First team
Adam Sellner, St. Mary's, Senior, P/OF
Sellner entered the season as one the Knights' best pitchers and proceeded to have his most dominant season yet. He finished with an 8-0 record with a 0.91 ERA, racking up 73 strikeouts against just 27 hits and 26 walks in his 54 innings of work. He was also outstanding as the Knights' leadoff hitter, hitting for a .390 average with 32 hits, four doubles, 15 RBI, 30 runs scored, 13 stolen bases and nine walks against just two strikeouts. He received All-Conference honors in the Tomahawk Conference.
Alex Fink, Springfield,
Senior, SS
As well as receiving All-Conference honors, Fink was the Tomahawk Conference Player of the Year this season, leading the Tigers (13-11) on a deep playoff run despite playing the season with two torn labrums. This season he batted for a .408 average with 31 hits, 25 runs scored, 20 RBI, nine doubles and four triples. He also earned a team-high 19 walks, a .531 on base percentage and stole 13 bases. A four-year starter for the Tigers, Fink finished his career with a .475 career batting average and racked up numerous All-Conference, All-Section and All-State awards. He will play baseball at Augustana College next year.
Sean Mathiowetz, St. Mary's, Junior, P/SS
Mathiowetz has been one of the top players for the Knights the past three seasons and will be looked upon again next year to be a team leader. This season he hit for a .382 average with 26 hits, 27 runs scored, four doubles, three triples and 23 RBI. He earned 16 walks and struck out just twice. On the mound, he was 7-1 with a 0.71 ERA in his 49 1/3 innings of work. He allowed just 32 hits, issued only 12 walks and struck out 47 batters. He received All-Conference honors in the Tomahawk Conference.
Ben Maiers, BLHS,
Senior, SS/P
A four-year starter for the Mustangs, Maiers crushed the ball during his senior season. He batted for a .522 average with 35 hits, 20 runs scored, 22 RBI and also managed 23 stolen bases, getting caught in only one of his stolen bases attempts. On the mound he had a 4-1 record with a 1.91 ERA. He received All-Conference honors in the Tomahawk Conference.
Tim Kehren, New Ulm,
Senior, RF
Kehren was named as the Eagles' team MVP this season, playing an instrumental role in helping the team reach the Section 3AA finals. He produced a team-high .459 batting average, with team highs in hits (39), runs scored (27) and home runs (two). He also had two doubles, one triple, 15 RBI and a .530 on base percentage. He received All-Conference honors in the South Central Conference, was named All-Section and was also named to the Section 3AA All-Tournament team.
Ben Wolf, Cathedral,
Senior, SS/P
Wolf was the Greyhounds' ace, taking the mound in the team's most challenging games and helping the team reach the Section 2A finals. Wolf compiled a 1.03 ERA in 54 innings pitched, striking out 38 batters and walking only 19. At the plate, Wolf hit for a .302 average with 26 hits, 24 runs scored, 12 RBI, 10 walks and nine stolen bases. He received All-Conference honors in the Tomahawk Conference.
Chase Meyer, New Ulm, Sophomore, OF/P
Meyer led the Eagles in wins this season, notching eight wins compared to just one loss in his 50 1/3 innings of work. He compiled a 1.95 ERA with 33 strikeouts and 24 walks, holding opponents to a .250 batting average against him. He pitched in 12 games, also a team high. He received All-Conference honors in the SCC and was named to the Section 3AA All-Section team.
Scott Salfer, St. Mary's, Senior, IF/OF/P
Salfer was open to moving to whichever position the Knights needed him, playing almost every position on the field during his career. This season he batted for a .392 average with 29 hits, 23 runs scored, five doubles, two triples, 21 RBI and six stolen bases. He earned 11 walks and struck out just six times. He received All-Conference honors in the Tomahawk Conference.
Dan Blackstad, Cathedral, Senior, OF
Blackstad's big bat was enough to carry the Greyhounds to two big wins this season, helping them reach the Section 2A finals. He batted .347 with 25 hits, 17 runs scored, 16 RBI, 11 walks and four stolen bases, while also making some big catches in center field throughout the season. He received All-Conference honors in the Tomahawk Conference.
Second team
Jordan Guggisberg, Cathedral, Senior, SS/P
Guggisberg recovered from an early-season hamstring injury to produce strongly both on the mound and at the plate for the Greyhounds, achieving a 1.01 ERA in 28 innings pitched and recording a batting average of .316. On offense, Guggisberg compiled 18 hits, 21 runs scored, seven RBI and seven stolen bases, while also earning 19 walks. From the mound, he struck out 21 batters, walked 13 and allowed only 13 hits.
Brody Rodning, Sibley East, Sophomore, P
Rodning established himself as a feared pitcher in the Minnesota River Conference, recording two no-hitters during the course of the season. He had 56 strikeouts in his 35 innings of work this season and finished with a 3-2 record, a 0.80 ERA and allowed only 11 hits all season. He received All-Minnesota River Conference honors.
Tanner Kluis, New Ulm, Sophomore, P
Kluis pitched a team-high 61 innings for the Eagles, compiling a 5-2 record with a 2.18 ERA. He earned the most strikeouts on the team with 43 strikeouts and just 11 walks. He held opponents to a .220 batting average against him.
Aaron Brau, Wabasso, Senior, 1B
Brau was the team MVP for the Rabbits this season, giving the team a strong presence at the No. 3 slot in the batting order. He recorded a .420 batting average with 29 hits, four doubles, two triples, one home run, 19 RBI, 10 stolen bases and 17 runs scored. He received All-Conference honors in the Tomahawk Conference.
Ed Reichenbach, Sibley East, Senior, 1B/P
Reichenbach hit for a .388 average with 26 hits, nine doubles, two home runs, 23 RBI, a .612 slugging percentage and a .438 on base percentage. As a pitcher, he finished with a 2-1 record and a 3.87 ERA. He received All-Conference honors in the Minnesota River Conference.
Judd Davis, New Ulm, Sophomore, SS
Davis was a strong leadoff hitter for the Eagles, reaching base at a .454 clip and running well when on the base paths. He batted for a .338 average with 27 hits, 20 runs scored, four doubles, one triple and 16 RBI, while also earning a team-high 16 walks. He also played well at shortstop, finishing with a fielding percentage of .955. He received honorable mention All-Conference honors in the South Central Conference and was named to the Section 3AA All-Section team.
Austin Ludowese, BLHS, Senior, 2B
A four-year starter, Ludowese became more consistent at the plate this season and recorded a .375 batting average with 24 hits, 23 runs, 11 RBI and went 18-for-18 in stolen base attempts. He received All-Conference honors in the Tomahawk Conference.
Travis Kretsch, MVL,
Senior, P
Kretsch was as stingy as they come this season on the mound for the Chargers, finishing with a 5-1 record and a 1.00 ERA. In his 42 innings of work, Kretsch gave up only 22 hits and six earned runs, allowing opponents to bat only .145 against him. He had 35 strikeouts and gave up nine walks. He received All-Conference honors in the Tomahawk Conference.
Matt Vogel, Springfield, Senior, 3B/P
Vogel was the top pitcher for the Tigers this season, but also was a strong utility player while not pitching. This season he batted for a .388 average with 26 hits, 20 runs, 15 RBI, five doubles and four stolen bases. He also had a .512 on base percentage. He pitched a no-hitter in the opening round of the Section 3A tournament this season. He received All-Conference honors in the Tomahawk Conference and was also named All-Section.