Top 15 Ames Tribune-area Iowa high school baseball players heading into the 2024 season
The 2024 Iowa high school baseball season is almost upon us.
It begins this upcoming Monday, May 13. Several talented players are returning from Ames-area teams who will look to make a big impact during the summer.
Ames lost a lot of talent off of last year's team that made a Cinderella run to the Class 4A state title game. But the Little Cyclones return their ace pitcher and a few other key contributors from that team.
Ballard brings back some of its top players from last year's 3A state qualifier. Collins-Maxwell, Colo-NESCO, Gilbert, Nevada and Roland-Story also have valuable pieces returning.
Several young faces from throughout the area will emerge as big contributors as well.
This is just a preseason list, so plenty of new names could burst onto the scene during the season. But here are the top 15 high school baseball players in the Ames area right now.
Players are listed in alphabetical order by last name
Drew Banks, Colo-NESCO
Senior, Pitcher
Banks is the top returning pitcher for Colo-NESCO.
In 2023, Banks went 4-2 with a 2.41 ERA, 60 strikeouts and 34 walks in 49 1/3 innings. He hit .268 with 13 runs and nine RBIs.
Trenton Beard, Colo-NESCO
Senior, Outfield
Beard is a versatile contributor for Colo-NESCO.
In 2023, he hit .265 with five doubles, 28 runs and 15 RBIs. Beard made 18 putouts and seven assists in the field, and he posted a 3.35 ERA in 23 innings on the mound.
Logan Bjerke, Ames
Junior, Pitcher/Outfield
Bjerke gave Ames an elite hitter from the No. 9 spot in the batting order during the Little Cyclones' run to the 2023 4A state championship game.
He hit .330 with 12 doubles, one triple, 37 runs and 27 RBIs. After spending most of his time in the outfield last season, Bjerke could be counted on to pitch for Ames in 2024.
Josef Dvorak, Collins-Maxwell
Junior, Outfield
Dvorak was one of two Collins-Maxwell players to hit over .400 last season, along with his older brother Caleb.
Dvorak posted a .406 average with eight doubles, one triple, a home run, 18 runs and 22 RBIs.
Anthony Eaton, Nevada
Junior, Catcher
Eaton emerged as an outstanding catcher for Nevada as a sophomore.
Last year, Eaton threw out four runners, and hit .473 with eight doubles, one triple and three homers. He scored 15 runs and posted 15 RBIs.
Carter Geffre, Ames
Senior, Pitcher
Geffre was an absolute workhorse on the hill for Ames in 2023.
The Iowa commit led the Little Cyclones to the state finals by going 7-0 with a 1.18 ERA, 77 strikeouts and just 10 walks in 53 1/3 innings. Geffre also was explosive with the bat, hitting .377 with 12 doubles, one triple, three homers, 33 runs and 34 RBIs.
Drake Hinson, Nevada
Sophomore, Infield
Hinson was a pleasant surprise for Nevada in 2023.
He stepped up as a freshman to hit .328 with six doubles, one triple and 22 RBIs.
Graffton Linder, Ames
Senior, Outfield
Linder joins Geffre as another valuable senior leader for Ames entering the 2024 season.
In 2023, Linder posted a .304 batting average with 38 runs and 29 RBIs. He made 37 putouts and one assist in the field.
Tommy McGuire, Gilbert
Junior, Outfield/Pitcher
McGuire is back to anchor the outfield for Gilbert in 2024.
Last season, McGuire hit .242 with 20 runs and 16 RBIs. He only had three errors in 64 chances on defense, and on the mound, he went 2-3 with a strong 1.67 ERA in 37 2/3 innings.
Miles Mudd, Ballard
Junior, Infield/Pitcher
Mudd played an important role in Ballard's 3A state tournament run last season.
During his sophomore year, Mudd was 2-1 with a 1.84 ERA, 35 strikeouts and 12 walks in 38 innings. He hit .265 with 17 runs and 12 RBIs.
Coal Myers, Gilbert
Senior, Pitcher
Myers could be the top returning pitcher for Gilbert in 2024.
During his junior year, Myers was 3-3 with a 2.65 ERA, 32 strikeouts and 19 walks in 39 2/3 innings. He hit .301 on offense with 13 runs and 15 RBIs.
Eli Rouse, Ballard
Senior, Pitcher
Rouse is the top returning player for Ballard after an all-state season that helped the Bombers reach the state tournament in 2023.
Rouse was 5-5 with a 2.46 ERA, 80 strikeouts and 23 walks in 54 innings. He hit .420 with 30 runs, 24 steals, 11 doubles, three homers and 10 RBIs.
Brett Schmitz, Roland-Story
Senior, Infield
Schmitz had a breakout season for Roland-Story as a junior in 2023.
Last season, Schmitz hit .300 with five doubles, two triples, 18 runs and 24 RBIs. Schmitz made 45 assists and 30 putouts playing mainly at shortstop and he went 6-1 with a 1.49 ERA in 47 innings at pitcher.
Cooper Wierson, Collins-Maxwell
Sophomore, Pitcher
Wierson is coming off an outstanding freshman season for Collins-Maxwell.
In 2023, Wierson went 6-1 with a 1.42 ERA, 50 strikeouts and 15 walks in 44 1/3 innings. He hit .309 with six doubles, one triple, 26 runs and 15 steals on offense.
William Zamzow, Roland-Story
Junior, Catcher
Zamzow is a valuable asset as the catcher for Roland-Story.
In 2023, Zamzow hit .296 with eight doubles and 13 RBIs. He threw out eight base runners and only made three errors on defense.
Joe Randleman covers high school sports for the Ames Tribune. Contact him at jrandleman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JoeRandleman
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: The top 15 Iowa high school baseball players in Ames area for 2024
