Iowa City High’s Drake Obermueller named to Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association All-State Super Team

Drake Obermueller developed into a valuable and versatile asset for Iowa City High.

He has played a key role in the Little Hawks success the last two seasons, including 67 total victories and the school’s first state baseball championship.

Obermueller’s contribution and effort this season garnered a spot on the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association All-State “Super Team” released Friday. He was selected as a second baseman, even though he has played the outfield, multiple infield positions and was unbeaten on the mound as a junior and senior.

“Drake is a very gifted athlete,” City High Coach Brian Mitchell said. “Sometimes this is sneaky, but he is capable of doing things most are not. With that he can play anywhere on the field. He grew up playing a lot of outfield but we saw some infield skills that others may not. … Drake could play any position on the field and we even had discussions about him jumping back behind the dish. Fortunately, we had others step up there, which allowed us to keep Drake on the infield.”

Obermueller was consistent, starting 83 games the last two years including 42 games this season. The DMACC signee served as City High’s leadoff batter, leading or tying for the team lead in eight offensive categories. He amassed a team-best 53 hits, 38 runs, 32 singles, 16 doubles, 80 total bases and batted .396 with a .484 on-base percentage.

On the mound, Obermueller went 7-0 with a 1.84 earned-run average, tallying 43 strikeouts in 38 innings pitched. He led the Little Hawks, which had one of the state’s top pitching staffs, in opponent’s batting average (.135) and walks/hits per innings pitched (0.79).

The impact was more than just in the box score.

“Drake has continued to grow over the past couple of years where his physical skill set became a plus,” Mitchell said. “With that, he also grew in his leadership. The senior class is a close group but Drake really embraced the junior class by encouraging Paxton Bell and others that they could have a significant role on this team.”

City High teammate Jaxton Schroeder earned Class 4A first-team all-state honors as a pitcher. Schroeder finished with a 5-3 record. He posted a 1.87 ERA and a whopping 74 strikeouts in 60 innings pitched, pitching a complete-game, four-hitter in the 4-1 state finals win over Bettendorf.

“Over the past two years Jaxton Schroeder has proven to be one of the best big-game players we’ve had,” Mitchell said. “As the competition elevated, Jaxton shined, not only on the mound, but also in the box. Jaxton was dinged up a bit the last two weeks of the regular season. which inflated his ERA, but his intensity level (versus) Indianola in the substate final is something to be remembered.

“To watch Jaxton and Talon Young work together down the stretch was impressive. Truly a pleasure to coach and we will miss him.”

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Cedar Rapids Prairie had two first-team picks in third baseman Michael Day and outfielder Collin McClintock. Both were two of 4A’s top run producers. McClintock was second in the class with 56 RBIs, while Day was sixth with 42 RBIs. McClintock was also fourth in 4A with 32 stolen bases.

“Mike Day was a well-rounded team offensive player who really made an impact in all areas based on what the team needed in that moment,” Prairie Coach James Nelson said. “As a guy who hit in the middle of the order, he was the ultimate team player who compiled all-state numbers while playing team baseball.

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“The same could be said for Collin McClintock. Collin was a clean-up hitter and did just that by breaking the Prairie RBI record with 56, previously held by former (Major League Baseball) player Scott Schebler (55). Collin was a force in the middle of our lineup and showed to be one of the best players in the state in big moments.”

Cedar Rapids Washington outfielder Caiden Buonadonna and Cedar Rapids Kennedy utility player Ty Donels were first-teamers. Buonadonna was one of the state’s top power hitters, leading 4A with 13 and coming in second overall. He also was fifth with 87 total bases, batting .386 with a .526 OBP and 31 walks.

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Donels was an all-around standout for the Cougars. He batted .403 with 48 hits, 56 runs, eight home runs and 30 RBIs. Donels was 8-2 with 2.69 ERA as a pitcher in 13 starts.

In 3A, Marion senior Grayson Kirsch batted .360 with a .511 OBP to secure first-team honors. He finished with 36 hits, 33 runs and 29 RBIs. Clear Creek Amana middle infielders Maclane Morgan and Ty Fuller were named to the first team.

