HIGH SCHOOL

Introducing the Des Moines Register's 2021 All-Iowa baseball teams

Dargan Southard
Des Moines Register

A summer with little disruption is exactly what Iowa high school baseball needed in 2021. Aside from a venue change for the state tournament, this season unfolded as smoothly as possible.

Talent shined from all corners of Iowa. High-end recruits, coveted MLB Draft prospects and plenty of quality players all-around made for a competitive campaign. You saw that from May to July.

With that, the Des Moines Register is introducing its 2021 All-Iowa baseball teams. There is one Elite Team, as well as four all-class squads and a 15-person honorable mention list.

Nine players were selected for each team: one pitcher, one catcher, four infielders and three outfielders. With plenty of two-way guys and only one pitching slot, a player's entire body of work was considered for each spot.    

More:Marion's Steve Fish named 2021 All-Iowa high school baseball coach of the year

Elite Team 

Jackson Wentworth pitches for Waukee in the first game of a doubleheader against West Des Moines Valley on Monday, June 7, 2021, in Waukee.

Jackson Wentworth

Pitcher | Waukee | Senior

Plenty of arms hard arguments for this spot, but Wentworth was as strong as any in 2021. After flirting with the MLB Draft early in the high school season, the Kansas State signee dominated down the stretch. Wentworth finished 8-2 with a 1.08 ERA and 101 strikeouts over 58 1/3 innings. Opponents hit just .174 against him, while Wentworth himself hit .387 from the DH spot when not pitching. 

Urbandale's Gehrig Christensen was one of the state's best catchers in 2021.

Gehrig Christensen

Catcher | Urbandale | Senior       

Urbandale didn't quite have the season Christensen was hoping for, going 25-16 with a first-round substate exit. But that didn't keep the Iowa signee from doing damage. Christensen slashed .450/.574/.642 with 17 doubles and 36 RBIs over 41 games, also adding 22 runs scored and 32 walks. He threw out six base-stealers as well. 

Ankeny's Weston Fulk (9) reacts after coming up with the out against John Doty (27) for a double play during their Class 4A state baseball quarterfinal game against Waukee Thursday July 29, 2021, at Duane Banks Field in Iowa City.

Weston Fulk 

Infield | Ankeny | Senior

The Ankeny first baseman and Iowa signee didn't disappoint in 2021. Fulk slashed .485/.534/.985 with 37 extra-base hits and 57 RBIs in just 39 games. He was strong on the mound as well, producing a 2.42 ERA and 79 strikeouts over 43 1/3 innings.  

Johnston's Ben Wilmes (19) safely slides into second during their Class 4A state baseball quarterfinal game against Dubuque Hempstead Thursday July 29, 2021, at Duane Banks Field in Iowa City.

Ben Wilmes 

Infield | Johnston | Senior 

The slick-fielding shortstop was the lineup catalyst on a Johnston team that finished one game short of a state title repeat bid. Wilmes slashed .478/.605/.836 with 20 doubles, eight homers and 45 RBIs over 45 games. The Iowa signee also had just six errors in 141 total chances. 

Johnston's Gabe Swansen (8) celebrates after hitting a home run during a Class 4A state baseball semifinal game against Ankeny, Friday, July 30, 2021, at Duane Banks Field in Iowa City, Iowa.

Gabe Swansen

Infield | Johnston | Senior

The other half of Johnston's up-the-middle tandem, Swansen thrived as arguably the state's top second baseman. The Nebraska signee slashed .400/.533/.760 with 19 doubles, 30 walks and 44 RBIs over 43 games.   

Minnesota signee Seth Clausen was the biggest reason why Pleasant Valley ended 2021 with a baseball title

Seth Clausen 

Infield | Pleasant Valley | Senior

Clausen's pitching prowess shined brighter than his shortstop contributions, but both sides were elite all the same in guiding Pleasant Valley to its first baseball title. On the mound, the Minnesota signee went 10-0 with a 0.81 ERA and 99 strikeouts over 60 1/3 dominant innings. Elsewhere, Clausen hit .371 with a .466 on-base percentage, racking up 35 runs scored and 46 hits in 41 games.  

Ankeny's Brody Brecht (11) walks to the dugout after an inning during a Class 4A state baseball semifinal game against Johnston, Friday, July 30, 2021, at Duane Banks Field in Iowa City, Iowa.

