate at the same time.

“He’ll chew anybody’s butt in practice, but then he’ll pick them right back up,” Jameson said. “He pushed everybody to play as hard as he did.”

What makes Lamb so special, Jameson said, is the desire to be the best at all times.

It is a characteristic Jameson hopes rubs off on Jackson’s younger brother Spencer and the rest of the Wolverines program.

“He’s just one of those special guys,” Jameson said. “He has that edge all the time. In any situation, he’s ready to find a way to get through it. Hopefully some other guys pick that up, just that competitors edge that he has.

“It’s pretty special.”

Class 1A All-State team

First team

Jacob Wesseelman Remsen St. Marys Jr. Pitcher; Porter Hummel West Sioux Sr. Pitcher; Trevor Brown Don Bosco So. Pitcher; Cade Schares Don Bosco Sr. Catcher; Bryce Ball Newman Catholic Sr. 1st Base; Zac Kibby Bishop Garrigan Sr. Infield; Tanner Jansen BGM Sr. Infield; Dillon Caves Alburnett Sr. Infield; Parker Dondlinger Newman Catholic Sr. Outfield; Aaron Allard Akron-Westfield Jr. Outfield; Lance Hoch SE Warren Sr. Outfield; Brady Harpenau Remsen St. Mary’s Sr. Utility; Jake Hilmer North Linn Fr. Utility. Captain: Brady Harpenau, Remsen St. Mary’s

Second team

Cameron Hoeg North Tama Jr. Pitcher; Evan Paulus Newman Catholic Fr. Pitcher; Chase Rath Highland, Riverside Jr. Pitcher; Justin Negaard West Sioux Sr. Catcher; Dalton Smith Don Bosco Sr. 1st Base; Riley Van Whye Central Lyon Jr. Infield; Trevor Dooley Martensdale-SM So. Infield; Trace Embray Twin Cedars Jr. Infield; Ryan Miller North Linn So. Outfield; Isaac McCallister Coon Rapids-Bayard Jr. Outfield; Dion Coffey Tri-Center Sr. Outfield; Colin Runksmeier North Union Sr. Utility; Brett Kelting Calamus-Wheatland Jr. Utility.

Third team

Connor Clark Remsen St. Marys Sr. Pitcher; Jackson Lamb Nodaway Valley Sr. Pitcher; Kyle Kristiansen Alburnett Sr. Pitcher; Brandon Huebner Tri-Center Jr. Catcher; Jason Setterdahl FD St. Edmond Sr. 1st Base; Noah Borkowski Glidden-Ralson Sr. Infield; Matt Herbold Lawton-Bronson Sr. Infield; Joe Smoldt Gladbrook-Reinbeck Jr. Infield; Mike Jones Edgewood-Colesburg Sr. Outfield; Christian Reischauer Colo-NESCO Sr. Outfield; Peyton Crawford Sigourney Sr. Outfield; Clay Emhoff West Fork Sr. Utility; Avery Waybill Moravia Sr. Utility.

Class 2A

First team

Brady Stover Collins-Maxwell/Bater Sr. Pitcher; Javin Drake Wilton Sr. Pitcher; Trace Hoffman Cascade Sr. Pitcher; Will Mertens Van Buren Sr. Catcher; Zeb Adrean Pleasantville Sr. 1st Base; Ketzalli Dondiego Northeast Sr. Infield; Evan Reifert Wilton Jr. Infield; Rease Snyder Kuemper Catholic Jr. Infield; Skyler Beller Hinton Sr. Outfield; Brock Busick Pleasantville Sr. Outfield; Race Brant Woodward-Granger Sr. Outfield; Ethan McHenry Clear Lake Sr. Utility; Trevor Ambrose New Hampton Sr. Utility; Captain: Javin Drake, Wilton.

Second team

Nick Long East Marshall Sr. Pitcher; Grant Mantell Treynor Sr. Pitcher; Ben Dotzler OA-BCIG Sr. Pitcher; Zach Scott Northeast Sr. Catcher; Zach Forret Van Meter Sr. 1st Base; Brett Daley Treynor Jr. Infield; Cooper Merrill Clear Lake Sr. Infield; Riley LeGrand Beckman Catholic Jr. Infield; Jake Koch Van Meter Sr. Outfield; Trace Howard Wapello So. Outfield; Trevor Hurd North Fayette Valley Sr. Outfield; Tyler Laing Kuemper Catholic Jr. Utility; Ben Mason Clear Lake Sr. Utility.

Third team

Kyle Schmitt Van Meter Sr. Pitcher; Collin Jurgensmeier Hinton Jr. Pitcher; Nick Fox D.M. Christian Sr. Pitcher; Mitch Siech Denver Sr. Catcher; Ty Sohn Dike-New Hartford Sr. 1st Base; Aaron Bohling Louisa-Muscatine Sr. Infield; C.J. Kyle Missouri Valley Sr. Infield; Tyler Hovick Roland-Story Sr. Infield; Brady Petermeier West Marshall Sr. Outfield; Colby Seuntjens MVAO So. Outfield; Terrill Henrich Hinton Sr. Outfield; Cole Vande Veget Unity Christian Sr. Utility; Noah Allmon Missouri Valley Sr. Utility.

