The 2025 baseball season saw Caledonia redeem a tough postseason last year with a Section 1AA runner-up performance, as the Warriors went 18-8. Only two of the eight Journal-covered programs finished above five-hundred, but all won at least seven games. Four SEC players notably made All-State.
Southeast Conference Baseball Awards
Lyle/Pacelli (13-1, 20-4) won the SEC over Southland (12-2, 17-6), Spring Grove (8-6, 12-10), Mabel-Canton (7-7, 8-13), GMLOK (7-7, 7-12), Houston (6-7, 7-13), Alden Conger/Glenville-Emmons (2-11, 3-16), and Schaeffer Academy (0-14, 0-14). Third-place-for-a-fourth-straight-season Spring Grove had three All-SEC selections in Ezra Griffin (Sr. C/P), Ben Udstuen (Sr. P/IF) and Gabe Klug (Jr. 3B/P). Griffin, previously a three-year HM, led the Lions in five offensive categories: .411 average, 15 RBI, six extra-base hits, two home runs and .514 on-base percentage. Drawing four mound starts, Griffin pitched 17 innings with a 2.06 ERA and a team-best strikeout-to-walk ratio (32 K, 12 BB) and a 1-0 record. Griffin was honored Class A All-State. Udstuen earned his second All-SEC honor as the primary SG pitcher (48 2/3 IP, 31 BB, 47 K, 4.03 ERA). At the plate, he batted .268 with 10 RBIs while scoring the Lions’ second-most runs with 21. Klug had SG’s second-highest batting average at .282, tied for second-most RBIs with 13, the third-most runs with 17 while notching a .393 on-base percentage. He pitched mostly in relief with the best record (2-0) and second-best 1.91 ERA. Previously three-time All-SEC Brandon Jahnke received All-SEC HM (Sr. 1B/P > team-best 1.79 ERA, 22 BB, 38 K, team second-best 13 RBI). For Mabel-Canton, Isaac Underbakke (Jr. P/SS) and Nolan Garness (Fr. P/2B) made All-SEC. The duo were the Cougars’ most used pitchers. Underbakke repeated as all-league. Underbakke threw 40 2/3 innings (3-5 record, one save, 48 H, 40 R, 23 ER, 26 BB, 54 K) with a 3.96 ERA while leading the team with 19 runs scored and 14 stolen bases. Underbakke had a trio of doubles and drove in nine runs (.215 average). Garness was M-C’s most used and effective pitcher as just a frosh. He tossed 46 innings (2-3 record, 39 H, 36 R, 14 ER, 22 BB, 51 K) with a 2.13 ERA. Garness (.238 average) scored 11 runs and drove in seven more. Tyler Larson (Sr. C/P > 10 RBI, 23 2/3 IP, 5.62 ERA) made All-SEC HM for M-C. Houston also got two All-SEC picks in Morgan Rohweder (Sr. P/SS) and Zach Olson (Sr. OF/IF). Each repeat as All-SEC. Rohweder joined SG’s Griffin in being honored as Class A All-State. The senior led the Hurricanes in innings-pitched with 45, striking out 87 batters (3-2 record, 1 save, 33 H, 38 R, 25 ER, 26 BB) with a 3.89 ERA. On eight occasions, he struck out at least seven in a ball game. Rohweder also posted team-best percentages of a .475 average, .515 on-base, and .672 slugging. He had team-highs in extra base hits with nine (seven 2Bs, one 3B, one HR) and RBI with 19 while scoring a team second-best 18 runs. He had the game-winning walk-off three-run home run versus Mabel-Canton and beat league-champion L/P on the mound. He struck out just six times on the year. Olson hit a team second-best .397 with a team high 