2020 Bluegrass all-conference baseball

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.