Iowa City Regina sophomore first baseman Will Litton and Mid-Prairie utility player Tatem Telfer garnered first team honors. Litton batted .407 with a .495 OBP, while Telfer came in at .329 and .486 with 27 hits. Telfer was 5-1 with a 2.15 ERA, striking out 85 in 45 2/3 innings.

North Linn senior duo Cole Griffith and Mason Bechen closed their career with first-team all-state honors. Griffith, an outfield pick, batted .420 with 37 hits, 35 runs and 48 RBIs. He also had a team-high 33 stolen bases, one ahead of Bechen.

Bechen earned one of three utility spots, posting a 3-1 pitching record with a 0.24 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 22 1/3 innings. Bechen’s offensive numbers were impressive. He tallied 45 hits, 51 runs, 13 doubles, six triples, three home runs and 30 RBIs, hitting .584 with a .700 OBP.

South Winneshiek catcher Braiden Todd and Sigourney’s Chase Clarahan received first-team accolades.

IOWA HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION ALL-STATE TEAMS

ALL-IOWA SUPER TEAM

Pitchers – Bo Collingwood, sr., Pleasant Valley; Tate Slagle, sr., Algona; Will Pierro, sr., Dubuque Wahlert; Catchers – Taitn Gray, sr., Dallas Center-Grimes; Anderson Schirm, sr., Pella; First base – Jax Theeler, sr., Sioux City East; Second base – Drake Obermueller, sr., Iowa City High; Shortstop – Cal Jepsen, jr., Sioux City East; Third base – Will Morris, jr., Ankeny Centennial; Outfield – Wrigley Matthys, sr., Bettendorf; Drew Owen, sr., North Polk; Will Specht, sr., Dubuque Wahlert; Isaiah Kettler, sr., Pella; Utility – Braylon Bingham, soph., Pleasantville; Jayce Schwiesow, sr., Saint Ansgar; Garrett Luett, jr., Underwood.

CLASS 4A

First Team

Pitchers – Dane Gosselink, jr., West Des Moines Valley; Bohdy Colling, jr., Sioux City East; Jaxton Schroeder, sr., Iowa City High; Catchers – Milo Kelley, sr., Pleasant Valley; Holden Hansen, sr., Southeast Polk; First base – Royce Pederson, sr., Fort Dodge; Second base – Gavin DeJesus, jr., Waukee; Shortstop – Bryce Pauly, jr., Davenport North; Third base – Michael Day, sr., C.R. Prairie; Outfield – Tanner Jackson, sr., Waukee Northwest; George Blake, soph., Indianola; Collin McClintock, jr., C.R. Prairie; Caiden Buonadonna, sr., C.R. Washington; Utility – Ty Donels, jr., C.R. Kennedy; Brandon Bea, jr., Davenport North; Drew Fitzpatrick, sr., Waukee Northwest.

4A Captain – Matthys, Bettendorf.

Second team

(Gazette area only)

Catchers – Brayden Mayer, sr., Iowa City Liberty; Brady Dill, jr., C.R. Kennedy; Shortstop – Kamren Francois, sr., C.R. Prairie; Outfiled – Charlie Sarsfield, soph., Linn-Mar; Utility – Tait Tierney, jr., C.R. Prairie.

Third team

(Gazette area only)

Outfield – Dylan Muszynski, sr., Linn-Mar; Utility – Cooper Hughes, sr., Iowa City Liberty.

CLASS 3A

First team

Pitchers – Brady Hicks, soph., Saydel; Hayden Mohwinkle, sr., Carlisle; Kaleb LaFavor, jr., Sioux City Heelan; Catchers – Hayden Soma, sr., Harlan; Noah Davies, jr., Boone; First base – Kamden Jorgensen, jr., Saydel; Second base – Maclane Morgan, sr., Clear Creek Amana; Shortstop – Ty Fuller, sr., Clear Creek Amana; Third base – Isiah Rose, sr., Davenport Assumption; Outfield – Owen Johnson, jr., Carlisle; Brooks McCarty, jr., MOC-Floyd Valley; Ethan Erickson, sr., Sioux City Heelan; Grayson Kirsch, sr., Marion; Utility – Sam Carlson, jr., Pella; Brady Coffman, sr., Grinnell; Foti Rigopoulos,sr., Dubuque Wahlert.

