Derek Goodnature

Albert Lea

Senior, Pitcher/Infield

Goodnature batted a team-high .371, leading the 2-20 Tigers with five doubles, two home runs and 12 runs batted in. His on-base average was .438. He played several positions in the field, finishing the season at shortstop. In 46 innings on the mound, Goodnature held opponents to a .276 batting average, striking out 44 and walking 41. He was the winning pitcher in a section tournament victory over Farmington. &uot;Derek had an excellent season, with the bat especially, and as a leader for our team,&uot; said Tigers coach Joe Sczublewski. &uot;He hit .400 or close to it all season long, and was just a real positive influence. He was one of the toughest outs in the conference. Pitchers tried to pitch around him in our lineup.&uot;

David Villarreal

Albert Lea

Senior, Left Field

Villarreal was a pleasant surprise for the Tigers, improving his numbers dramatically from his junior season. He batted .338 with 13 runs, two doubles, five RBIs and 12 stolen bases. His on-base average was .421. &uot;He had a huge turnaround in his numbers from last year,&uot; said coach Joe Sczublewski. &uot;He had an outstanding season and was one of our most consistent players. He was above .300 the entire year and seemed to be on base all the time.&uot;

Brett Penning

Alden-Conger

Senior, Pitcher

Penning was the leader for a young Knights squad that finished 3-15, registering two of their five victories while striking out an average of 5.3 batters per game. A co-captain, he had an on-base average of .532 and only six errors for the season. “He was a real lead for us,” said Alden-Conger coach Faron Bremseth. “He led the way for the younger kids. He got us our first win in three years in the conference, and our first win in two years overall earlier in the season with a four-hitter against Medford.”

Wade Flattum

Glenville-Emmons

Freshman, Catcher

A rare freshman All-Area selection, Flattum earned the spot with strong offensive numbers and a solid defensive performance behind the plate for the 8-9 Wolverines. He hit .348, with 16 hits, two doubles, 11 RBIs, seven runs scored and seven stolen bases. He had an on-base average of .462 and a fielding average of .957, with five errors for the season. “He started out the year as kind of an inexperienced catcher for us and he really came around as the year went along,” said Wolverines coach Louie Toulouse. “He swings the bat real well, he has above average speed for a catcher, and he’s a hard worker.”

Mitch Meier

Glenville-Emmons

Senior, Pitcher

Meier, the Tribune’s Player of the Year as a junior, had another stellar season on the mound while improving his numbers offensively. He threw 61 of the Wolverines, 113 innings, posting a 7-7 record with three saves and an earned run average of 0.80. He struck out 66 batters while walking seven. He batted .311, with 14 hits, two doubles and six RBIs. “He could have won two or three more games if we didn’t have to many errors behind him,” said coach Louie Toulouse. “In the first game we lost 6-2 to Blooming Prairie. Mitch pitched well but we gave them six unearned runs. Mitch is such a great leader. He knows a lot about baseball, and he’s a good role model for our younger kids.” Meier plans to play baseball at Toulouse’s alma mater, Mayville State in Mayville, N.D.

Isaiah Parry

Glenville-Emmons

Senior, Shortstop

A four-year varsity starter – the first two in Albert Lea – Parry ended his high school baseball career with offensive numbers that made him a Player of the Year candidate. He led the Wolverines with a batting average of .464, with 26 hits, six doubles, two triples, two home runs, 22 RBIs and eight runs scored. His on-base average was .606. He also pitched 35 1/3 innings, going 1-4 with a 4.95 ERA, with 57 strikeouts and 20 walks. “Isaiah has a great knowledge of the strike zone,” said coach Louie Toulouse. “He doesn’t swing at many bad pitches. He’s very patient and usually gets a good pitch to hit, and he has real good power for his size.”

Joey Balfe

NRHEG

Junior, Left Field

Balfe had an outstanding spring with the bat as the Panthers won the Gopher Conference championship and finished 18-5, hitting .433, with 29 hits, five doubles, four triples, five home runs, 36 RBIs, 23 runs and 13 stolen bases. “He was probably our best power hitter,” said Panthers coach Jeff Reese. “He’s a kid who really works hard at the game. He goes to hitting camp at Waldorf (Junior College) in the winter, he goes to tryout camps, and he’s one of our regulars in the morning for hitting. He loves baseball and wants to play after high school. He’s a real intense competitor.”

Jason Churchill

NRHEG

Junior, Catcher

The best defensive catcher in the area, Churchill was also one of the biggest offensive threats while batting .424 with 25 hits, 10 doubles, one triple, 15 RBIs, 30 runs, 23 stolen bases and 17 walks. He had 17 assists and five errors, with a fielding percentage of .962. “He loves the game,” said coach Jeff Reese. “He goes to hitting camp, (Minnesota State-Mankato) camp. He’s so steady behind the plate, one of the best blockers I’ve had, very fundamentally sound defensively. He makes great contact with the bat, has great speed and great instincts on the base paths. He’s also an excellent bunter.”

