The 2023 high school baseball season had plenty of surprises and a whole lot of talented teams and players.

Burlington won the Southeast Conference championship while Notre Dame and Van Buren County battled to the very end in the SEI Super Conference before the Nikes won the decisive game.

Both the Nikes and Warriors went on to qualify for the state tournament, while Mount Pleasant fell in a Class 3A substate semifinal.

Central Lee and Mediapolis provided plenty of late dramatics.

New London surprised many people by having a solid season.

All of that talent and balance is reflected in the All-Hawk Eye baseball team.

PITCHERS

JAXON SADLER, JR., NOTRE DAME

If Hunter Shipley was the Nikes’ No. 1 pitcher this season, then Sadler was certainly 1A. When the Nikes needed a win or a few solid innings, they could always count on Sadler. He finished with a 6-0 record and a 2.98 ERA In 42 1/3 innings, walked 20 and struck out 64. He was a first team all-conference pick.

KYLER SCHWARTZ, SR., BURLINGTON

Schwartz was the Grayhounds’ ace, pitching every Monday conference doubleheader. He posted a 3-2 record with a 2.39 ERA. In 41 innings, struck out 49. He was a first team all-conference pick.

HUNTER SHIPLEY, SR., NOTRE DAME

Shipley was the Nikes’ lone senior and the one who got the ball in the big games. He finished with an 8-2 record with a 1.69 ERA. In 58 innings, he struck out 57.

He was a first team all-conference choice.

TAYLOR SPROUSE, SR., VAN BUREN COUNTY

Sprouse, like Shipley, got the nod in the big games. He was part of a staff that included Lucas Fett and Dylan Richardson that was second to none in the area. Sprouse, a first team all-conference and all-district pick, had a 6-2 record with a 2.33 ERA. In 51 innings, he struck out 60.

CATCHER

TATE WELCHER, SO., NEW LONDON

Welcher was stellar behind the plate, throwing out 17 would-be base stealers. He committed just five errors in 152 total chances and had 20 assists.

At the plate, Welcher hit .359 with a .481 on-base percentage. He was a first team all-conference choice.

FIRST BASEMAN

JOSH ZAHNER, JR., BURLINGTON

Zahner not only was one of the Grayhounds’ top pitchers, he also was one of their top sluggers and fielders. He committed just four errors in 131 chances and was 5-0 with a 4.15 ERA on the hill. At the plate, Zahner hit .282 with a .478 on-base percentage and a .513 slugging percentage.

He scored 24 runs and drove in 20 runs. He was a second team all-conference and all-district pick.

SECOND BASEMAN

LUCAS FETT, SR., VAN BUREN COUNTY

Fett not only was one of the best infielders around, he also was 4-1 on the mound with a 3.26 ERA. Fett hit .378, stole 15 bases, scored 46 runs and drove in 21 runs. He was a first team all-conference and all-district pick.

SHORTSTOP

JACKSON MANNING, SR., VAN BUREN COUNTY

Manning was one of the top players in the state. He committed just six errors in 105 chances at shortstop and fashioned a 2-0 record with a 1.40 ERA. He hit .522 with 15 doubles, stole 25 bases, scored 51 runs and drove in 60 runs. He was the South Division Player of the Year and an all-district selection.

THIRD BASEMAN

HAYDEN VANDENBERG, SR., WEST BURLINGTON

Vandenberg, who also pitched, was one of the top sluggers in the area. Vandenberg hit a robust .483. He had five doubles and six home runs, stole 14 bases, scored 23 runs and drove in 27 runs. Vandenberg was a first team all-conference and all-district pick.

OUTFIELDERS

LANDRY HABERICHTER, SO., NOTRE DAME

Haberichter provided a spark, batting .336 with 13 doubles, stole 13 bases, scored 43 runs and drove in 15 runs as the Nikes’ leadoff hitter. He also was one of the top defensive outfielders, earning him first team all-conference honors.

BRENTON HOARD, SO., KEOKUK

Hoard earned all-conference and all-district honors after committing just two errors. He hit .329 with a .515 on-base percentage.

He had nine doubles and one home run, stole 24 bases, scored 28 runs and drove in 18 runs.

JACKSON HUTCHESON, JR., MEDIAPOLIS

The Bulldogs had a banner season coming off a state track championship. Hutcheson played a huge role in both. On the baseball field, Hutcheson was flawless in 41 chances, recording 37 putouts and four assists. He hit .384 with four doubles, stole 24 bases, scored 24 runs and drove in 14 runs. He was a first team all-conference and second team all-district pick.

DESIGNATED HITTER

ELI OLESON, FR., NOTRE DAME

Oleson played a big role in helping the Nikes win the South Division and qualify for state. Oleson went on a tear during which he was 10-for-14 in one week.

He hit .395 with seven doubles, stole 10 bases, scored 26 runs and drove in 22 runs. He was an all-conference selection.

UTILITY

SPENCER BRENT, JR., NOTRE DAME

Brent could do everything the Nikes needed, from playing third base to pitching. He had a 3-1 record with a 2.86 ERA on the hill and hit .380. He had 13 doubles, stole 12 bases, scored 41 runs and drove in 38 runs. He was a first team all-conference pick.

JACE FIGUEREO, SR., WEST BURLINGTON

Figuereo had a record-setting season for the Falcons. He tied the school record for triples in a season with four and broke the career batting average record by hitting .450.

He earned first team all-conference and second-team all-district honors this season. He stole 32 bases, scored 34 runs and drove in 13 runs.

HUNTER FORD, SR., BURLINGTON

Ford, a senior, earned first team all-conference and second team all-district honors after hitting .373. He had 13 doubles, scored 22 runs and drove in 28 runs.

LANCE LUDENS, JR., MEDIAPOLIS

Ludens was not only one of the top pitchers in the area, but got the job done as a field. On the mound, Ludens was 5-1 with a 1.54 ERA. He committed just six errors in 81 total chances. At the plate, Ludens hit .338. He stole 24 bases, scored 32 runs and drove in 21 runs. He was a first team all-conference and second team all-district pick.

CORBIN POHREN, JR., CENTRAL LEE

Pohren was one of the area’s top leadoff batters. A first team all-conference selection, Pohren hit .354 with a .512 on-base percentage.

He had three doubles, stole 28 bases, scored 26 runs and drove in 13 runs.

CADEN SCHWENKER, JR., NOTRE DAME

Schwenker was one of the smoothest shortstops with a cannon for an arm. He was the Nikes’ closer, finishing with a 1.00 ERA. He recorded 21 strikeouts in 14 innings.

He hit .419 with eight doubles, two triples and two home runs, stole 13 bases, scored 40 runs and drove in 37 runs. He was a first team all-conference selection.

COACH OF THE YEAR

CHRIS CHIPREZ, NOTRE DAME

Chiprez took a relatively young team — the Nikes had just one senior — and led them to SEI Super Conference South Division, district and substate championships and their second trip to state in his five years at the helm.

He has an 83-41 career record at his alma mater.