3A Captain – Slagle, Algona.

Second team

(Gazette area only)

First base – Sam Hamilton, sr., Independence; Second base – Isaiah Scott, jr., Marion; Outfield – Erik Lamb, jr., Mount Vernon; Chris Meyer, jr., Independence; Utility – V.J. Schulte, sr., Benton Community.

Third team

(Gazette area only)

Pitcher – A.J. McDermott, sr., Mount Vernon; Catchers – Beau Morio, soph., C.R. Xavier; Brett Harris, jr., Western Dubuque; Shortstop – Jake Miller, sr., Marion; Third base – Bryce Christian, jr., Independence; Outfield – Jack Cantwell, jr., West Delaware; Utility – Maddox Kelley, soph., Solon.

CLASS 2A

First team

Pitchers – Brayden Kennedy, soph., Pleasantville; Judd Jirovsky, sr., Grundy Center; Cole Moore, sr., Van Meter; Catchers – Logan Roff, jr., Pleasantville; Rhys Land, sr., Sumner-Fredericksburg; First base – Will Litton, soph., Iowa City Regina; Second base – Brady Dunkel, fr., Hinton; Shortstop – Tatum Nuss, sr., Sumner-Fredericksburg; Third base – Jaxon Eckley, sr., New Hampton; Outfield – Colby Gast, jr., Durant; Cameron Templeton, sr., Bellevue Marquette; Keagan Evans, fr., Chariton; Jackson Knutson, soph., Spirit Lake; Utility – J.D. Schneider, sr., Spirit Lake; Lance Ludens, sr., Mediapolis; Tatem Telfer, sr., Mid-Prairie.

2A Co-Captains – Bingham, Pleasantville and Luett, Underwood.

Second team

(Gazette area only)

Pitcher – Parker Kuehl, sr., MFL MarMac; Third base – Jack Gavin, soph., Iowa City Regina; Utility – Joe Engler, sr., Dyersville Beckman.

Third team

(Gazette area only)

Second base – Jackson Watters, sr., Anamosa; Outfield – Laken Caves, soph., Alburnett.

CLASS 1A

First team

Pitchers – Travis White, jr., Martensdale-St. Marys; Colin Homan, sr., Remsen St. Mary’s; Carson Maston, sr., Lynnville-Sully; Catchers – Landon Waldschmitt, sr., Remsen St. Mary’s; Braiden Todd, jr., South Winneshiek; First base – Cal Heydon, jr., Coon Rapids-Bayard; Second base – Aidan Ebert, sr., Riceville; Shortstop – Trey Wight, sr., Martensdale-St. Marys; Third base – Colton Wight, jr., Martensdale-St. Marys; Outfield – Cole Griffith, sr., North Linn; Gabe Funk, sr., Lenox; Anthony Schnable, fr., Saint Ansgar; Payton Regenold, sr., Don Bosco; Utility – Mason Bechen, sr., North Linn; Dawson Evans, jr., Lenox; Chase Clarahan, soph., Sigourney.

1A Captain – Schwiesow, Saint Ansgar.

Second team

(Gazette area only)

Pitchers – Anthony Harrington, jr., Midland; Jordan Cota, sr., Lansing Kee; Catcher – Cael Benesh, sr., North Linn; Second base – Brady Clark, sr., Sigourney; Outfield – Carter Seitz, sr., Lansing Kee; Isaac Bruns, sr., Sigourney; Utility – Brady Van Scoyoc, soph., East Buchanan; Caden Clarahan, sr., Sigourney.

Third team

(Gazette area only)

Pitcher – Will Hansen, sr., East Buchanan; First base – Pryce Rochford, sr., Edgewood-Colesburg; Shortstop – Cole McKay, sr., Sigourney; Utility – Beau Burns, jr., BGM.

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