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REGION — The Globe’s Southwest Minnesota coverage area saw several prep baseball teams and players excel this past season. In the past it has not been typical for the sports department to do a baseball team — but with the surrounding talent, it felt warranted. Here is The Globe’s All-Area Baseball roster.

Pitching Staff

Conner Connell, LuverneThe co-ace of a very good Cardinals’ season, Connell, a Luverne junior, throws elite pitches with authority. Connell finished the season with a 0.65 ERA in 43 innings pitched. He struck out 75, and walked 19. Connell had two complete games on the mound.

Connell also led the team in hits at 33, runs at 28, RBIs at 23 and batting average with .418. He hit five home runs and was twice intentionally walked.

Zach DeBoer, LuverneThe other ace on the Luverne staff, DeBoer had a breakout senior season which saw him lead the team in ERA with 0.48. DeBoer threw a mixture of fastball, curveball and struck out 45 batters. His command was elite all season long with just 11 walks — including one which was intentional. DeBoer was part of a two senior class on a young Luverne baseball team.

Abe Paulzine, MCCThe ace of the Red Rock Conference, Abe Paulzine pitched with emotion when his number was called upon by the Murray County Central Rebels. Paulzine won eight games on the mound for the Rebels and had a 1.81 ERA. Paulzine made two saves on the season in relief appearances. He pitched 56 and two-thirds innings and had 66 strikeouts. Paulzine will continue his baseball career at Minnesota West in the spring. At the plate, Paulzine had a.373 average, nine doubles, one triple and one home run. He also had 22 RBIs.

Skyler Feikema, E/SWCThe ace of a resurgent Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian squad which was co-champions of the Red Rock Conference. Feikema threw hard this season and struck out 59 batters and walked 19. He had a 7-1 pitching record, and was a dual threat with a powerful swing at the plate. He batted .458 on the year with 11 extra-base hits — two home runs. He had 72 total bases on the season and 19 RBIs.

Triston Sauerbrei, WorthingtonA Minnesota West commit and a better pitcher than his ERA suggested his senior season. Sauerbrei’s season was hampered by a wrist injury on his non-throwing hand, but despite the injury he was on the mound for the Trojans first win of the season over Adrian on May 18. Sauerbrei not only mixes with the pitches he throws, but also his slot.

The Field

CatcherCarter Benda, MCCA converted outfielder, Carter Benda learned the position of catcher as the season progressed. Despite that he played admirably with good framing, blocking and pitch selection mixed with a few growing pains. Benda was the rare catcher who doubles as an elite base runner. Benda had 23 stolen bases this season and batted .339 as the Rebels’ leadoff. He had four doubles.

Landon Ahrendt, LuverneA true defensive catcher. Ahrendt caught every inning of the Luverne Cardinals’ pitching in the Section 3AA playoffs. He catches just about everything imaginable, and with a strong arm behind the plate keeps teams timid to steal bases against.

First baseChristian Tentinger, MCCA batting machine, Tentinger came within a few points of the Rebels’ batting average record in his senior season. Tentinger hit .540 with 17 extra-base hits on the year, 12 doubles, three triples and two home runs. He had 26 RBIs and was always a tough out when he was at-bat.

Henry Erickson, Windom AreaAnother strong season from the Windom senior. Erickson pitched and spent time at first base. He was always in an RBI spot and was consistently having multi-hit days.

Trevin Prins, E/SWCA tough out with a batting average at .400 this past season for the Flying Dutchmen. He had 16 RBIs and scored 17 runs. He also pitched for E/SWC.

Reece Carlson, Adrian/EllsworthThe senior first baseman found some added power to turn doubles into home runs in his final year. His first career home run was a grand slam in a Dragon's victory over RRC/W-WG.

Middle InfieldDerek Kluis, MCCKluis was the leader of the Rebels team. Despite a shoulder injury obtained in the first E/SWC-MCC game Kluis continued to bat for Rebels before returning to the field for the playoff push. Kluis was the Rebels’ starting shortstop and pitched several innings in a stopper role at the Section 3A playoffs. Kluis led the team in RBIs with 30. He had a .522 batting average with four doubles, five triples and a playoff home run.

Carter Sehr, Luverne A junior this past season, Sehr batted .326 and had a dozen more bases on balls. Sehr played solid defense for the Cardinals and scored 26 runs with 28 hits — nine of which were doubles. A solid player in the lineup for a Cardinals team which is a well oiled machine. Sehr had a 2.05 ERA in 27 and one-third innings pitched. He struck out 31 and walked 12.

Ben Spaeth, JCCJackson County Central’s middle infielder Ben Spaeth is a versatile player. He hit for power, he hit for average, he ran elite on the bases and he played good defense for a winning Huskies club. In an April 17 game against Worthington, Spaeth went 3-for-3 and scored four runs.

Connor DeGreeff, MCCBatted .400 in his senior season at MCC. Was a steady glove defensively and he had 17 RBIs on the Rebels team which was first in Class A in runs per game at 10.7.