22 runs scored and 15 stolen bases (three 2B, one 3B, 10 RBI). Dawson Pedretti (Sr. 1B/P > .321 average, two 2Bs, two HRs, 17 RBI, 14 runs) made All-SEC HM. Making All-SEC for GMLOK were Tyson Stevens (Sr. P/SS), Caden Reiter (Sr. 2B/P), and Blake Hershberger (P/C). Stevens earned his fourth All-SEC nod in baseball having previously done so thrice with Southland. He hit a team second-best .367 with a team-high 21 runs scored and 17 walks plus 12 RBI and six extra base hits including three home runs. His on-base was a team-best .557 and his slugging percentage a club-high .612. Stevens also pitched 34 1/3 innings (3-2 record, 24 H, 32 R, 16 ER, 32 BB, 50 K, team-low 3.62 ERA). Reiter hit a team-best .370 with a team second-best 19 runs plus 14 RBI. He struck out just three times in 64 plate appearances. Hershberger led the Bulldogs in innings pitched (38 2/3, 36 H, 54 R, 29 ER, 34 BB, team-high 52 K). He hit .321 (9 RBI, 11 runs). Sam Howard (Sr. OF > .339 average, team-high 16 RBI, 17 runs, four 2Bs, 3B, HR) made All-SEC HM. Making All-SEC for league-champion Lyle/Pacelli were fourth-time picks, and Class A All-State selections, Hunter VaDeer (Sr. P/OF) and Landon Meyer (Sr. 1B/P) plus Grady Meyer (Fr. SS/P) and Logyn Brooks (Sr. utility). VaDeer, for a third time, was the league’s Player of the Year. Making All-SEC for Southland were Austin Swenson (Sr. utility), Noah Goergen (Sr. OF/P), Beau Sathre (So. OF), and Easton Meyer (Jr. 1B/P). Twelve of 18 All-SEC selections were seniors.
Three Rivers Conference Baseball Awards
La Crescent/Hokah (13-2, 17-5) won the TRC-East ahead of Caledonia (12-3, 18-8), Rushford-Peterson (7-8, 8-13), Fillmore Central/Lanesboro (6-9, 9-12), Winona-Cotter (5-10, 9-12), and Lewiston-Altura (3-12, 10-15). St. Charles (9-5, 17-8) took the TRC-West over PEM (8-6, 9-10), Chatfield (8-6, 9-12), Dover-Eyota (5-9, 8-13), and Wabasha-Kellogg (4-10, 9-13). Amazingly, every team in the conference finished with at least eight wins. Heading the league’s All-Conference list are players from Caledonia, which made it all the way to the 1AA finals, only falling in the play-offs (twice) to state AA champion Pine Island. The Warriors get a TRC-best six All-TRC selections, Garrett Konz (Sr. P/1B), Landon O’Heron (Jr. P/OF), Tyson Ginther (So. IF), Will Allen (Jr. OF), Reid Klug (Sr. P/SS), and Jack Schmitz (Jr. IF). Konz earned his third All-TRC nod in baseball (he was also thrice All-TRC in basketball). Klug and O’Heron each repeated. The trio were the Warriors three most used pitchers. Konz led the team with a .418 average (team second-best eight 2Bs, 15 RBI, 17 R) and a .509 on-base percentage. He struck out a team-low 10 times. On the mound, the 6’6” right-hander tossed a team-high 56 2/3 innings (3-4 record, 50 H, 24 R, 14 ER, 23 BB, team-best 82 strikeouts) with a team-low 1.73 ERA. His losses were to Randolph, La Crescent/Hokah and Pine Island twice, teams with a combined 56-16 record. Klug hit a team second-best .375 (four 2Bs, 19 RBI, 16 R). He pitched 41 1/3 innings (36 H, 12 R, 12 ER, 21 BB, 28 K), going 5-1 with a 2.03 ERA. Konz and Klug each made All-Section. O’Heron threw 43 innings posting a team-best 