August 02, 2025
Local NewsState & National

Seven area players make all-district teams

By BRENNEN NORMAND
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Brayton Chesnut of Creston rounds second during the 2020 summer season. Chesnut was selected as a second team selection for Class 3A's all-district team. (CNA photo)

The Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association released all-district teams Monday with seven area players scattered throughout first and second teams.

Nodaway Valley's Tyler Vandewater and Central Decatur's Michel Evertsen were the two first-team selections for the News Advertiser area.

Five area players made the second team with strong seasons: Creston's Brayton Chesnut, Southwest Valley's Tyler Pearson, Lenox's Jonathon Weaver and Mount Ayr's Jaixen Frost and Briar Knapp.

First team

As a senior calling pitches behind the plate, Vandewater hit .405, driving in 11 runs. He also had a .562 on-base percentage. Defensively, he threw out six runners behind the plate, second in the Pride of Iowa.

Evertsen was a strong piece for the Cardinals, hitting .500, tied for fifth in the Pride of Iowa. He led the conference with 33 RBIs and was second in hits, tallying 38 on the season. Evertsen had a .967 fielding percentage, making two errors on the season at third base.

Second team

Chesnut was selected as a utility player. As a senior, Chesnut led the team with a .333 batting average while driving in four runs. In his 10 hits this season, he had eight singles and two doubles.

For the Timberwolves, Pearson was a big bat in the lineup, finishing third in the Pride of Iowa with a .536 batting average. The senior outfielder had 15 hits, three doubles and one triple, while having a .606 on-base percentage. Patrolling the outfield, Pearson had a 1.000 fielding percentage on 16 put outs.

Weaver had 19 base hits, hitting .396 with a .491 on-base percentage for the Tigers. He had nine walks on the season and was a threat on the base paths, going 9-for-10 on steals. The junior second baseman also had 32 assists, fifth in the Pride of Iowa.

Frost was a standout as a freshman for the Raiders. Playing a premier position at shortstop, Frost hit .610, good enough for third in the state, and had four home runs, tied for first in the conference. He had 22 RBIs on the season. Defensively, Frost had an .889 fielding percentage with five errors.

Knapp was a key utility piece for Mount Ayr, contributing on the mound, in the field and at the plate. As a pitcher, he threw 25 innings, striking out 34 and allowing a .185 average off of him. Knapp finished the season with a 2.80 ERA. At the plate, he hit .432 with a .537 on-base percentage, driving in 12 runs with one home run.

Class 1A

First team

Isaac Gavin, Martensdale-St Marys, Sr.; Jeff Miller, St. Albert, Sr.; Brennan Sefrit, Bedford, Sr.; Kade Schlepp, Coon Rapids-Bayard, Sr.; Jack Franey, Martensdale-St Marys, Jr.; Tyler Vandewater, Nodaway Valley, Sr.; Isaac Sherrill, St. Albert, Jr.; Cole Cassady, Martensdale-St Marys, Sr.; Cy Patterson, St. Albert, Jr.; Michel Evertsen, Central Decatur, Sr.; Carson Elbert, Martensdale-St Marys, Jr.; Lance Wright, St. Albert, Sr.; Mason Merfeld, Southeast Warren, Jr.; Peyton Clipperton, Coon Rapids-Bayard, Sr.; Lanye Pryor, Woodbine, Jr.; Bryce Hall, Southeast Warren, Sr.; Aaron McAlister, Coon Rapids-Bayard, Jr.; Kasey Carter, Martensdale-St Marys, So.; Lane Spieker, CAM, So.

Second team

Joel Klocke, Audubon, Jr.; Bode Dykens, Lamoni, Jr.; Tre Melby, Logan Magnolia, Jr.; Luke Hubbard, St. Albert, Jr.; Kolby Nelson, CAM, Sr.; Dylan Swaney, Bedford, Jr.; Ben Tibken, CAM, Sr.; Jonathon Weaver, Lenox, So.; Jaixen Frost, Mount Ayr, Fr.; Keygan Day, Stanton, Sr.; Skyler Schultes, Audubon, Sr.; Tyler Pearson, Southwest Valley, Sr.; Dylan Cunard, Logan-Magnolia, Sr.; Joe Kauffman, CAM, So.; Landon Gilliland, Lamoni, Jr.; Colby Rich, CAM, So.; Nolan Ramsey, IKM, So.; Mason King, West Harrison, Fr.; Briar Knapp, Mount Ayr, Jr.

Class 3A

First team

Conner Bruck, Harlan, Sr.; Tucker Christensen, Norwalk, Sr.; Logan Smith, Dallas Center-Grimes, Sr.; Ty Thompson, Winterset, Jr.; Brenden Bartley, Harlan, Jr.; Easton Darling, Winterset, Sr.; Ben Craven, Boone, Jr.; Evan Borst, Norwalk, Jr.; Justin Hackett, Winterset, So.; Dawson Forgy, Winterset, So.; Tate Stine-Smith, ADM, Jr.; Jordan Sedivec, Dallas Center-Grimes, Jr.; Morgan Smith, Boone, Jr.; Jake Fees, Norwalk, Sr.; Brock Johnson, Winterset, Sr.

Second team

Zach Fuller, ADM, Sr.; Matt Mills, Boone, Sr.; Cole Osterhaus, Carlisle, Jr.; Cole Wessling, Dallas Center-Grimes, Sr.; Dylan Bangs, Boone, Sr.; Colby Wigham, Dallas Center-Grimes, Sr.; Luke Curry, ADM, Jr.; Grant Sturm, Atlantic, Jr.; Joey Moser, Harlan, So.; Brock Miller, Norwalk, Jr.; Archer Ogbourne, Carlisle, So.; Michael Mulkerrin, Glenwood, Sr.; Brayton Chesnut, Creston, Sr.; Chase Anderson, ADM, Sr.; Colin Mullenix, Atlantic, Jr.