The 2020 Bluegrass all-conference baseball teams were released last week, with five News Advertiser area players making the cut.
Orient-Macksburg placed Wiley Ray, Blake Thompson and Zayden Rawlings throughout the three teams, while Murray added Brycen Wookey and Gauge Mongar.
First team
Ray was part of the first team, doing the bulk of the pitching for the Bulldogs and being one of the team’s top hitters. On the mound, Ray was second in the conference with 28 2/3 innings pitched, striking out 36 batters, fourth highest in the conference. Ray hit .345 with a .558 on-base percentage, fourth highest in the conference.
Playing his role as the Mustangs’ slugger, Wookey was a force at the plate in 2020. He finished fourth in the conference and leading the team with a .441 average, blasting one home run and driving in a team-high nine runs. Like Ray, Wookey was also the leading pitcher for Murray. He pitched 19 2/3 innings, striking out a conference-high 40 batters.
Second team
Thompson made the second team for Orient-Macksburg. In his junior campaign, Thompson led the team with a .375 average. He was also a major part of the Bulldogs’ pitching staff in 2020, placing third in the conference with 37 strikeouts. Thompson was also the starting shortstop, contributing for 20 assists on the season, fifth-highest in the conference.
Honorable Mention
Rawlings was the final Bulldog to make the cut with an honorable mention. He hit .281 with a .452 on-base percentage, third on the team. Rawlings had nine base hits on the season, eight singles and one double while scoring eight runs.
Mongar rounded out the group for the Mustangs. As a freshman, Mongar hit .323 with a .447 on-base percentage. He had 10 hits on the season, one triple, and nine RBIs. Mongar was a threat on the base paths, stealing eight bases on eight attempts.
Standings – 1. Ankeny Christian 12-5 (8-1); 1. Lamoni 12-5 (8-3); 3. Moravia 8-8 (7-2); 3. Twin Cedars 8-8 (5-3); Mormon Trail 4-11 (2-3); Moulton-Udell 3-9 (2-6); 6. Murray 3-10 (3-6); 6. Orient-Macksburg 3-13 (3-6); 9. Seymour 2-9 (1-7); 10. Melcher-Dallas 1-14 (1-7).
First team
Pitcher – Bode Dykens, Jr., Lamoni
Pitcher – Jaiden Ricer, Jr., Lamoni
Pitcher – Malachi Johnson, So., Ankeny Christian Academy
Catcher – Brycen Wookey, So., Murray
Catcher – Cole Metz, So., Melcher-Dallas
Infield – Stephen Ansong, Sr., Lamoni
Infield – Landon Gilliland, Jr., Lamoni
Infield – Ryan Krpan, Jr., Melcher-Dallas
Infield – Wiley Ray, Jr., Orient-Macksburg
Infield – Kade Dunkin, Jr., Twin Cedars
Outfield – Eli Christensen, 8, Ankeny Christian Academy
Outfield – Cason Butz, Sr., Moravia
Outfield – Bryce Kaster, Sr., Moravia
Outfield – Brayden Olson, So., Lamoni
Utility – Cael Ogier, Jr., Lamoni
Utility – Cale Leever, Jr., Ankeny Christian Academy
Second team
Pitcher – Jaden Enright, Jr., Seymour
Pitcher – Gabe Stripe, So., Mormon Trail
Pitcher – Zach Peterson, Sr., Twin Cedars
Catcher – Braedon Boswell, So., Lamoni
Catcher – Ethan Martin, Jr., Moravia
Infield – Gage Hanes, Fr., Moravia
Infield – Wyatt Stansberry, Sr., Moulton-Udell
Infield – Kade Nowlin, So., Lamoni
Infield – Brody Tuttle, Fr., Seymour
Infield – Blake Thompson, Jr., Orient-Macksburg
Outfield – Javin Stevenson, So., Lamoni
Ben McDermott, So., Ankeny Christian Academy
Outfield – Devin Arkema, So., Twin Cedars
Outfield – Wrigley Shanks, So., Mormon Trail
Utility – Michael Millslagle, Sr., Lamoni
Utility – Nathan Smith, Jr., Twin Cedars
Honorable Mention
Gabe Worsham, Sr., Ankeny Christian Academy; Ethan Owen, Sr. Lamoni; Steven Krpan, Jr., Melcher-Dallas; Alex Benjamin, Sr., Moravia; Luke Parmer, Sr., Mormon Trail; Trent Rockwood, Sr., Moulton-Udell; Gauge Mongar, Fr., Murray; Zayden Rawlings, Jr., Orient-Macksburg; John Merrit, Sr., Seymour; Austin Test, Sr., Twin Cedars.
