BASEBALL RECRUITS

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AZHAWKFAN1

Well-Known Member
Now that the high school season is over, is there any news on any Iowa grown ball players being recruited by the Hawks? A pitcher for Dyersville Beckman went undefeated the last two years. I hope some of these top-talent guys stay home.
 
AZHAWKFAN1 said:
Now that the high school season is over, is there any news on any Iowa grown ball players being recruited by the Hawks? A pitcher for Dyersville Beckman went undefeated the last two years. I hope some of these top-talent guys stay home.
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Hit against the Beckman kid this year, his name is Joey Lehman. Probably throws around 88 and his curveball is pretty nasty!
 
Lehmann is definitely a very talented player. North Polk's ace, Jacob Hadaway, is also a stud but he hurt his ankle in the state title game and had to be carted off (Just a guess, but I'm betting he had a severely broken ankle, maybe even a compound fracture. I base that mostly off the reaction that one of the infielders had when he saw it after the play was over.). He might be lucky to ever play again, IDK.

Clear Lake's Gavin Sheakley is a very exciting player to watch, but I'm not sure where he intends to play in college (or if he plans on that at all). I've seen very few kids make warning track shots to center field look like routine outs; great instincts and unreal speed.

Ankeny's Keaton McKinney still has another year left, but he's already committed to play at Arkansas. He's probably the best high school pitcher I've seen in Iowa since B.J. Hermsen at West Delaware.
 
Sheakley is going to a JUCO up Northern Iowa by home I believe, not sure which one. He isn't D1 level player at this point IMO, but in a couple years with his athleticism could be decent.
The talent level overall in the state this year isn't what it has been in the last 2-3 years which will make it tough for Heller.
 
With ISU and UNI both without programs, and Heller being a good recruiter, it bodes well for Iowa to keep some of these talented kids. I'm sure he made some inroads in Indiana while there also.
 
tm3308 said:
Lehmann is definitely a very talented player. North Polk's ace, Jacob Hadaway, is also a stud but he hurt his ankle in the state title game and had to be carted off (Just a guess, but I'm betting he had a severely broken ankle, maybe even a compound fracture. I base that mostly off the reaction that one of the infielders had when he saw it after the play was over.). He might be lucky to ever play again, IDK.

Clear Lake's Gavin Sheakley is a very exciting player to watch, but I'm not sure where he intends to play in college (or if he plans on that at all). I've seen very few kids make warning track shots to center field look like routine outs; great instincts and unreal speed.

Ankeny's Keaton McKinney still has another year left, but he's already committed to play at Arkansas. He's probably the best high school pitcher I've seen in Iowa since B.J. Hermsen at West Delaware.
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Another reason change was needed. He never received a letter or was ever contacted by the prior staff.
 
bogeyman said:
Sheakley is going to a JUCO up Northern Iowa by home I believe, not sure which one. He isn't D1 level player at this point IMO, but in a couple years with his athleticism could be decent.
The talent level overall in the state this year isn't what it has been in the last 2-3 years which will make it tough for Heller.
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He's definitely not a D-1 everyday player right now. He wouldn't hit well enough to do that, IMO. But as a fourth outfielder he could do a lot of good things for a D-1 program. Very good defensively, and he could help as a pinch runner.
 
tm3308 said:
He's definitely not a D-1 everyday player right now. He wouldn't hit well enough to do that, IMO. But as a fourth outfielder he could do a lot of good things for a D-1 program. Very good defensively, and he could help as a pinch runner.
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I understand what you're saying. I think the problem is we have a lot of guys like this right now ya know? We need to get some studs and difference makers, we have plenty of 4th OF or Utility type players. Need us some studs. I think he needs to go hard after some JUCOs right now while he begins building relationships with the next line of top Iowa players. We've already lost out on Puk and McKinney.
 
bogeyman said:
I understand what you're saying. I think the problem is we have a lot of guys like this right now ya know? We need to get some studs and difference makers, we have plenty of 4th OF or Utility type players. Need us some studs. I think he needs to go hard after some JUCOs right now while he begins building relationships with the next line of top Iowa players. We've already lost out on Puk and McKinney.
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I would agree with a lot of this. I just think bring in guys like Sheakley right now would be a step in the right direction as far as keeping Iowa kids here. Is he a guy like McKinney? No. But just building that connection back up and locking down the borders should be a priority. There are good players in this state, we just haven't done a good job of keeping them.
 
