ALL IOWA SPORTS AWARDS

Introducing the 2019 All-Iowa baseball team

Cody Goodwin
The Des Moines Register

The 2019 Iowa high school baseball season featured another action-packed summer, where familiar names and new stars captured the attention of fans across the state.

When the year ended, Urbandale, Cedar Rapids Xavier, Van Meter, and Mason City’s Newman Catholic all won state titles. The J-Hawks went back-to-back in Class 4A. The Knights won a third straight in 1A. The Saints and Bulldogs both won for the first time in more than a decade.

Players from each of those teams, and many others, are represented on this year’s 2019 All-Iowa baseball teams.

The 2020 Des Moines Register Sports Awards will be held next June in Des Moines.

The Elite team is made up of the state’s best baseball players at their respective positions. We selected the team based on Des Moines Register and Iowa City Press-Citizen staff observations, as well as consultations with high school, college, and recruiting contacts.

We’ve also included here are our 2019 class-by-class All-Iowa picks, plus our honorable mentions list at the bottom. All athletes named are invited to attend the 2020 All-Iowa Sports Awards.

Without further ado …

2019 Elite Team

Iowa City West sophomore Marcus Morgan fires a pitch against Pleasant Valley in Class 4A baseball at Principal Park on Wednesday, July 31, 2019, in Des Moines.

Marcus Morgan

Pitcher | Iowa City West | Sophomore

Pitching ace for a state semifinal squad. Went 10-0 and posted a 0.71 ERA over 59.1 innings. Allowed an opponent batting average of .148, allowed just 18 runs in 13 appearances, and struck out 105. Also hit .404 with 32 RBIs and 3 homeruns.

Western Dubuque catcher Calvin Harris throws a ball to the pitcher during a baseball game, Monday, July 15, 2019, at Western Dubuque's baseball field in Farley, Iowa.

Calvin Harris

Catcher | Junior | Western Dubuque 

A two-time Elite selection. One of the country’s best catchers. Hit .408 with 40 RBIs and 7 homers. Also posted a 1.07 ERA over 32.2 innings pitched on the mound, allowing just nine runs. Ole Miss commit.

Johnston's Peyton Williams (24), left, and Johnston's Reece Anderson (12) celebrate scoring a run during their 4A state baseball semi-final game on Friday, Aug. 2, 2019 in Des Moines. Johnston would go on to defeat Dowling Catholic 7-0 to advance to the finals on Saturday.

Peyton Williams

Infield | Senior | Johnston

One of the state’s best bats. Hit .473 with 57 RBIs and a state-leading 16 homeruns. Voted Player of the Year by the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association. Iowa signee.

Brett Sears, Harlan

Brett Sears

Infield | Senior | Harlan 

One of the state’s most versatile players. Hit .454 with 45 RBIs and 4 homeruns. Posted a 1.17 ERA over 54 innings pitched. Played various infield positions throughout the year. Western Illinois signee.

Jake Hilmer of North Linn celebrates as he runs home breaking a 0-0 tie in the 6th inning of the 2A state tournament semifinal Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019.

Jake Hilmer

Infield | Senior | North Linn 

Record-setting hitter, baserunner, and stellar pitcher for a state finalist team. Hit .559 with 42 RBIs and 2 homers. Successfully stole 55-of-55 bases. Also posted a 0.74 ERA over 85.1 innings pitched. Upper Iowa signee.

Mason City Newman junior pitcher Evan Paulus smashes a home run to help his Knights baseball team win, 9-5, over Lisbon on Saturday, July 28, 2018, at Principal Park in Des Moines.

Evan Paulus

Infield | Senior | Newman Catholic 

Ultra-productive bat and pitcher on a team that three-peated. Hit .416 with 60 RBIs and 13 homers. Also posted a 1.67 ERA over 58.2 innings pitched. Won two games at the 2019 state tournament. Kirkwood CC signee.

Mason City Newman senior Josh Fitzgerald connects for a hit against Alburnett in the Iowa Class 1A state baseball championship game on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019, at Principal Park in Des Moines.

Josh Fitzgerald

Outfield | Senior | Newman Catholic 

Another two-time Elite selection. The best bat on a state championship team. Hit .451 with 44 RBIs and a state-leading 16 homeruns, including a towering two-run shot in the state final. Also a Kirkwood signee.

