Matt Levins / The Hawk Eye - John Gaines / Photography
The 2025 high school baseball season had plenty of great plays, great players and great teams.
By the time the dust cleared, Mediapolis was the last team standing. The Bulldogs advanced to the Class 2A state tournament for the first time in 10 years. While the Bulldogs lost in part on a questionable call, it in no way detracted from their sensational summer of fun.
Central Lee, Notre Dame and New London battled it out for second place in the SEI Super Conference South Division, while Burlington was atop the Southeast Conference standings until the final day, settling for second behind Fairfield.
Not surprisingly, those teams dominate the 2025 All-Hawk Eye baseball team.
Mediapolis senior Lance Ludens earned Player of the Year honors, while Mediapolis coach Rick Whitaker is the Coach of the Year.
PITCHERS
EVAN HECOX, SR., BURLINGTON
Hecox became the ace of a Burlington team which spent most of the season atop the Southeast Conference standings. He finished with a 3-2 record and a 2.08 ERA. In 37 innings, he allowed just 27 hits and 11 earned runs, walked 22 and struck out 42. He held opposing teams to a .193 batting average,
LANCE LUDENS, SR., MEDIAPOLIS
Ludens had a simply dominating season, leading the Bulldogs to the state tournament for the first time since 2015. Ludens fashioned an 11-1 record with a miniscule 1.51 ERA. In 69 1/3 innings, he allowed just 48 hits and 15 earned runs, walked nine and struck out 81. Opposing teams hit just .180 against him. He was tied for the state lead in wins with 11 and tied for third in innings pitched.
PAYNE PROTTSMAN, JR., NOTRE DAME
Prottsman was the Nikes’ go-to man on the mound. He put together a 7-2 record with a 1.29 ERA. In 38 innings, he allowed just 26 hits and seven earned runs, walked 30 and struck out 56. He held opposing teams to a .146 batting average.
CATCHER
TATE WELCHER, SR., NEW LONDON
Welcher’s numbers at the plate were dramatically improved over his junior season, and so was his play behind the plate. Welcher hit .347, 133 points higher than last season. He had a .449 on-base percentage and a .427 slugging percentage. He had four doubles and one triple, scored 11 runs, drove in 17 runs and stole nine bases. He was second in the state in runners thrown out stealing with 23.
FIRST BASEMAN
JEREMIAH CROW, SR., NOTRE DAME
Crow was a top-flight, slick-fielding first baseman who not only hit for average, but put some pop in the Nikes’ offense. Crow committed just two errors all season. At the plate he hit .350 with a .582 on-base percentage and a .433 slugging percentage. He had five doubles, scored 23 runs, drove in 20 runs and stole a pair of bases.
SECOND BASEMAN
GAVIN STRAWHACKER, FR., NEW LONDON
Strawhacker, a state champion in track and field, carried that success over to baseball. He hit .387 with a .487 on-base percentage and a .415 slugging percentage. He had one triple, scored 20 runs and drove 16 runs and stole 23 bases in 23 attempts.
SHORTSTOP
BLAKE DAVIS, SO., CENTRAL LEE
Davis was one of the best young all-around players in the area. He hit .450 with a .537 on-base percentage and a .800 slugging percentage. He had eight doubles, one triple and six home runs, scored 24 runs, drove in 27 runs and stole 16 bases. He also was one of the top pitchers in the area.
THIRD BASEMAN
WILL LUTTENEGGER JR., MEDIAPOLIS
Luttenegger settled in at third base, where he committed just five errors and recorded 46 putouts. He hit .340 with a .467 on-base percentage and a .361 slugging percentage. He had two triples, scored 35 runs, drove in 17 runs and stole 26 bases.
OUTFIELDERS
KYLER CROW, JR., MEDIAPOLIS
Crow was a top-flight center fielder and one of the Bulldogs’ top three pitchers. He hit .395 with a .538 oLANDRY HABERICHTER, JR., NOTRE DAME
LANDRY HABERICHTER, JR., NOTRE DAME
Haberichter, who placed third in the 100-meter dash at the state track meet, was one of the top fielders in the state. He was able to cover ground in both power alleys. He committed just two errors in 43 total chances with one assist and 40 putouts. He hit .437 with a .584 on-base percentage and a .634 slugging percentage. He had nine doubles, one triple and one home run, scored 39 runs, drove in 21 runs and stole 26 bases.
MEMPHIS WATSON, SR., NEW LONDON
Watson was a jack-of-all-trades for the Tigers, playing center field, third base, shortstop and pitcher at various times. He was sixth in the state in stolen bases with 42 and made just two errors in 74 total chances. He hit .500 with a .590 on-base percentage and a .671 slugging percentage. He had six doubles and four triples, scored 35 runs and drove in 20 runs.
DESIGNATED HITTER
ELI OLESON, JR., NOTRE DAME
Oleson could do it all for the Nikes as the left fielder. He hit .452 with a .510 on-base percentage and a .678 slugging percentage. He had seven doubles and four home runs, scored 28 runs, drove in 44 runs and stole 18 bases. He was flawless in the field in 30 total chances with one assist and 29 putouts.
UTILITIES
MADDOX DIEWOLD, SO, NOTRE DAME
Diewold made a successful return from offseason injury and a transition from second base to right field. He hit .403 with a .549 on-base percentage and a .429 slugging percentage. He had two doubles, scored 34 runs, drove in 14 runs and stole 24 bases.
BRAEDON OLIVER, SR., MEDIAPOLIS
Oliver was arguably the most improved player in the area. The Bulldogs’ right fielder hit .388 with a .568 on-base percentage and a .463 slugging percentage. He had one double and two triples, scored 30 runs, drove in 18 runs and stole 26 bases. He made just one error all season and had three assists. Oliver rose to the challenge, playing his best baseball in the postseason.
BROCK THULEEN, SR., WEST BURLINGTON
Thuleen split time between first base, pitcher and left field. He hit .455 with a .560 on-base percentage and a .636 slugging percentage. He had six doubles and two home runs, scored 28 runs, drove in 16 runs and stole 22 bases.
CADEN ZAUGG, SO., BURLINGTON
Zaugg was one of the Grayhounds’ most consistent hitters all season. He finished with a .397 batting average with a .506 on-base percentage and a .471 slugging percentage. He had five doubles, scored 23 runs, drove in 25 runs and stole five bases.
COACH OF THE YEAR
RICK WHITAKER, MEDIAPOLIS
The Bulldogs have made steady progress in Whitaker’s eight years at the helm, culminating in their first state tournament appearance in 10 years. In Whitaker’s eight seasons, Mediapolis has a 132-46 record. The Bulldogs were 27-3 this season, including 12-0 in the very competitive SEI Super Conference South Division. The Bulldogs graduate three senior starters, but have a ton of talent back next year to make another run at the state tournament.