Brody Brecht 

Outfield | Ankeny | Senior 

Brecht wowed MLB scouts with 97 mph heat on the mound, while also manning center field for an Ankeny squad that reached the Class 4A state semifinals. Over 61 1/3 innings, Brecht went 10-0 with a 0.57 ERA and 126 strikeouts. Opponents hit .099 against him, while Brecht himself hit .390 with 37 RBIs in 37 games. The Ankeny standout also added seven outfield assists.    

Dylan Davis 

Outfield | Cedar Rapids Kennedy | Junior  

The sweet-swinging outfielder clubbed almost everything thrown at him in 2021. Davis slashed .466/.559/.966 with 16 doubles, 13 homers and 53 RBIs over 39 games. Speed was in his game, too, as Davis swiped 26 bases on 28 attempts.  

Marion's Gage Franck, left, slides in safe ahead of the tag from Dubuque Wahlert catcher Sam Besler for the win during a Class 3A state baseball championship game, Saturday, July 31, 2021, at Duane Banks Field in Iowa City, Iowa. Marion beat Wahlert, 7-6.

Gage Franck 

Outfield | Marion | Senior 

Marion's leadoff hitter made pitchers nervous all season. The DMACC signee hit .424 with a .527 on-base percentage, racking up 68 runs scored and 61 hits over 43 games. Franck was a threat to go any time he got on base, and he was successful plenty. He finished 35-for-38 in stolen bases.        

Class 4A First Team

P: Jackson Wentworth, sr., Waukee

C: Gehrig Christensen, sr., Urbandale

INF: Weston Fulk, sr., Ankeny 

INF: Ben Wilmes, sr., Johnston

INF: Gabe Swansen, sr., Johnston

INF: Seth Clausen, sr., Pleasant Valley

OF: Brody Brecht, sr., Ankeny

OF: Dylan Davis, jr., Cedar Rapids Kennedy

OF: Ryan Mumey, sr., Pleasant Valley

MORE: Pleasant Valley denies Johnston's repeat bid in Class 4A state title game

Class 3A First Team

P: Aaron Savary, jr., Dubuque Wahlert

C: Kaden Frommelt, so., Marion

INF: Justin Hackett, jr., Winterset

INF: Myles Davis, fr., Marion

INF: Sam Petersen, sr., Ballard

INF: Owen Puk, sr., Marion

OF: Gage Franck, sr., Marion

OF: Max Stein, jr., Davenport Assumption   

OF: Tegan Bock, sr., Boone

MORE: Marion takes home Class 3A state baseball title over Dubuque Wahlert

Class 2A First Team

P: Zach Pleggenkuhle, sr., Van Meter

C: Jaxon Schumacher, so., Treynor

INF: Carter Hewitt, sr., South Hamilton

INF: Blake Hall, sr., Underwood

INF: Brodie Kresser, sr., Jesup    

INF: Sam Wilt, jr., Anamosa

OF: Jacob Blomgren, sr., Van Meter

OF: Kaden Davis, sr., West Marshall

OF: Alex Feldman, sr., Waterloo Columbus

MORE: Van Meter wins its third state baseball championship in a row

Class 1A First Team

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

C: Max Burt, so., Newman Catholic

INF: Reed Stallman, sr., Alburnett

INF: Levi Waldschmitt, sr., Remsen St. Mary’s

INF: Cy Patterson, sr., St. Albert

INF: Hunter Caves, sr., Alburnett        

OF: Austin Hilmer, jr., North Linn

OF: Damon Schmid, jr., Kingsley-Pierson

OF: Brendan Monahan, jr., St. Albert

MORE: St. Albert claims first baseball state championship since 1999

Honorable mention

Jase Bauer, sr., Ankeny

Alex Clemons, sr., Pleasant Valley   

Dominic DeLaPaz, sr., Davenport West

Dawson Forgy, jr., Winterset

Joe Husak, sr., North Polk

Jesus Jaime, sr., Ottumwa

Dillon Kuehl, jr., Urbandale   

Blake Larson, fr., Dowling Catholic

Bronx Lewis, sr., Cedar Rapids Prairie

Marcus Morgan, sr., Iowa City West

Sawyer Nauman, sr., Western Dubuque

Alex Neal, jr., Cedar Rapids Xavier

Keegan Schmitt, jr., Independence         

Blake Timmons, so., Solon 

Mitch Wood, sr., Ottumwa

Dargan Southard covers Iowa and UNI athletics, recruiting and preps for the Des Moines Register, HawkCentral.com and the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Email him at msouthard@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.