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K.J. Pilcher |
DES MOINES — Cedar Rapids Jefferson’s Spencer Van Scoyoc faced some challenges his senior baseball season.
After being drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 19th round of the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, Van Scoyoc spent most of the summer negotiating with the organization and battling while pitchers gave him little to hit.
Neither prevented him from posting impressive power numbers, leading Class 4A in home runs and slugging percentage and being named captain of the Iowa Newspaper Association all-state team. Van Scoyoc earned his third INA all-state selection.
“He’s the type of kid you coach once in your career,” Jefferson Coach Kyle Rodenkirk said. “I’m fortunate.”
The J-Hawks were fortunate to receive his production. Van Scoyoc, who will attend Arizona State to play baseball, hit 16 home runs with a slugging percentage of .810. He had 48 hits, including 14 doubles. He led Jefferson with 41 RBIs.
The Mississippi Valley Conference Valley Division Player of the Year did a little bit of everything for the J-Hawks. Rodenkirk said some elite players are set in their ways and are resistant to advice. Van Scoyoc was open to anything that improved his skills.
“He’s really coachable,” Rodenkirk said. “He’s always willing to you to help make himself better.”
Rodenkirk said Van Scoyoc could be considered one of the top three J-Hawks of all time. He was a catalyst for Jefferson’s success, including their state quarterfinal appearance this season. It was their first state berth since 1998.
“He had a winning attitude,” Rodenkirk said. “He brought the mentality that we’d win every game, no matter what.
“He will be missed.”
Cedar Rapids Prairie’s Tyler Nunemaker became a major contributor to the Hawks’ state title season. Nunemaker claimed first-team honors, transitioning to center field from right field at the beginning of the year. He served as the cleanup hitter, reaping the rewards of his hard work that included taking swings with teammates during the winter.
“The key was probably working more in the off-season,” Nunemaker said. “We could go straight over to the indoor hitting facility and get cuts in the winter. Putting in the off-season work helped me significantly at the plate this year.”
He made huge increases in every offensive category. Nunemaker batted .459 to lead Prairie, which was .133 better than his junior season. He had 54 hits with five triples and 38 runs, driving in 48 RBIs. Nunemaker swiped 19 bases, He more than doubled his RBIs and stolen bases from last year.
“I was more comfortable,” Nunemaker said. “Last year, I was tense and trying to put up the numbers. This year, I just played the game and had fun.”
Prairie teammate Cal Clark was named to the first-team for the second straight season. The senior shortstop led the Hawks with a .536 on-base percentage, batting .432 with 54 hits. He scored 38 runs, while driving in a team-high 48 RBIs.
“To be able to put up back-to-back years the way he has is an unbelievable accomplishment at our level,” Prairie Coach Todd Rima said. “The best part is how he goes about his business. He shows up every day and works hard. He plays the way you want every kid on your team to play.”
Linn-Mar’s Manny Jeffery joined Van Scoyoc as a three-time selection. The Lions’ senior outfielder earned first-team honors, making the third team the last two seasons. Jeffery led Linn-Mar in almost every offensive category, batting .449 with 57 hits, including 11 doubles, three triples and 33 RBIs. He also had .510 on-base percentage.
Jeffery also will join Nunemaker, continuing his baseball career at Wartburg.
State runner-up Iowa City West was represented on the first team by starter Austin Miller. He finished 10-2 with a 1.91 earned-run average. Miller led 4A with 80 1/3 innings pitched, striking out 75 while walking just 16 this season. He compiled 19 total victories the last two years.
North Linn freshman Jake Hilmer made his second all-state team. He was named first-team utility, earning second-team honors as a pitcher last year. Hilmer was 13-0 with a 0.53 ERA, striking out 88 in less than 80 innings. He also batted .460 with a .545 on-base percentage and 64 hits, scoring 65 runs. He led 1A in runs and was third in hits.
“The kid is the most competitive and hardest working athlete I have coached,” North Linn Coach Travis Griffith said. “He just refuses to lose.”
In Class 3A, Williamsburg’s Vic Malloy was named to the first-team as a utility player. The all-Wamac West pitcher was 7-1 this season with a 0.56 ERA, striking out 75 in 66 2/3 innings. He batted .414 for the Raiders, amassing 58 hits and driving in 42 runs.
Cascade ace Trace Hoffman made his second straight appearance on Class 2A’s first team. Hoffman was 8-2 with a 0.78 ERA for the Cougars. The right-hander fanned 65 batters in 62 2/3 innings.
Alburnett’s Dillon Caves and BGM’s Tanner Jansen were named first-team infielders in 1A.
Caves hit .438 with a .572 on-base percentage, helping the Pirates, who reached the substate final. The senior middle infielder had 53 hits, 56 runs and was third in 1A with 51 stolen bases.
