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Oakie named Player of Year by Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association

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Ankeny Centennial’s Joey Oakie throws a pitch during a game against visiting Dowling Catholic on June 17. Oakie has been named the Game One Player of the Year by the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association. (Photo by Jerrad Downer)

Ankeny Centennial baseball star Joey Oakie has been named the Game One Player of the Year by the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association.

Oakie, a senior pitcher, was also a repeat selection to the All-State Super Team. The squad is comprised of the state’s top 16 players regardless of class.

Oakie was one of four players from Ankeny to receive all-state honors from the IHSBCA. His teammate, junior Isaac Bruhl, was named to the Class 4A first team.

Ankeny Centennial’s Isaac Bruhl scores a run during a game against visiting Dowling Catholic on June 17. Bruhl has been named to the Class 4A all-state first team by the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association. (Photo by Jerrad Downer)

Ankeny standout Jack Clevidence was a second-team pick in Class 4A. Another senior, Eli Christensen of Ankeny Christian Academy, was named to the Class 1A third team.

Oakie led the Jaguars to a 29-11 record. He posted a 4-2 mark with a 1.26 ERA on the mound, and he also excelled at the plate by hitting .327 with a team-high four home runs and 33 RBIs.

Bruhl, a second baseman, batted a team-high .378 with two triples, eight doubles and 15 RBIs. He led Centennial with 17 stolen bases.

Clevidence was named to an outfield position. He led the Hawks to a 19-23 record.

Ankeny’s Jack Clevidence throws a pitch during the Hawks’ win over Council Bluffs Lincoln in a Class 4A substate quarterfinal on July 12 at Iowa Western Community College. Clevidence has been selected to the Class 4A all-state second team by the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association. (Photo by Dylan Shoemaker)

Clevidence paced his team in several offensive categories, batting .397 with three homers, 14 doubles and 36 RBIs. The Evansville recruit also went 3-5 with a 3.74 ERA as a pitcher.

Christensen, a pitcher, led the Eagles to an 18-9 record and their first trip to a Class 1A substate final. He posted a 7-3 mark with a 1.60 ERA and ranked fifth in the entire state with 112 strikeouts.

The DMACC (Boone) recruit also batted a team-high .518 with two homers, three triples, nine doubles and 14 RBIs.

Ankeny Christian Academy’s Eli Christensen throws a pitch during a game at Ankeny in the Brent Prange Classic on June 22. Christensen has been named to the Class 1A all-state third team by the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association. (Photo by Dan Holm)