Three Panther baseball players honored

Three Creston players were honored in the All-Hawkeye Ten Conference baseball awards announced Wednesday night.

Senior pitcher-infielder Parker Varner and sophomore catcher Tom Mikkelsen, who also pitched and played outfield for the Panthers, were named to the all-conference first team. Sophomore shortstop/pitcher Tanner Ray received honorable mention.

Senior infielder-pitcher Brady Hetzel of league champion Lewis Central and Harlan senior catcher Hayden Soma were unanimous selections to the first team.

Lewis Central topped the league this year with a 19-1 conference record, and ended 27-9 overall. Harlan finished 18-2 in the league and 25-12 overall.

Creston finished in a tie for third place in the conference with Kuemper Catholic at 11-9, one game in front of Denison-Schleswig in fifth at 10-10. The Panthers were 16-17 overall.

Varner had a big senior season, batting a team-high .450 with 25 runs batted in. On the mound, Varner had a 6-2 record and 2.18 earned run average. In a team-high 61 innings, Varner compiled 72 strikeouts and only eight walks while allowing 59 hits. Opponents batted .248 against Varner.

Mikkelsen and Ray were also versatile players, as part of the regular starting pitching rotation in addition to their regular duties as position players. Mikkelsen batted .363 with a team-high three home runs and 17 RBIs. He was hit by pitches 17 times. He had a 2-4 pitching record with a 2.07 ERA. In 23.2 innings he allowed 18 hits with 27 strikeouts and 23 walks.

Ray, the team’s shortstop when not pitching, batted .273 with a team-high 23 runs scored and 12 RBIs. His 51 innings pitched was second to Varner’s 61. He had a 2-5 record with 42 hits allowed, 44 strikeouts and 22 walks.

Hawkeye Ten Baseball

First team (* — Unanimous) — *Jayden Soma, Harlan, Sr, C; *Brady Hetzel, Lewis Central, Sr., 3B/SS/P; Kale Jensen, Atlantic, Jr., OF; Parker Varner, Creston, Sr., P/3B; Nolan Wagoner, Clarinda, Fr., SS; Ryan Turner, Glenwood, Sr., Util.; Colton Schneider, Harlan, So., SS/P; Blake Fort, Lewis Central, Fr., IF: Owen Duffek, Lewis Central, So., 2B/P; Aaron Kreps, Lewis Central, Sr., P; Tom Mikkelsen, Creston, So., C/P; Mason Knerl, Kuemper Catholic, Sr., SS/P; Jeremiah Sherrill, St. Albert, Sr., SS; Benn Christiansen, Glenwood, Fr., CF; Kort Neal, Clarinda, Jr., P.

Second team — Weston Reisz, Harlan, Sr., P; Gavin Harrington, Lewis Central, Sr., C; Cole Kastner, Denison-Schleswig, Sr., P{/3B; Cody Schulte, Denison-Schleswig, Sr., P/3B; Cade Nelson, Harlan, So., 2B; Brooks Bond, Lewis Central, Fr., SS; Ryan Wagoner, Clarinda, So., C; Gavin McLaren, Atlantic, Jr., C/P; Cooper Phillips, Clarinda, Sr., OF; Brett Erickson, Red Oak, Sr., P/SS; Jonas Reynolds, Harlan, Jr., P; Ryan Sundrup, Kuemper Catholic; Carson Roeder, Red Oak, So., C; Logan Twyman, Shenandoah, Jr., P; Camdyn Nemitz, Denison-Schleswig, Jr., Utility; Owen Galvin, Denison-Schleswig, Jr., Utility.

Honorable mention (Creston) — Tanner Ray, So., SS/P.