Jansen, a third-teamer last year, hit .516 with 44 RBIs and 47 hits, including 15 doubles, three triples and two home runs. Jansen, a senior, added 25 stolen bases.
CLASS 4A
First team
Pitchers – Walker McDonald, Waukee, Sr.; Austin Miller, Iowa City West, Sr.; Hunter Lee, Des Moines Lincoln, Sr.; Catcher – Joel Thompson, Council Bluffs Lewis Central, Jr.; First base – Arthur Sells, West Des Moines Valley, Sr.; Infielders – Cal Clark, C.R. Prairie, Sr.; John Swanda, Des Moines Roosevelt, Jr.; Brendan Dougherty, West Des Moines Dowling, Sr.; Outfielders – Tyler Nunemaker, C.R. Prairie, Sr.; Spencer Van Scoyoc, C.R. Jefferson, Sr.; Manny Jeffery, Linn-Mar, Sr.; Utility – Caleb Shudak, Council Bluffs Lewis Central, Sr.; Calvin Stalzer, West Des Moines Valley, Sr.
Captain – Van Scoyoc, C.R. Jefferson
Second team
Pitchers – Darren Kilpatrick, C.R. Prairie, Jr.; Jakob Kirman, Dubuque Senior, Sr.; Ian Bedell, Davenport Central, So.; Catcher – Austin Martin, SE Polk, Sr.; First base – Cole Muehring, Dubuque Hempstead, Sr.; Infielders – Brady Bunten, C.R. Washington, So.; Kyle Crowl, Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln, Sr.; Christian Pena, Davenport Central, Sr.; Outfielders – Connor McCaffery, Iowa City West, Jr.; Ben Norman, Des Moines Roosevelt, Sr.; Ross Kramer, Urbandale, Sr.; Utility – Tyler Dralle, C.R. Kennedy, Sr.; Thomas McLaughlin, SE Polk, Sr.
Third team
Pitchers – Connor Van Scoyoc, C.R. Jefferson, So.; Clayton Nettleton, Davenport West, so.; Jackson Clausen, Johnston, Sr.; Catcher – Matt Berst, C.R. Kennedy, Jr.; First base – Cole Hassman, SE Polk, Jr.; Infielders – Zach Lin, Des Moines Roosevelt, Sr.; Alec Capshaw, Davenport Central, Sr.; Nolan Monthei, Johnston, Sr.; Outfielders – Adam Barrett, Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln, Sr.; Tony Barrera, North Scott, So.; Jordan Yaukovitz, Waukee, Sr.; Utility – Izaya Ono-Fullard, Iowa City West, Jr.; Cooper Reittinger, C.R. Prairie, Sr.
CLASS 3A
First team
Pitchers – Grant Judkins, Pella, Sr.; T.J. Sikkema, DeWitt Central, Sr.; Trenton Wallace, Davenport Assumption, Jr.; Catcher – Colby Van Pelt, Winterset, Sr.; First base – Anthony Hanson, Carlisle, Sr.; Infielders – Tyler Hillman, Pella, Jr.; Dillon Sears, Harlan, Jr.; Cole Loeffelbein, Glenwood, Jr.; Outfielders – Peyton Stephens, Carlisle, Sr.; Payton Duit, Bondurant-Farrar, Sr.; Chris Witzke, Humboldt, Sr.; Utility – Kyle Juhl, Harlan, Sr.; Vic Malloy, Williamsburg, Sr.
Captain – Judkins, Pella
Second team
Pitchers – Adam Ketelsen, Mount Vernon, Sr.; Max Steffens, DeWitt Central, Sr.; Cameron Baumann, Fairfield, Jr.; Catcher – Ethan Arnold, Oskaloosa, Jr.; First base – Connor Lindaman, Davenport Assumption, Sr.; Infielders – Ben DeBoer, MOC-Floyd Valley, Jr.; Alex Crile, Fairfield, Sr.; Brady Shelgren, Humboldt, Sr.; Outfielders – Jarrid Clark, Bondurant-Farrar, Sr.; Keaton Candor, LeMars, Jr.; Judd White, Dubuque Wahlert, Sr.; Utility – Rece Martin, Saydel, Sr.; Brett Croghan, Harlan, Sr.
Third team
Pitchers – Nathan Struve, Vinton-Shellsburg, Jr.; Connor Prescott, Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Sr.; Dalton Graven, Waverly-shell Rock, Sr.; Catcher – Maverick Miller, Marion, Jr.; First base – Devin Porter, Saydel, Jr.; Infielders – Marquis Dew, Mount Vernon, Sr.; Tanner Schminke, Boone, Jr.; Jordan Pierce, Carlisle, Sr.; Outfielders – Matt Nelson, Sioux City Heelan, Jr.; Blake Elsbecker, Algona, Sr.; Tanner Clark, DeWitt Central, Sr.; Utility – Joe Argo, Davenport Assumption, Sr.; Josh Cheek, Harlan, Jr.
