Matt Levins- The Hawk Eye / John Gaines Photography
The 2026 high school baseball season had plenty of story lines from start to finish.
Notre Dame started the season 1-4, but rebounded to qualify for the Class 1A state tournament with a potent offense.
Burlington pounded the ball all season and got solid pitching from a very good rotation. The Grayhounds won the Southeast Conference title in dramatic fashion before bowing out with a loss to a much-improved Mount Pleasant team.
Mediapolis put together another stellar season, advancing to a Class 2A substate final before falling to eventual state runner-up Durant.
Central Lee continued its winning ways, joining Notre Dame and Mediapolis as co-champions of the South Division.
All of than talent rose to the top on the 2026 All-Hawk Eye baseball team.
PITCHERS
BLAKE DAVIS, JR., CENTRAL LEE
Davis has all the tools to play at the next level. Not only is he an elite pitcher, but when he moves to shortstop he strengthens the Hawks’ defense. On the hill Davis was 2-1 with a 1.40 ERA. In 20 innings, he allowed just 12 hits and four earned runs, walked 15 and struck out 33. At the plate he hit .544 with a .637 on-base percentage and a .956 slugging percentage. He had five doubles, one triple and seven home runs, scored 30 runs and drove in 32 runs. He struck out just three times in 68 at bats. He also stole 16 bases.
MAX GRIFFIN, SR., MEDIAPOLIS
Griffin baffled opposing hitters with a variety of left-handed pitches. He put together a 6-2 record with a 0.79 ERA. In 44 1/3 innings, he allowed just 26 hits and five earned runs, walked just 17 and struck out 46. Opposing teams hit just .135 against him. St the plate he hit.310 with a .383 on-base percentage and a .352 slugging percentage. He scored 10 runs and drove in 12 runs.
GRAYSON LOWERY, JR., MOUNT PLEASANT
Lowery was the Panthers’ stopper, one reason they played well the second half of the season. Lowery had a 7-3 record with a 2.55 ERA. In 55 innings, he allowed 52 hits and 20 earned runs, walked 22 and struck out 73. Opposing teams hit .218 against him. He also scored 15 runs and drove in 17 runs.
CATCHER
KELLEN WEBER, FR., CENTRAL LEE
Weber was one of the biggest surprises of the season, becoming a fixture behind the plate for a stellar Hawks’ pitching staff. He hit .414 with a .551 on-base percentage and a .603 slugging percentage. He had five doubles and two home runs, scored 22 runs and drove in 26 runs. He struck out just twice all season and was 11-for-11 in stolen base attempts. He also threw out 10 would-be base stealers and made just two errors in 109 chances.
INFIELDERS
AYDEN BROOKHISER, 8TH, WEST BURLINGTON
Brookhiser made an immediate impact for the Falcons as the starting first baseman. He also saw playing time in the outfield. He hit .444 with a .492 on-base percentage and a .556 slugging percentage. He had two doubles and two triples, scored 17 runs and drove in 12 runs. He struck out just six times and stole five bases.
MADDOX DIEWOLD, JR., NOTRE DAME
Diewold has developed into a solid second baseman who also can play some outfield. Diewold, hitting in the middle of the lineup, batted .370 with a .491 on-base percentage and a .457 slugging percentage. He had five doubles and one triple, scored 37 runs and drove in 22 runs, drew 17 walks, was hit by pitch seven times and struck out just nine times. He was 25-for-26 in stolen-base attempts.
MICHAEL KANTZAVELOS, SR., BURLINGTON
Kantzavelos rounded out a solid career with a stellar senior season at shortstop. He hit .371 with a .450 on-base percentage and a .429 slugging percentage. He had four doubles and one triple, scored 31 runs and drove in 16 RBIs. He drew 13 walks and was hit by pitches twice. He was 19-for-20 in stolen base attempts. He made 10 errors in 100 chances with 52 assists and 28 putouts.
DEANDRE TAYLOR, JR., BURLINGTON
Taylor teamed with Kantzavelos to form a dynamic double play duo. Taylor hit .437 with a .528 on-base percentage and a .620 slugging percentage as the Grayhounds’ leadoff hitter. He had four doubles, three triples and one home run, scored 28 runs and drove in 21 runs. He also stole 13 bases.
OUTFIELDERS
KYLER CROW, SR., MEDIAPOLIS
Crow capped a brilliant career in style. He hit .329 with a .398 on-base percentage and a .376 slugging percentage. He had two doubles and one triple, scored 26 runs and drove in 10 runs. He also stole 22 bases.
