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Mar. 30—High school baseball season is officially underway. Here are 12 players to keep an eye on this spring, listed in no particular order.
The senior shortstop/pitcher helped the KoMets to a runner-up finish in the Section 1-3A final last season and is expected to be an asset again this spring. Babcock, who signed to play college baseball at Butler University in November, batted .372 with seven doubles, one triple, 20 RBIs and 17 runs last season. On the mound, he tallied four saves and two wins with a 1.93 ERA and 37 strikeouts across 25 innings pitched.
The All-State, All-Section 1-2A and All-Hiawatha Valley League senior pitcher/outfielder will play college baseball for the University of Minnesota, but first, he is gearing up for one final run with the Cougars. As a junior, Ohm went 5-0 as a pitcher with a 0.97 ERA, 88 strikeouts and 10 walks over 43 innings. He allowed just 18 hits and six earned runs. He also batted .243 with 17 hits, 10 RBIs and nine runs scored.
The senior first baseman/pitcher made some huge plays to help the Panthers win the Class 2A state championship in 2025. In the state tournament alone, Lowrie notched three hits, two RBIs and one run across 10 at-bats. He hit .364, five doubles and two triples with 21 runs scored, 23 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. He was an All-HVL and Class 2A All-State Tournament Team selection.
Thein was another key member of Pine Island's state championship team from a year ago. He went to state in football and wrestling in the fall and winter and is hoping to see similar success this spring. The senior outfielder finished with a .326 average, five doubles, two home runs, 20 RBIs, 34 runs and 21 steals last season.
Pine Island probably couldn't have won its first state championship without Knox, who stepped up on the mound in the absence of then-senior pitchers Luke Sems and Brandon Week, after they hit their pitch count limits during the tournament. The senior pitcher/infielder/catcher had a 3-0 pitching record with two saves, a 1.88 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings last season.
The senior pitcher/second baseman/third baseman is another player from the area who has signed with the University of Minnesota baseball team. Last season, Hjellming, an All-HVL and Section 1-2A player, batted .308 with 24 hits and 20 RBIs for the Bombers, who went 19-6 last season.
The senior All-Section 1-3A catcher hit .421 and boasted a .515 OBP and a .988 OPS during his junior campaign with the Packers. As a batter, he tallied 24 hits, 10 RBIs, three runs scored and two steals. He should be a key member for Austin again this year.
As a junior, Austin senior pitcher/center fielder hit .380 while holding a 1.51 ERA. He also recorded 87 strikeouts. Dunlap is an All-Big Nine and All-Section 1-3A player who is committed to NJCAA Division II Dakota County Technical College.
The All-Southeast Conference sophomore shortstop/pitcher averaged .373 as a batter last season, recording 31 hits, 17 RBIs and 33 runs. On the mound, Meyer had an impressive 7-1 record, a 1.15 ERA and 62 strikeouts for the Athletics, who finished 20-4 last spring.
Matejka, an All-Section 1-2A and All-Three Rivers Conference junior shortstop/pitcher for the Eagles, was solid on both sides of the ball last season. He batted .323 with 21 hits, nine doubles, two HR and 17 RBIs. As a pitcher, he finished with a 1.69 ERA.
After an outstanding junior season, the senior pitcher/centerfielder is ready to continue his success with the Eagles. He is an All-Section 1-2A and All-HVL player who boasted a 7-1 record and a 0.980 ERA with 38 strikeouts and nine walks across 50 innings last spring.
The All-Big Nine Conference senior shortstop/pitcher notched a 4-0 pitching record last season for the Spartans, who finished 14-8 overall. Leopold recorded a fantastic 0.55 ERA and 32 strikeouts over 25 1/3 innings. He averaged .359 at the plate with a .461 OBP and tallied 23 hits (20 singles, three doubles), 11 RBIs, 14 runs and eight steals.
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The senior shortstop/pitcher helped the KoMets to a runner-up finish in the Section 1-3A final last season and is expected to be an asset again this spring. Babcock, who signed to play college baseball at Butler University in November, batted .372 with seven doubles, one triple, 20 RBIs and 17 runs last season. On the mound, he tallied four saves and two wins with a 1.93 ERA and 37 strikeouts across 25 innings pitched.
The All-State, All-Section 1-2A and All-Hiawatha Valley League senior pitcher/outfielder will play college baseball for the University of Minnesota, but first, he is gearing up for one final run with the Cougars. As a junior, Ohm went 5-0 as a pitcher with a 0.97 ERA, 88 strikeouts and 10 walks over 43 innings. He allowed just 18 hits and six earned runs. He also batted .243 with 17 hits, 10 RBIs and nine runs scored.
The senior first baseman/pitcher made some huge plays to help the Panthers win the Class 2A state championship in 2025. In the state tournament alone, Lowrie notched three hits, two RBIs and one run across 10 at-bats. He hit .364, five doubles and two triples with 21 runs scored, 23 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. He was an All-HVL and Class 2A All-State Tournament Team selection.
Thein was another key member of Pine Island's state championship team from a year ago. He went to state in football and wrestling in the fall and winter and is hoping to see similar success this spring. The senior outfielder finished with a .326 average, five doubles, two home runs, 20 RBIs, 34 runs and 21 steals last season.
Pine Island probably couldn't have won its first state championship without Knox, who stepped up on the mound in the absence of then-senior pitchers Luke Sems and Brandon Week, after they hit their pitch count limits during the tournament. The senior pitcher/infielder/catcher had a 3-0 pitching record with two saves, a 1.88 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings last season.
The senior pitcher/second baseman/third baseman is another player from the area who has signed with the University of Minnesota baseball team. Last season, Hjellming, an All-HVL and Section 1-2A player, batted .308 with 24 hits and 20 RBIs for the Bombers, who went 19-6 last season.
The senior All-Section 1-3A catcher hit .421 and boasted a .515 OBP and a .988 OPS during his junior campaign with the Packers. As a batter, he tallied 24 hits, 10 RBIs, three runs scored and two steals. He should be a key member for Austin again this year.
As a junior, Austin senior pitcher/center fielder hit .380 while holding a 1.51 ERA. He also recorded 87 strikeouts. Dunlap is an All-Big Nine and All-Section 1-3A player who is committed to NJCAA Division II Dakota County Technical College.
The All-Southeast Conference sophomore shortstop/pitcher averaged .373 as a batter last season, recording 31 hits, 17 RBIs and 33 runs. On the mound, Meyer had an impressive 7-1 record, a 1.15 ERA and 62 strikeouts for the Athletics, who finished 20-4 last spring.
Matejka, an All-Section 1-2A and All-Three Rivers Conference junior shortstop/pitcher for the Eagles, was solid on both sides of the ball last season. He batted .323 with 21 hits, nine doubles, two HR and 17 RBIs. As a pitcher, he finished with a 1.69 ERA.
After an outstanding junior season, the senior pitcher/centerfielder is ready to continue his success with the Eagles. He is an All-Section 1-2A and All-HVL player who boasted a 7-1 record and a 0.980 ERA with 38 strikeouts and nine walks across 50 innings last spring.
The All-Big Nine Conference senior shortstop/pitcher notched a 4-0 pitching record last season for the Spartans, who finished 14-8 overall. Leopold recorded a fantastic 0.55 ERA and 32 strikeouts over 25 1/3 innings. He averaged .359 at the plate with a .461 OBP and tallied 23 hits (20 singles, three doubles), 11 RBIs, 14 runs and eight steals.
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