tm3308 said:
I would agree with a lot of this. I just think bring in guys like Sheakley right now would be a step in the right direction as far as keeping Iowa kids here. Is he a guy like McKinney? No. But just building that connection back up and locking down the borders should be a priority. There are good players in this state, we just haven't done a good job of keeping them.
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Agree we have to lock down the borders, biggest issue is we didn't the last few years while the players were much better than right now. We've lost the Christensen brothers to Nebraska, Puk to Florida, McKinney to Arkansas etc. But it is hard to blame kids for going south to play ball. Losing players to Nebraska though is ridiculous. Hitting wise, Austin Peterson from Chariton is a much better hitter than Sheakley fyi, check out his power numbers on quikstats (doubles, homers etc.). Left handed too, going to Muscatine CC. In a year or two though might be one to grab. He, along with many others are playing in the HS All Star Series in DSM this weekend, if Heller is smart he'll be there.
 
bogeyman said:
Agree we have to lock down the borders, biggest issue is we didn't the last few years while the players were much better than right now. We've lost the Christensen brothers to Nebraska, Puk to Florida, McKinney to Arkansas etc. But it is hard to blame kids for going south to play ball. Losing players to Nebraska though is ridiculous. Hitting wise, Austin Peterson from Chariton is a much better hitter than Sheakley fyi, check out his power numbers on quikstats (doubles, homers etc.). Left handed too, going to Muscatine CC. In a year or two though might be one to grab. He, along with many others are playing in the HS All Star Series in DSM this weekend, if Heller is smart he'll be there.
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I wonder how good the Iowa baseball program can hope to be. I don't really see Iowa ever locking down the state. Talent that is good enough to play college ball down south or out west will never go to Iowa nor should they.

I remember when Heller coached at Upper Iowa he had a lot of California kids on his roster. Maybe he needs to find kids from a large state who get looked over and convince them to come from Iowa. Maybe Iowa's future will be built on getting kids from large baseball states who are over looked but still better than kids who people think are good Iowa high school baseball players.

I am just not sure what Iowa's baseball ceiling is. I think Heller is a good coach but I am not sure how far he can take things. Just a lot going against you as far as baseball goes.
 
tm3308 said:
Ankeny's Keaton McKinney still has another year left, but he's already committed to play at Arkansas. He's probably the best high school pitcher I've seen in Iowa since B.J. Hermsen at West Delaware.
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Mckinney will be pitching on MLB channel next inning for the West if you want to watch him. The 4th inning.
 
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ICHAWK said:
I wonder how good the Iowa baseball program can hope to be. I don't really see Iowa ever locking down the state. Talent that is good enough to play college ball down south or out west will never go to Iowa nor should they.

I remember when Heller coached at Upper Iowa he had a lot of California kids on his roster. Maybe he needs to find kids from a large state who get looked over and convince them to come from Iowa. Maybe Iowa's future will be built on getting kids from large baseball states who are over looked but still better than kids who people think are good Iowa high school baseball players.

I am just not sure what Iowa's baseball ceiling is. I think Heller is a good coach but I am not sure how far he can take things. Just a lot going against you as far as baseball goes.
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Yeah its gonna be hard to keep guys from going south always. New facilities should help some. Players have to see the University is committed to having a good team. All I realistically hope for is to be in the hunt for a big ten title every couple years or at least be near top annually. I don't see any reason we can't compete, I mean Indiana went to the CWS for pete sake. But it takes a combo of facilities, great coaching (even more so recruiting) and finding some good players.
 
TM3308, Did you see McKinney made the U18 USA team that's heading to Taiwan. Top 20 players in the nation. If I was the Arkansas coach I'd be a little concerned this kid could be a first rounder.
 
Was in I.C. this weekend for a Perfect Game Showcase Tournament. I heard that Iowa is not very competitive for top kids due to their inferior facilities.
For instance, most teams in upper Midwest have turf fields. Iowa doesn't have an indoor training area compared to that at most schools.

I understand it's not a big revenue sport, but its a shame that the AD puts so little money into this sport compared to our peers.
 
Maybe after improvements made to Carver and Kinnick, maybe money can be raised to improve Iowa's baseball/softball facilities.
 
AZHAWKFAN1 said:
Maybe after improvements made to Carver and Kinnick, maybe money can be raised to improve Iowa's baseball/softball facilities.
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I would sure hope so or these once decent programs are going to continue their downward spirals no matter who the coaches are.
 
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