CLASS 2A
First team
Pitchers – Brady Stover, CMB, Sr.; Javin Drake, Wilton, Sr.; Trace Hoffman, Cascade, Sr.; Catcher – Will Mertens, Van Buren, Sr.; First base – Zeb Adreon, Pleasantville, Sr.; Infielders – Ketzalli Dondiego, Northeast, Sr.; Evan Reifert, Wilton, Jr.; Rease Snyder, Carroll Kuemper, Jr.; Outfielders – Skyler Beller, Hinton, Sr.; Brock Busick, Pleasantville, Sr.; Race Brant, Woodward-Granger, Sr.; Utility – Ethan McHenry, Clear Lake, Sr.; Trevor Ambrose, New Hampton, Sr.
Captain – Drake, Wilton
Second team
Pitchers – Nick Long, East Marshall, Sr.; Grant Mantell, Treynor, Sr.; Ben Dotzler, OA-BCIG, Sr.; Catcher – Zach Scott, Northeast, Sr.; First base – Zach Forret, Van Meter, Sr.; Infielders – Riley LeGrand, Dyersville Beckman, Jr.; Brett Daley, Treynor, Jr.; Cooper Merrill, Clear Lake,, Sr.; Outfielders – Trevor Hurd, North Fayette Valley, Sr.; Jake Koch, Van Meter, Sr.; Trace Howard, Wapello, So.; Utility – Tyler Laing, Carroll Kuemper, Jr.; Ben Mason, Clear Lake, Sr.
Third team
Pitchers – Kyle Schmitt, Van Meter, Sr.; Collin Jurgensmeier, Hinton, Jr.; Nick Fox, Des Moines Christian, Sr.; Catcher – Mitch Siech, Denver, Sr.; First base – Ty Sohn, Dike-New Hartford, Sr.; Infielders – Aaron Bohling, Louisa-Muscatine, Sr.; C.J. Kyle, Missouri Valley, Sr.; Tyler Hovick, Roland-Story, Sr.; Outfielders – Brady Petermeier, West Marshall, Sr.; Colby Seuntjens, MVAO, So.; Terrill Henrich, Hinton, Sr.; Utility – Cole Vande Vegle, Unity Christian, Sr.; Noah Allmon, Missouri Valley, Sr.
CLASS 1A
First team
Pitchers – Jacob Wesselman, Remsen St. Mary’s, Jr.; Porter Hummel, West Sioux, Sr.; Trevor Brown, Don Bosco, So.; Catcher – Cade Schares, Don Bosco, Sr.; First base – Bryce Ball, Mason City Newman, Sr.; Infielders – Zac Kibby, Algona Garrigan, Sr.; Tanner Jansen, BGM, Sr.; Dillon Caves, Alburnett, Sr.; Outfielders – Parker Dondlinger, Mason City Newman, Sr.; Aaron Allard, Akron-Westfield, Jr.; Lance Hoch, SE Warren, Sr.; Utility – Brady Harpeneau, Remsen St. Mary’s, Sr.; Jake Hilmer, North-Linn, Fr.
Captain – Harpeneau, Remsen St. Mary’s
Second team
Pitchers – Cameron Hoeg, North Tama, Jr.; Evan Paulus, Mason City Newman, Fr.; Chase Rath, Highland, Jr.; Catcher – Justin Negaard, West Sioux, Sr.; First base – Dalton Smith, Don Bosco, Sr.; Infielders – Riley Van Whye, Central Lyon, Jr.; Trevor Dooley, Martensdale-St. Mary’s, So.; Trace Embray, Twin Cedars, Jr.; Outfielders – Ryan Miller, North-Linn, So.; Isaac McAllister, Coon Rapids-Bayard, Jr.; Dion Coffey, Tri-Center, Sr.; Utility – Colin Runksmeier, North Union, Sr.; Brett Kelting, Calamus-Wheatland, Jr.
Third team
Pitcher – Kyle Kristiansen, Alburnett, Sr.; Connor Clark, Remsen St. Mary’s, Sr.; Jackson Lamb, Nodaway Valley, Sr.; Catcher – Brandon Huebner, Tri-Center, Jr.; First base – Jason Setterdahl, Ft. Dodge St. Edmond, Sr.; Infielders – Noah Borkowski, Glidden-Ralston, Sr.; Matt Herbold, Lawton-Bronson, Sr.; Joe Smoldt, Gladbrook-Reinbeck, Jr.; Outfielders – Mike Jones, Edgewood-Colesburg, Sr.; Christian Reischauer, Colo-Nesco, Sr.; Peyton Crawford, Sigourney, Sr.; Utility – Clay Emhoff, West Fork, Sr.; Avery Waybill, Moravia, Sr.
l Comments: (319) 368-8679; kj.pilcher@thegazette.com