Class 3A First team

Grant Junkins Pella Sr. Pitcher; T.J. Sikkema Central De Witt Sr. Pitcher; Trenton Wallace Dav. Assumption Jr. Pitcher; Colby Van Pelt Winterset Sr. Catcher; Anthony Hanson Carlisle Sr. 1st Base; Tyler Hillman Pella Jr. Infield; Dillon Sears Harlan Jr. Infield; Cole Loeffelbein Glenwood Jr. Infield; Peyton Stephens Carlisle Sr. Outfield; Payton Duit Bondurant-Farrar Sr. Outfield; Chris Witzke Humboldt Sr. Outfield; Kyle Juhl Harlan Sr. Utility; Vic Malloy Williamsburg Sr. Utlity; Captain: Grant Judkins, Pella.

Second team

Adam Ketelsen Mount Vernon Sr. Pitcher; Max Steffens Central De Witt Sr. Pitcher; Cameron Baumann Fairfield Jr. Pitcher; Ethan Arnold Oskaloosa Jr. Catcher; Connor Lindaman Dav. Assumption Sr. 1st Base; Ben De Boer MOC-Floyd Valley Jr. Infield; Alex Crile Fairfield Sr. Infield; Brady Shelgren Humboldt Sr. Infield; Jarrid Clark Bondurant-Farrar Sr. Outfield; Keaton Candor LeMars Jr. Outfield; Judd White Dubuque Wahlert Sr. Outfield; Rece Martin Saydel Sr. Utility; Brett Croghan Harlan Sr. Utility.

Third team

Connor Prescott Sergeant Bluff-Luton Sr. Pitcher; Nathan Struve Vinton-Shellsburg Jr. Pitcher; Dalton Graven Waverly-Shell Rock Sr. Pitcher; Maverick Miller Marion Jr. Catcher; Devin Porter Saydel Jr. 1st Base; Tanner Schminke Boone Jr. Infield; Jordan Pierce Carlisle Sr. Infield; Marquis Dew Mount Vernon Sr. Infield; Matt Nelson Bishop Heelan Jr. Outfield; Blake Elsbecker Algona Sr. Outfield;Tanner Clark Central De Witt Sr. Outfield;Joe Argo Dav. Assumption Sr. Utility; Josh Cheek Harlan Jr. Utility.

Class 4A

First team

Walker McDonald Waukee Sr. Pitcher; Austin Miller Iowa City West Sr. Pitcher; Hunter Lee D.M. Lincoln Sr. Pitcher; Joel Thompson Lewis Central Jr. Catcher; Arthur Sells W.D.M. Valley Sr. 1st Base; Cal Clark C.R. Prairie Sr. Infield; John Swanda D.M. Roosevelt Jr. Infield; Brendan Dougherty W.D.M. Dowling Sr. Infield; Tyler Nunemaker C.R. Prairie Sr. Outfield; Spencer Van Scoyoc C.R. Jefferson Sr. Outfield; Manny Jeffery Linn-Mar Sr. Outfield; Caleb Shudak Lewis Central Sr. Utility; Calvin Stalzer W.D.M. Valley Sr. Utility. Captain: Spencer Van Scoyoc, C.R. Jefferson

Second team

Jakon Kirman Dubuque Sr. Sr. Pitcher; Ian Bedell Dav. Central So. Pitcher; Darren Kilpatrick C.R. Prairie Jr. Pitcher; Austin Martin SE Polk Sr. Catcher; Cole Muehring Dubuque Hempstead Sr. 1st Base; Kyle Crowl C.B. Abraham Lincoln Sr. Infield; Christian Pena Dav. Central Sr. Infield; Brady Bunten C.R. Washington So. Infield; Ben Norman D.M. Roosevelt Sr. Outfield; Connor McCaffery Iowa City West Jr. Outfield; Ross Kamer Urbandale Sr. Outfield; Tyler Dralley C.R. Kennedy Sr. Utility; Thomas McLaughlin SE Polk Sr. Utility.

Third team

Clayton Nettleton Dav. West So. Pitcher; Connor Van Scoyoc C.R. Jefferson So. Pitcher; Jackson Clausen Johnston Sr. Pitcher; Matt Berst C.R. Kennedy Jr. Catcher; Cole Hassman SE Polk Jr. 1st Base; Zach Lin D.M. Roosevelt Sr. Infield; Alec Capshaw Dav. Central Sr. Infield; Nolan Monthei Johnston Sr. Infield; Adam Barrett C.B. Abraham Lincoln Sr. Outfield; Tony Barrera North Scott So. Outfield; Jordan Yaukovitz Waukee Sr. Outfield; Izaya Ono-Fullard I.C. West Jr. Utility; Cooper Reittinger C.R. Prairie Sr. Utility.