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