Cornbelt honors its top players

Cornbelt Conference champions North Union were well represented on the all-conference baseball selections released recently.

The Warriors finished with a 9-1 league record in their first season under the new name, which includes players from North Kossuth, Sentral and Armstrong-Ringsted. The only blemish was a loss to West Bend-Mallard.

North Union had six first team all-conference selections-Brett Thackery, Jake Adams, Evan Hagebock, Sawyer Doocy, Brett Deitering and Garrett Johnson- with three on the second team-Zack Hurlburt, Alex Deitering and Cody Runksmeier.

Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire finished tied for third in the conference with a 6-4 record. The Knights had two first team selections-Blaze Alesch and Mitch Girres- and two second team selections-Tyler Dalen and Logan Flaharty.

Looking at the first team selections from both teams, here is how they performed in conference play.

Thackery, a senior pitcher, posted a 2-0 record in league play. In nine innings, he gave up three runs (one earned) with a 0.78 earned run average. Opponents batted .143 against him. At the plate, Thackery also batted .385 with 10 hits, 10 RBIs and one double.

Adams, a junior catcher, batted .545 in league play with 12 hits including four doubles and four RBIs.

Hagebock, a senior second baseman, batted .423 in league play with 11 hits including three doubles and 13 RBIs.

Doocy, a junior third baseman, batted .516 with 16 hits including 10 doubles, two home runs and 22 RBIs.

Brett Deitering, a senior outfielder, batted. 480 with 12 hits including two doubles, three triples and 12 RBIs. He also drew 10 walks and had 11 stolen bases.

Johnson, a junior utility player, batted .357 in league play with 10 hits including one double and nine RBIs.

For GT/RA's first team selections, Alesch, a junior shortstop, batted .545 in league play with 18 hits including four doubles, two triples and 15 RBIs.

Girres, a senior utility selection, batted .393 in league play with 11 hits including one double, one home run and 13 RBIs.

For North Union's second team selections, Zack Hurlburt posted a 3-1 record in league play. In 20 2/3 innings, he gave up four earned runs and had a 1.35 ERA. He had 23 strikeouts with to seven walks. Opponents batted .197 against him.

Alex Deitering, a junior outfielder, batted .280 with seven hits and four RBIs.

Runksmeier, a sophomore utility selection, posted a 1-0 record in league play.

Dalen, a senior pitcher, posted a 4-2 record in league play. In 30 2/3 innings he gave up 30 runs (16 earned) for a 3.65 ERA. He had 24 strikeouts with 16 walks. Opponents batted .209 against him.

Flaharty, a junior outfielder, batted .400 in league play with 12 hits including two doubles and four RBIs.