North Mahaska will have a strong nucleus coming back to make a run at the South Iowa Cedar League baseball title. Coach Kevin Kelderman hopes his team can build on last season’s 8-7 mark.
Two second team all-district players, both seniors, return to lead the team. Catcher Dylan Klinker and infielder/pitcher Ty Kelderman are back along with returning letterwinners Blake Readshaw, Matthew Goemaat, Grant Smith, Sam Terpstra, Jayden Stout, Dodge Duke, Jaydyn Steil, and Nash Smith.
Klinker had the team’s best batting average during the shortened 2020 campaign at .431 and an on base percentage of .460. He had 25 hits and drove in 12 runs. Kelderman batted .381 and reached base more than 50 percent of the time. He was credited with 16 hits, 13 RBI and walked 15 times. Senior Readshaw batted .352 and was 20-for-21 stealing bases. Grant Smith, also a senior, was perfect on the base paths at 13-for-13.
Kelderman had a3-0 mark on the mound with 3.73 earned run average. He gave up 22 hits, walked four and led the team in strikeouts with 34.
“Two that have looked good so far are Nate Sampson and Nolan Andersen,” said Coach Kelderman. “We do have other young players that show promise.”
Members of the 2021 North Mahaska baseball team include front (l-r): Ty Kelderman, Blake Readshaw, Grant Smith, and Matthew Goemaat. Second row: Brayden Veiseth, Carson Doak, Nate Sampson, Ben Johannes, Sam Terpstra, Jayden Steil, Jayden Stout, Clay Davis, and Carter Lake. Third row: Ben Bunn, Nolan Andersen, Nash Smith, Ben Boender, Dodge Duke, and Drake Hall. Not pictured: Dylan Klinker. The Warhawks are coached by Kevin Kelderman.
Kelderman sees his Warhawks challenging Sigourney, Keota and HLV for the conference title.
“Sigourney has a lot of talent returning and the pitching depth that you want,” said Kelderman. “Keota is another strong contender as they have a lot returning also with probably the most dominating pitcher in the conference. HLV is still one of the favorites as they won the conference the last couple of years. I know they lost some valuable players, but that winning experience will be valuable for them.
“We have the talent and potential to finish towards the top. Pitching depth is always the key. I like the talent we have returning, but we have to come up with the key hits this year.
“We were good offensively last year but lacked consistency at the plate when it was needed. Consistency at crunch time and in the field will be key for us to compete.”
North Mahaska has a busy first week going to conference foe Tri-County for a nonconference game on Monday, May 24, then going to Pleasantville the next night. They host Colfax-Mingo on Wednesday then have a day off before hosting another SICL team in Lynnville-Sully on Friday. Playing four games in five days will give Kelderman an early look at his lineup. The next the Warhawks have three games including back-to-back games with BGM and Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont.