Eight Bombers make all-RRC in baseball: Bryce Haessig and Eli Rouse make the first team
Joe Randleman
Eight members of the Ballard baseball team were given all-Raccoon River Conference honors after leading the Bombers to the conference title with a 13-3 record in 2022.
The all-RRC baseball selections featured two Bombers on the first team. Bryce Haessig and Eli Rouse were selected after turning in outstanding seasons to help Ballard bring home the conference title.
Haessig hit .253 with three doubles, seven steals, 11 runs and 12 RBIs and went 3-2 with a 1.96 ERA with 41 strikeouts and 13 walks in 46 1/3 innings on the mound. Rouse posted a 7-2 record with a 1.54 ERA, 61 strikeouts and 17 walks in 54 2/3 innings and he hit .346 with 26 runs, 19 steals, 15 RBIs, three doubles and one triple.
The other first-team all-RRC selections in baseball were: Adel-Desoto-Minburn's Luke Greth, Sam Holloway and Christian Madison; North Polk's Hunter Cook, Nick Cox and Austin Parkins; Winterset's Justin Hackett and Jake Porter, Gilbert's Eli Eldred, Bondurant-Farrar's Jake Edenburn, Boone's Evan Behn and Carlisle's Archer Ogbourne.
Ballard juniors Jaren Njos and Jaden Peasley and senior Jacob Ross landed on the all-RRC second team.
Njos posted a .308 average with four doubles and 13 runs and RBIs apiece, Peasley hit .267 average with 10 doubles, one triple, one homer, 16 runs, 13 RBIs and eight steals and Ross was 3-2 with a a 3.67 ERA and 30 strikeouts and walks apiece in 34 1/3 innings on the mound.
Ballard seniors Jayden Cattell and Colby Calvert and junior Cole Heinen were named all-RRC honorable mention. Cattell hit .267 with five doubles, 17 runs, 15 RBIs and 13 steals, Calvert .247 with four doubles, one triple, 26 runs, 13 steals and 10 RBIs and Heinen .218 with one double and nine RBIs.
Final RRC baseball standings
Ballard 13-3
North Polk 11-5
ADM 10-6
Carlisle 9-7
Gilbert 7-8
Boone 7-9
Winterset 6-8
Bondurant-Farrar 6-9
Carroll 0-14