There is no shortage of experience on this year’s Ankeny baseball team.
The Hawks return five players who started at least 10 games a year ago, including junior Will Davies, who made 11 of his 32 starts on the mound. Two other pitchers who combined for 15 starts are also back.
“The practices have been tremendously competitive,” said Ankeny coach Joe Balvanz. “We have 15 senior leaders who push this group. I’ve been really impressed with the depth and baseball IQ I’ve seen so far this May. There are quite a few young men who could play college baseball on this roster.”
Senior outfielder Evan Irlmeier is the top returnee from a squad that posted a 19-23 record. He was named to the CIML Conference second team.
Irlmeier batted .310 with four doubles and 20 RBIs as a junior. He led Ankeny with 10 sacrifice bunts and tied for the team lead with 10 stolen bases.
Senior Kinnick Vos is among the other returnees. He joined Irlmeier in starting all 42 games last season.
Vos batted .268 with one home run, seven doubles and 23 RBIs. The shortstop led the team with 25 walks and 35 runs scored.
Vos, who will play for Black Hawk Community College in Moline, Ill., received all-conference honorable mention.
Senior outfielder Sam Sandvig made 29 starts a year ago, while senior catcher and infielder Brady Carter started 12 times. Carter batted .222 and drove in five runs.
Sandvig batted .238 with 11 RBIs while tying for the team lead with 10 stolen bases. The Sioux Falls football recruit is currently running track and also working his way back onto the field from an injury.
Davies is back as well along with senior Travis Gerstel. They each received all-conference honorable mention.
Davies, a third baseman, batted .206 with five doubles and 13 RBIs. On the mound, he posted a 2-6 mark with a 4.81 ERA while leading the Hawks with 52 strikeouts and 59 2/3 innings pitched.
Gerstel will also be a big part of Balvanz’s pitching plans. He accounted for nearly a third of the team’s wins a year ago, going 6-2 with a 4.20 ERA.
Senior Zach Halverson and sophomore Hunter Minner are two other key returnees for the Hawks. Minner appeared in 12 games as a freshman, going 0-3 with a 5.12 ERA.
Halverson compiled a 1-4 mark with a 6.42 ERA. He will play for Ellsworth.
“We feel really good where we are with the depth of our pitching staff,” Balvanz said. “This team possesses great speed and athleticism. They should run the bases and play defense at a high level. I’ve been really impressed with their offensive approach so far this spring. I’m excited to see what they do as a team offensively this summer. They come to the park every day to get a little better.”
Senior Ben Taylor and junior Ryan Buffington are other returnees who could be in the mix for playing time. Balvanz said he’s also excited about the potential of newcomers RJ St Romain, Easton Lowe, Ace Parton, Jack Romig, Jackson Molloy, Logan Wirtz and Lennon Perrine.
“I think this team has a chance to be really good,” Balvanz said.
Ankeny will open the season on Monday with a non-conference game at North Polk.