Daniels named captain of INA 4A all-state team

Cedar Rapids Kennedy Coach Bret Hoyer will have some holes to fill next season.

He will need to replace a productive leadoff hitter who can run on the bases, a strong No. 2 starter that is capable to be any team's ace, a pillar of the defense at shortstop and an experienced player who discreetly helps teammates.

Cougar senior Zach Daniels filled all three of those roles. He was named Class 4A captain of the Iowa Newspaper Association all-state baseball team Sunday. The teams are selected by a panel of print media from across the state.

Hoyer said that Daniels owns a spot in the conversation of best hitters to come through the Kennedy program.

'He's a rare talent,” Hoyer said. 'He's been blessed with quick hands and fantastic hand-eye coordination.”

The three-time all-state selection and two-time Mississippi Valley Conference divisional athlete of the year had astounding offensive numbers. Daniels hit .519 with 70 hits, tying for third most in the entire state, and 22 walks. He had a .589 on-base percentage, tallying 19 doubles, five triples and two home runs. From the leadoff spot, Daniels managed 27 RBIs and stole 26 bases in 27 attempts.

On the mound, Daniels was 4-2 this season with a 2.52 earned-run average. He recorded 54 strikeouts in 50 innings.

'They talk about (five) tool guys,” said Hoyer, referring to players' abilities to run, field, throw, hit and hit with power. 'He has all of them.”

The University of Iowa recruit helped Kennedy reach the state semifinal. Hoyer said he developed into a leader for inexperienced players, catching him advising players on the side without drawing attention to it.

'He's been terrific,” Hoyer said. 'It has impressed me about him. He's quiet about it.”

Kennedy teammate Sammy Lizarraga also joined Daniels on the first team for the second straight season. Lizarraga, the 6-foot-5 right-hander, overcame early-season injuries for another strong season.

Lizarraga was 8-0 with a 0.70 ERA, striking out 72 in 50 innings. He was dominant in the 3-2 state quarterfinal win over Davenport North, striking out a career high 14. Hoyer said Lizarraga's fastball hit as high as 94 this season.

'I don't know many players who have worked as hard,” Hoyer said. 'He has a tremendous work ethic and discipline.”

Lizarraga has committed to play baseball at JUCO power Wabash Valley Community College in Illinois. Hoyer said Lizarraga is scratching the surface of his potential.

'I think his best days are ahead of him,” Hoyer said. 'I'm excited to follow him and how much higher he can go.”

Iowa City West earned state runner-up honors for the second straight season. The Trojans were represented on the first team by Kevin DeLaney. He displayed a love for the game and it showed in games and practice.

'He's one of the most passionate baseball guys we've had,” West Coach Charlie Stumpff said. 'He can't get enough.”

The senior center fielder led 4A with 72 hits, a .477 batting average and .506 on-base percentage. Delaney, who will play at Coe, had 12 doubles, three home runs and 34 RBIs.

He was a prototypical leadoff hitter for West. Stumpff said DeLaney developed into a good outfielder, blending speed with reading the ball off the bat.

'He was everything you'd want,” Stumpff said. 'He was a good all-around player. He put it together for a monster year his senior year.”

His teammate Izaya Ono-Fullard, a sophomore, earned third-team honors.

Cedar Rapids Prairie had three players tabbed for all-state selection, including infielder Cal Clark, who was the MVC Mississippi Athlete of the Year. Clark batted .448 with 52 hits and 30 RBIs, and scored 40 times for the Hawks.

Prairie first-baseman Nic Mougin and outfielder Trey Beckman were second-team picks.

Cedar Rapids Jefferson's Spencer Van Scoyoc was first-team utility. Van Scoyoc, a junior committed to Arizona State, led the J-Hawks with a .407 batting average. He also had 16 doubles and two home runs. He was 5-2 on the mound, striking out more batters than innings pitched.

Jefferson shortstop Lucas Larson, who set the J-Hawks' career assists record, made the third team. Linn-Mar's Manny Jeffery and Iowa City High's Nick Sueppel were third-team picks at outfield and catcher, respectively.

In Class 3A, Marion catcher Maverick Miller was named to the second team, hitting .394.

West Delaware's Brent Lammers, a Gazette Athlete of the Year finalist, hit .440, earning a spot on the first team. He was joined on the first-team outfield list with Decorah senior Jake Hovden, who hit .430 this season.

South Winneshiek's Jordan Rommes had a spectacular senior season. Rommes led the state in home runs (15), hits (82) and runs (72), batting at a .577 clip. He had speed and power. Rommes was perfect in 33 stolen base attempts and ended with a 1.106 slugging percentage. He was a first-team infielder in 2A.

Cascade advanced further than it has in program history, reaching the 2A semifinals. The Cougars were represented on the first team by utility player Derek Lieurance and pitcher Trace Hoffman.

Lieurance hit .488 with 39 RBIs for the Cougars. He was 8-1 on the mound with an ERA less than 2.00. Hoffman was 8-1 as well and didn't allow a run in more than 41 innings pitched before the state semifinal. He had 57 strikeouts in 41 2/3 innings before state.

