Prep baseball: Teams to Watch

IOWA CITY WEST: The Trojans (30-16) had a great second-half run last season and made it all the way to the Class 4A state championship game, where it was shutout by Sioux City North and all-state pitcher Dean McArdle, who is 4-0 as a freshman at Stanford. West lost IHSBCA All-State "Super Team" outfielder Josh DeBoer, but the returnees include first-team Class 4A all-state 2B Sean Moore (.518 batting average) and all-district catcher Neil Madsen (.402). Add hard-throwing junior Ryan Rumpf (8-4, 2.28 ERA) and a terrific head coach in Charlie Stumpff, and you've got the potential for another special season.

CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY: And here we have another solid veteran coach (Bret Hoyer), who always has his club in the hunt for the 4A state tournament. Kennedy was 26-13 last season. Among the top returnees is junior outfielder Austin Christensen (.349 hitter, 1.49 pitching ERA), who has committed collegiately to Nebraska. Junior Griffin Michael was a second-team all-district pick last season, hitting .391 and having an ERA under 1.00 in five appearances. Other returning players you might remember include Ryan Dusil, Sam Hunter, Terrell Sykes, David Yancey and Devon Jacobus.

SOLON: Yes, Solon has a terrific baseball program, too. The Spartans finished 37-6 and lost in the Class 2A state tournament quarterfinals last season but there is plenty of returning talent. That includes junior pitcher Brandon Shulista (12-1 record). Outfielder Derrick Loveless hit over .400 and stole 22 bags. Tyler Smith also was a .400 hitter at first base. Nick Day (.354) also had a fine season and is back.

DYERSVILLE BECKMAN: If you pencil in the Blazers as a guess for the state tournament every year, you're gonna be right more times than not. Beckman (33-11) was 2A runner-up last season to Fort Dodge St. Edmond. A lot of talent graduated, but Beckman's No. 1 pitcher is back in senior Eric DeSousa (13-2, 1.83 ERA). Add other returning starters like Isaac Willenbring (.385, 7-1 record), Craig Kerper (.366) and Dustin Jacque (.366), another great veteran coach (Tom Jenk Jr.) and tradition, and you've got something good ... again.

TRI-COUNTY: They got stomped by Lansing Kee in the first round of the state tournament, but, hey, it was a sweet 2009 season for the Trojans, who made their first Class 1A state appearance. All but one player from that 19-7 team is back, albeit arguably the best player (Jacob Edmundson) is the one that graduated. Andy Thomas hit .367 and was 5-4 as a pitcher for T-C last season, and Colt Brumbaugh was 5-2. Isik Schmidt was an all-district infielder. And you'd have to think there's some added confidence considering all they accomplished last season.

LISBON: The Lions had a terrific season in 2009, finishing 24-4. If they can overcome the loss of their top two pitchers, another similar record is very possible. There are some dangerous returning bats in senior third baseman Cody Rickard (.494 BA), senior catcher Michael Bahl (.359), senior shortstop Matt Knake (.356) and sophomore Jordan Bahl (.422). Now if only some of these guys can pitch ...

NORTH TAMA: Can't ignore the RedHawks. They were 16-11 last season and return a first-team Class 1A all-stater in third baseman Caleb Edwards (.427 BA), a second-teamer in outfielder Brendon Boerm (.541) and three other all-district picks in second baseman Jon Koob, outfielder Pete Kopriva and utility player Tyler Cizek. Pitching appeared to be the issue last season, but NT's top two guys are back in Boerm and Cizek.

NORTH FAYETTE: Another program with a lot of tradition. The Hawks finished 28-11 last season. Among the returnees is senior catcher Tom Nesvik (.455) and sophomore utility player Jake Greco (3-2 pitching record with 2 saves), both all-district performers in 2009. Tom Heying also was 6-0 on the mound and is back, as is Brady Feldman (5-1). Ryan Radoff hit .368. A nice nucleus.