LANDRY HABERICHTER, SR., NOTRE DAME
After a slow start, Haberichter came on like gangbusters in the middle of the season, providing plenty of pop at the No. 2 spot in the order. The Class 2A 100-meter dash champion hit .429 with a .575 on-base percentage and a .934 slugging percentage. He had nine doubles, five triples and five home runs, scored 48 runs and drove in 43 runs. He drew 22 walks and was hit by a pitch 12 times. He was perfect on the bases with 29 stolen bases. He was a vacuum in center field, tracking down balls in the gaps.
ELI OLESON, SR., NOTRE DAME
Oleson, the Nikes’ left fielder, teamed with Haberichter to give the Nikes one of the best outfield tandems in the state. Oleson was one of the top hitters in the state. He had a .562 batting average with a .635 on-base percentage and a .888 slugging percentage. He had 14 doubles, three triples and three home runs, scored 40 runs and drove in 33 runs. He drew 13 walks and was hit by a pitch 10 times. He struck out just twice in 89 at bats. He also stole 28 bases.
UTILITY
AUSTIN DONAHOE, SR., BURLINGTON
Donahoe had a special season, both on the hill and in center field. As a pitcher, the left-hander posted a 3-5 record with a 2.92 ERA. In 38 1/3 innings, he allowed 46 hits ad 16 earned runs, walked 14 and struck out 28. He hit .351 with a .475 on-base percentage and a .500 slugging percentage. He had six doubles and four triples, scored 33 runs and drove in 26 runs. He was 23-for-24 in stolen base attempts. He did not commit an error in 44 chances and had eight assists and 36 putouts.
NOAH KRIEGER, SR., BURLINGTON
Krieger was named Most Valuable Player in the Southeast Conference. He very well could also be the Most Improved Player. Krieger fashioned a 5-1 record with a 1.47 ERA as the Grayhounds’ No. 1 pitcher. In 47 2/3 innings, he allowed just 32 hits and 10 earned runs, walked just 11 and struck out 32. He held opposing teams to a .181 batting average. When he wasn’t pitching he played third base. He hit .354 with a .474 on-base percentage and a .392 slugging percentage. He had three doubles, scored 20 runs and knocked in 25 runs. He also stole six bases. He made just four errors in 100 chances.
SILAS LOTZOW, SO., WEST BURLINGTON
Lotzow played multiple positions, including pitcher where he was 2-3 with a 4.98 ERA. He hit .365 with a .476 on-base percentage and a .577 slugging percentage. He had eight doubles and one home run, scored 15 runs and drove in a team-high 23 runs. He also stole seven bases.
PAYNE PROTTSMAN, SR., NOTRE DAME
Prottsman was a valuable player for the Nikes. He was a top-notch pitcher, putting together a 3-3 record with a 1.35 ERA. In 36 1/3 innings, he allowed just 19 hits and seven earned runs, walked 18 and struck out 50. Opposing teams hit just .127 against him. As the Nikes’ third baseman, Prottsman hit .346 with a .470 on-base percentage and a .397 slugging percentage. He scored 22 runs and drove in 26 runs.
MASON SANDERS, JR., CENTRAL LEE
Sanders was another multi-purpose player for the Hawks who found success wherever he was asked to play. On the mound he was 5-1 with a 1.62 ERA, striking out 36 in 30 1/3 innings. At the plate he hit .439 with a .514 on-base percentage and a .842 slugging percentage. He had six doubles, one triple and five home runs, scored 18 runs and drove in 28 runs.
TATUM WARNER, JR., NOTRE DAME
Warner played a key role in the Nikes’ success, both on the mound, at shortstop and at the plate. He became the Nikes’ No. 1 starter, fashioning an 8-1 record with a 2.50 ERA. In 50 1/3 innings, he allowed just 42 hits and 18 earned runs, walked 14 and struck out 51. He held opposing teams to a .194 batting average. He had two doubles and one triple, scored 44 runs and drove in 17 runs, drew 24 walks and was hit by a pitch five times. He struck out just six times as the Nikes’ leadoff hitter. He also stole 17 bases.
COACH OF THE YEAR
CHRIS CHIPREZ, NOTRE DAME
Chiprez did another phenomenal job with the Nikes. After a 1-4 start, the Nikes reeled off 16 wins in 17 games and qualified for the state tournament for the first time since 2023 and the third time in Chiprez’s tenure. The Nikes shared the SEI Super Conference South Division title and knocked off eighth-ranked Sigourney and seventh-ranked Lynnville-Sully before falling to fourth-ranked South Winneshiek, 3-2, at state.