Lisbon's Connor Woodward was a first-team selection in 1A. The senior outfielder hit .484 with 48 RBIs. Woodward was a third-team pick last season.

CLASS 4A FIRST TEAM

Pitchers – Sammy Lizarraga (Sr., Cedar Rapids Kennedy), Thomas McLaughlin (Jr., Southeast Polk), Brady Corson (Sr., Cedar Falls)

Catcher – Matt Cox (Sr., Bettendorf)

First Base – Chino Alcala (Sr., Des Moines East)

Infield – Zach Daniels (Sr., Cedar Rapids Kennedy), Cal Clark (Jr., Cedar Rapids Prairie), Jake Faur (Sr., Clinton)

Outfield – Robert Neustrom (Sr., Sioux City North), Kevin Delaney (Sr., Iowa City West), Colin Kreiter (Sr., North Scott)

Utility – Matt Mullenbach (Sr., Waukee), Spencer Van Scoyoc (Jr., Cedar Rapids Jefferson)

CLASS 4A SECOND TEAM (area only)

First Base – Nic Mougin (Jr., Cedar Rapids Prairie)

Outfield – Trey Beckman (Sr., Cedar Rapids Prairie)

CLASS 4A THIRD TEAM (area only)

Catcher – Nick Sueppel (Sr., Iowa City High)

Infield – Izaya Ono-Fullard (So., Iowa City West), Lucas Larson (Sr., Cedar Rapids Jefferson)

Outfield – Manny Jeffery (Jr., Linn-Mar)

CLASS 3A FIRST TEAM

Pitchers – Grant Judkins (Jr., Pella), Alex Robson (Sr., Waverly-Shell Rock), T.J. Sikkema (Jr., Central DeWitt)

Catcher – Tony Salato (Sr., Knoxville)

First Base – Connor Lindaman (Jr., Davenport Assumption)

Infield – Cole Baker (Sr., Dallas Center-Grimes), Kevin Woodhouse (Sr., Knoxville), Ben De Boer (So., MOC-Floyd Valley)

Outfield – Jake Velky (Sr., Waverly-Shell Rock), Brent Lammers (Sr., West Delaware), Jake Hovden (Sr., Decorah)

Utility – Tanner Wood (Sr., Pella), Max Steffens (Jr., Central DeWitt)

CLASS 3A SECOND TEAM (area only)

Catcher – Maverick Miller (So., Marion)

Infield – Noah Heitshusen (Jr., Williamsburg)

CLASS 3A THIRD TEAM (area only)

Pitcher – Zach Boisen (Jr., Vinton-Shellsburg)

Infield – Dallyn Putz (Sr., West Delaware)

CLASS 2A FIRST TEAM Pitchers – Korey Kuhlmann (Sr., Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto), Trace Hoffman (Jr., Cascade), Brock Adams (Sr., Clear Lake)

Catcher – Christian Rozeboom (Sr., Sioux Center)

First Base – Trey Robinson (Sr., Treynor)

Infield – Jordan Rommes (Sr., South Winneshiek), Luke Farley (Sr., Waterloo Columbus), Cole McDonald (Sr., New Hampton)

Outfield – Skyles Beller (Jr., Hinton), Mitch Keeran (Sr., Clear Lake), Caleb Wichmann (Sr., Underwood)

Utility – Derek Lieurance (Sr., Cascade), Jordan True (Sr. Forest City)

CLASS 2A SECOND TEAM (area only)

Catcher – Nolan Weber (Sr., Cascade)

Infield – Conner Klostermann (Sr., Dyersville Beckman)

Utility – Luke Eldred (Jr., Mount Vernon)

CLASS 1A FIRST TEAM

Pitchers – Kaden Wadle (Sr., Mason City Newman), Zeb Adreon (Jr., Pleasantville), Reece Wadle (Sr., Algona Garrigan)

Catcher – Cade Schares (Jr., Don Bosco)

First Base – Dalton Smith (Jr., Don Bosco)

Infield – Josh Luna (Sr., Pleasantville), Garrett Saunders (Sr., Van Buren), Zac Kibby (Jr., Algona Garrigan)

Outfield – Connor Woodward (Sr., Lisbon), Jon Meyering (Sr., Council Bluffs St. Albert), Spencer Wihlm (Sr., Mason City Newman)

Utility – Otis Roby (Sr., Twin Cedars), Joey Verstegen (Sr., Mason City Newman)

CLASS 1A SECOND TEAM (area only)

Pitcher – Jake Hilmer (8th, North Linn)

CLASS 1A THIRD TEAM (area only)

Catcher – Jacob Rawson (Sr., North Linn)

Infield – Colton Krob (Sr., Lisbon), Tanner Jansen (Jr., BGM)

Outfield – Peyton Crawford (Jr., Sigourney), Jake Hasley (Sr., Montezuma)

l Comments: (319) 368-8679; kj.pilcher@thegazette.com