Urbandale senior right fielder Brook Heinen catches a fly ball in the seventh inning against Johnston in the Iowa Class 4A state baseball championship game on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019, at Principal Park in Des Moines.

Brook Heinen

Outfield | Senior | Urbandale 

Superb outfielder for the back-to-back state champion J-Hawks. Hit .394 with 28 RBIs and 1 homer. Successfully stole 36 bases, the fourth-most in Class 4A. Yet another Kirkwood signee.

Johnston's Andrew Nord (6) celebrates his triple while standing on third during their 4A state baseball quarterfinal game at Principal Park on Wednesday, July 31, 2019 in Des Moines. Johnston would go on to defeat Ankeny 6-0.

Andrew Nord

Outfield | Senior | Johnston 

Another strong bat and defensive outfielder for a state finalist. Hit .462 with 59 RBIs and 6 homers. Didn’t register an error all year. Iowa signee.

All-Iowa First Teams

Class 4A

P: Marcus Morgan, soph., Iowa City West

C: Calvin Harris, jr., Western Dubuque

IF: Peyton Williams, sr., Johnston

IF: Sam Link, sr,. Dubuque Senior

IF: Sam Goodman, sr., Western Dubuque

IF: Alex Pentergast, jr., Des Moines Roosevelt

OF: Ty Cowley, sr., Urbandale

OF: Brook Heinen, sr., Urbandale

OF: Andrew Nord, sr., Johnston

Class 3A

P: Rick Atkins, sr., Marion

C: Garrett Finley, sr., Central DeWitt

IF: Austin Simpson, sr., Fairfield

IF: Brett Sears, sr., Harlan

IF: Devin Hurdle, sr., Central DeWitt

IF: Kyle Moeder, sr., Cedar Rapids Xavier

OF: Nick Gottilla, sr., Davenport Assumption

OF: Bryson Bastian, sr., Cedar Rapids Xavier

OF: Colten Parkins, sr., North Polk

Class 2A

P: Jared Townsend, sr., Wilton

C: Conner Lange, sr., Missouri Valley

IF: Brett Berg, jr., Van Meter

IF: Trevor Boge, sr., North Linn

IF: Jake Hilmer, sr., North Linn

IF: Colin McCrabb, sr., Wilton

OF: Hunter Dekkers, jr., West Sioux

OF: Briar Rowley, sr., Estherville Lincoln Central

OF: Kaden Davis, soph., West Marshall

Class 1A

P: Blaine Harpenau, soph., Remsen St. Mary’s

C: Colby Page, sr., Southeast Warren

IF: Reed Stallman, soph., Alburnett

IF: Bryce Hall, jr., Southeast Warren

IF: Tanner Bainbridge, sr., Pekin

IF: Evan Paulus, sr., Newman Catholic

OF: Josh Fitzgerald, sr., Newman Catholic

OF: Keaton Parker, sr., Alburnett

OF: Kendall Becker, sr., Don Bosco

Honorable Mention

  • Nick Crandell, jr., Johnston
  • Ryan Cooper, sr., Iowa City West
  • Cade Moss, sr., Johnston
  • Lincoln Riley, sr., Cedar Rapids Washington
  • Ty Langenberg, jr., Urbandale
  • Garrett Ries, sr., Cedar Rapids Xavier
  • Luke Schaben, sr., Harlan
  • Nile Foss, jr., Carlisle
  • Casey Young, jr., Winterset
  • Isaiah Henrichs, sr., Carlisle
  • Zach Pleggenkuhle, soph., Van Meter
  • Austin Hilmer, fr., North Linn
  • Anthony Potthoff, jr., Van Meter
  • David Seber, sr., North Linn
  • Brady Lukavsky, sr., West Branch
  • Doug Taylor, eighth, Newman Catholic
  • Bryce Schares, sr., Don Bosco
  • Cael Frost, soph., Don Bosco
  • Cole Cassady, jr., Martensdale-St. Mary’s
  • Collin Kramer, sr., St. Ansgar

Cody Goodwin covers wrestling and high school sports for the Des Moines Register. Follow him on Twitter at @codygoodwin.

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