Mathias Noble, WorthingtonWorthington’s junior second baseman was named an honorable mention on the all-Big South Conference large school team. Noble was best batting leadoff for a Trojan squad which struggled early before finding a rhythm late in the year. Has a solid glove in the field, will not impress you with his power — but he sets the table by getting on base.

Brenton Erdmann, HLO/FErdmann was a freshman this past season but his bat was one of Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda’s better last season. Erdmann also pitched for the Coyotes and is key to a young Coyote squad.

Third baseQuentin Wolf, Adrian/EllsworthWolf looked right at home at third base after moving there from catcher this past season. Wolf hit .375 for the Dragons and had three doubles and three triples. He scored 19 runs and batted in 11 RBIs. Wolf started the season as the Dragons’ ace starting pitcher, but was moved to a high leverage bullpen role in an effort to maximize his effectiveness within MSHSL rules on pitch counts.

Brett Rossow, JCCRossow split time all over the infield and was one of the Huskies’ most effective pitchers this past season. Rossow has the ability to do it all on the diamond, and is set for a quality senior season next year.

Outfield

Elliot Domagala, LuverneDomagala hit .383 with nine doubles for Luverne this past season. He scored 21 runs and had 16 RBIs. He played effective defense in the field and was utilized in both the infield and outfield.

Riley Sneller, LuverneSneller — one of two Luverne seniors — was patient at the plate in his senior season. He lead his team in walks with 23 and showcased some power with his swing with nine (six doubles, three triples) of his 20 hits going for extra bases. Sneller also had a clutch factor, and sent the Fairmont Cardinals into the elimination bracket with a walk-off hit in the Section 3AA tournament. Fairmont came back to win the Section, taking two games against Luverne in the championship round.

Logan Butzon, JCCThe Huskies center fielder was a solid contributor in both the field and at the plate this past season. The JCC senior also worked a combined no-hitter on the mound with classmate Travis Rogotzke. Butzon was named to the all-Big South Conference small school team.

Drew Rothenberger, Windom AreaA phenomenal prep baseball player. Rothenberger’s talent on the mound cannot be ignored, but a go-ahead grand slam in the top of the ninth against St. James Area put the Eagles up 13-9 in the Section 3AA tournament was a highlight of the season.

💣💣💣💣 @WindomBaseball @drewrothenberg1 pic.twitter.com/nQkDBrygHL

Jaden Deacon, MCCDeacon played superb defense in center, and put together quality at-bats for a Rebels team which scored a lot of runs. Batted sixth in the lineup and was part of a memorable senior class at MCC High School.

Dylan Kluis, MCCKluis teased home run power as a sophomore starter at MCC this past season. A lefty, Kluis kicked off the back end of the order for the Rebels which was a major catalyst in their high scoring offense. Patient at the plate. Kluis also stepped up in the Rebels’ rotation pitching deep into several games — including a no-hitter against Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda in a 12-0 Rebels win May 2.

The BullpenJacob Stroh, LuverneStroh had a 2.85 ERA in 34 and one-third innings pitched for the Cardinals. He dealt with some command issues, with a team leading 24 walks issued but he also struck out 37. Stroh, a junior this past season, has the makings of a quality starter in the Big South Conference. He also has pop to his bat with one home run and four doubles making up five of his 18 hits. Stroh also walked 18 times while batting.

Cameron Scholten, JCCScholten, a JCC senior, has a good mix in his pitch arsenal. He played the corners at both first and third base for a fluid Huskies lineup. One of his best games came in Worthington in a Huskies’ 14-1 victory on April 17. Scholten pitched a complete game, allowing just four hits. He also hit a home run while batting that game.

Keagan Polzine, Adrian/EllsworthA breakout junior year put Keagan Polzine as one of Adrian’s best pitchers this past season. Polzine Polzine pitched 40 and one-third innings for the Dragons with a 3.124 ERA. He struck out 46 with his best pitch being a plus curveball. Polzine, when not pitching, was an effective corner outfielder for the Dragons.

Trey Rossow, JCC An effective middle infielder and pitcher for the Huskies. Rossow started and came on in relief for the Huskies.

Ashton Juhnke, WWG/RRCA solid pitcher who threw strikes and raked up strikeouts in his senior season. Juhnke was a key part in keeping the Westbrook-Walnut Grove/Red Rock Central season competitive and trending in the right direction.

Krew Schneider, MCCAn eighth grader who split time at third base and pitching for the Rebels. Krew exceeded expectations this season with excellent play at the plate, on the mound and improvements made at third. Schneider started must-win games for the Rebels in the Section 3A tournament and showed no fear while pitching under that pressure. A name to watch for years to come.

Dillon Smith, HLO/FSmith pitched the complete game for the Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda Coyotes lone 13-3 victory this season over Cleveland, striking out eight in that appearance. Smith, a sophomore this past season, put together solid outings and figures to be a big piece for a Coyote team looking to take a step forward.

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