6-1 record (41 H, 25 R, 23 ER, 18 BB, 40 K) with a 3.74 ERA. He also eight RBI, scored 16 runs, and stole 14 bases on offense (.236 average). Allen led the team with 25 RBIs (.363 average, five 2B, one triple, 18 runs) and 18 stolen bases. Tyson Ginther was second on the team with 23 RBI (.375 average, 13 runs). Schmitz was third on the team with 22 RBI (.356 average, five 2B, one triple, HR, 21 runs). Making All-TRC HM for the Warriors were Tanner Ginther (Sr. 2B > .322 average, team-high nine 2Bs, 17 RBI, team-high 25 runs) and Ben Stemper (Sr. OF/DH > .314 average, six 2Bs, 9 RBI, 22 runs). Making All-TRC for Chatfield are Westin Nolte (Sr. P/1B), Kaisen Johnson (Jr. C/OF), and Chase Johnston (Sr. P/IF). Nolte repeated. He hit .266 with 11 RBI and a team-best 15 runs. Johnston led the Gophers in innings pitched with 43 1/3 (3-3 record, 2.91 ERA, 38 H, 33 R, 18 ER, 35 BB, 45 K). Johnson led Chatfield in hitting at .290 (10 RBI, 12 runs) and was credited with a team-best .984 fielding percentage. Cole Ramaker (Sr. P/IF > 37 IP, 2-3 record, 2.65 ERA, 41 H, 38 R, 14 ER, 24 BB, 35 K) and Sean Kirchner (So. P/IF > .262 average, four 2Bs, 11 RBI, 21 1/3 IP, 3.28 ERA) made All-TRC HM. Rushford-Peterson also had three All-TRC selections in Jonah Bunke (Sr. P/IF), Caden Johnson (Sr. P/1B), and Cayden Lea (So. P/SS). Bunke repeated as All-TRC, hitting a team-best .343 (six 2Bs, 12 RBI, 18 runs) with 16 stolen bases. Johnson led the team in innings-pitched with 41 1/3, boasting a 2.37 ERA. He also hit .245 with 7 RBI, 10 runs, and 15 walks. Lea hit .319 with 12 RBI and six runs scored. He pitched 26 2/3 innings (33 Ks) with a 2.60 ERA, four saves, and a .174 batting average against. Carson Johnson (.288 average, 7 RBI, 10 runs, 11 SBs) made All-TRC HM for the Trojans. Making All-TRC for Fillmore Central/Lanesboro were Joey Pederson (So. P/IF) and Levi Rogers (Jr. P/C). Pederson hit .304 with a team second-best 14 RBI and a team second-best 18 runs. He also threw a team-best 47 2/3 innings with a 2.79 ERA (50 H, 29 R, 19 ER, 14 BB, 44 K). Rogers hit a team second-best .349 (two 2B, one HR, team second-best 14 RBI, 8 runs) while throwing 13 2/3 innings (9 H, 8 R, 5 ER, 5 BB, 2.56 ERA) striking out 24 batters in that limited work. Clayton Schoepski (Jr. OF > team-best .350 average, 16 runs), Bridon Bahl (So. IF > .288 average, team-best 15 RBI, 8 runs), and Thomas Pikula (Jr. P/OF > team second-best 32 1/3 IP, 6.71 ERA, 15 runs scored) made All-TRC honorable mention. Making All-TRC from La Crescent/Hokah were Mayes Boyer (Sr.), Max Niedfeldt (Jr.), Drew Peters (Jr.), Mitchell Reining (Sr.), and Alex VonArx (Sr.). Making All-TRC from St. Charles were Bryndon Koeppel (Jr.) Gavin Manley (Sr.), Cade Delger (Jr.), and Evan O’Bryan (So.). Making All-TRC from PEM were Elias Walch (Jr.), Nolan Welke (Sr.), and Jace Schumacher (Sr.). Making All-TRC from Dover-Eyota were Mat Matejka (So.) and Owen Ihrke (So.). Making All-TRC from Wabasha-Kellogg are Garret Pavelka (Sr.) and Jake Hill (Sr.). Making All-TRC from Winona-Cotter is Dane Guzzo (Jr.) and from Lewiston-Altura is Eli Jensen (Sr.).
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