Prep Baseball: 2011 Teams To Watch

CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY - Cougars are the defending Class 4A state champions, have tons of talent returning and one of the best coaches around in Bret Hoyer. Austin Christensen is possibly the best player in the state, an outfielder-pitcher headed to Nebraska. Terrell Sykes is an underrated second baseman who hit .398 last season. He and teammates Griffin Michael (.374) and David Yancey (.316) will play for a good Southeastern Community College program. Devon Jacobus, a junior third baseman, hit .364. A LOT to like here.

SOLON - A LOT to like here, too. Spartans won the Class 2A state title last season, finishing 41-2. They move up to 3A this summer, but have everyone returning. Yes, everyone. That includes Iowa recruits Derrick Loveless and Nick Day and fellow first-team all-staters Marshall Koehn, Brandon Shulista and Tyler Smith. The schedule is more difficult this season, but you have a feeling these guys will be able to handle it.

IOWA CITY WEST - Trojans lost to Kennedy in last year's 4A title game, finishing 30-9. Some good bats have graduated but there's a lot of talent still around. That includes Iowa recruit Ryan Rumpf, who hit .410 last season and went 11-0 on the mound with a 1.89 ERA. Luke Crimmins and Connor Schreck should give West a nice 1-2-3 pitching punch. Shortstop Nate Ewing and first baseman Spence Bonner were .400 hitters last season.

CEDAR RAPIDS PRAIRIE - Sure, the Hawks were just 13-20 last season but this should be a vastly improved team. Almost everyone is returning, including Southeastern C.C. recruits Anthony Gagliardi (.404 BA) and Dustin Carlson (.304/4-4 3.50 ERA). Jason Velvick  (.418) joins Gagliardi in what should be a fine outfield.

NORTH TAMA - Redhawks were 25-7 in 2010 and return a pair of all-staters in outfielder Brendon Boerm and Tyler Cizek. Jacob Wrage hit a robust .446 and also is back. These guys won the Class A state football title, so you know they know how to win.

HLV - Warriors went 20-4 and should contend for South Iowa Cedar League championship. Top returnees include senior catcher Garrett Hinrichs (.397), senior first baseman-pitcher Bryce Kuesel (.382/7-3, 2.38), senior shortstop Angus Gryp (.356) and sophomore infielder Tanner DeBrower (.348).

WASHINGTON - Demons went 25-7 last season and have virtually their entire team back intact. Senior third baseman Brad Weatherman hit .418 last season and should combine with Josh Moore for a nice pitching tandem. Junior T.J. Rausch hit .389.

DECORAH, DYERSVILLE BECKMAN - No matter how many returning players these perennial powers have or don't have, they're always dangerous, especially come tournament time. Head coaches Dennis Olejniczak and Tom Jenk Jr. are as good as they get.