Mike Hullopeter

NRHEG

Senior, Pitcher

Hullopeter was the mainstay on the mound for the Panthers, twice shutting out defending champion and preseason Gopher Conference favorite Blooming Prairie while finishing 8-1 with one save and a 2.02 ERA. He had 48 strikeouts and 11 walks in 53 2/3 innings, with six complete games. Hullopeter also had several clutch hits for the Panthers, finishing second on the team with 20 RBIs and only seven strikeouts in 65 at-bats. When not pitching, he played shortstop or outfield. “Mike was always on the mound against the so-called tougher competition,” said NRHEG coach Jeff Reese. “He threw both Blooming Prairie, USC and Waterville games. All his wins were well earned.”

Zak Tracy

NRHEG

Junior, Shortstop

Another strong all-around player for NRHEG, Tracy batted .356 while totaling 21 hits, five doubles, one triple, 18 RBIs, 15 runs and seven stolen bases. He earned all-conference honors. “He has good, quick hands,” said Panthers coach Jeff Reese. “He has excellent defensive range at shortstop and a good arm. Offensively, he hit for a good average, and he has good speed. He’s a good all-around athlete.”

Trevor Haugh

United South Central

Senior, Catcher

The leadoff hitter for the 13-10 Rebels, Haugh batted .361 with an on-base average of .545 and a slugging percentage of .541. He hit 12 doubles, scored 27 runs and drove in 12 runs. “He’s a hard working individual,” said Rebels coach Thomas Williams. “He’s not real vocal, but he goes to the ballpark and gets the job done. He’s a great leadoff hitter, one of the best leadoff hitters I’ve had. All his hits were very solid.”

David Neubauer

United South Central

Senior, First Base

Neubauer had an outstanding spring at the plate, hitting .364 with a .477 on-base average and .493 slugging percentage, with seven doubles, one home run, 26 RBIs and 16 runs. “He played a solid first base for us, and was asked to play third base from time to time,” said USC coach Thomas Williams. “David’s a real emotional ballplayer. He really gets into his game, and definitely wears his emotions no his sleeve. He gives everything he has.”

Adam Schrader

United South Central

Sophomore, Center Field

The biggest surprise this season for the Rebels, Schrader had a .324 batting average, .476 on-base percentage and .529 slugging percentage, with three doubles, three home runs, 17 RBIs and 13 runs. He also did some pitching. “Adam was a great surprise for us coming up as a sophomore,” said coach Thomas Williams. “We expected him to contribute in areas, but he contributed above and beyond what we thought he would do. He was a key player for us, and I’m looking forward to having him for two more years.”

Mike Soma

United South Central

Senior, Third Base/Pitcher

Soma put up some of the best offensive numbers in the area, hitting .493 with an on-base average of .678 and slugging percentage of .768. He walked 19 times and struck out just five in 69 at-bats, with seven doubles, four home runs, 27 RBIs and 31 runs scored. As a pitcher, he was 2-1 with a 2.05 ERA, with 27 strikeouts and 12 walks in 30 2/3 innings. “Another hard worker,” said coach Thomas Williams. “His preparation starts way back

in December. He puts a lot of time and effort into it, and that’s why he will play at the college level next year. He takes a lot of pride in his game. He’s a complete team player. He’ll play wherever he needs to in order to help out the team.”

Honorable Mention

Albert Lea &045; Nate Loberg, sr., center field; Ryan Truesdell, soph., outfield;

Alden-Conger &045; Josh Wills, sr., first base;

Glenville-Emmons &045; Alex Hansen, soph., center field;

NRHEG &045; Jacey Reese, jr., second base; Adam Warnke, sr., first base; Andy Wenzel, sr., center field; Matt Wenzel, jr., pitcher/first base;

United South Central &045; Brandon Haugh, soph., pitcher/shortstop.

Player of the Year

2003 &045; Mike Hullopeter, NRHEG

2002 &045; Mitch Meier, Glenville-Emmons

2001 &045; Seth Stadheim, Glenville-Emmons

2000 &045; Dominic Schultz, United South Central

1999 &045; Jeff Schulz, Albert Lea

1998 &045; Erik Goodmanson, Albert Lea

1997 &045; Adam Benson, Albert Lea

1996 &045; Kyle Goslee, NRHEG

1995 &045; Brody Richards, NRHEG

1994 &045; Andy Stockinger, Albert Lea

1993 &045; Dave Ricke, United South Central

1992 &045; Wade Hammer, Albert Lea

Coach of the Year

2003 &045; Jeff Reese, NRHEG

2002 &045; Louie Toulouse, Glenville-Emmons

2001 &045; Jeff Reese, NRHEG

2000 &045; Louie Toulouse, Glenville-Emmons

1999 &045; Neil Pierce, Alden-Conger

1998 &045; Neil Pierce, Alden-Conger

1997 &045; Jeff Reese, NRHEG

1996 &045; Jeff Reese, NRHEG

1995 &045; Jeff Reese, NRHEG

1994 &045; Joe Sczublewski, Albert Lea

1993 &045; Jeff Reese, NRHEG

1992 &045; Joe Sczublewski, Albert Lea