2012 All-Area Baseball First Team

Ryan Boldt, junior, outfield, Red Wing

See accompanying story

Zach Garner, senior, pitcher, shortstop, Red Wing

Garner was Red Wing’s ace this season with a 9-1 record. Garner came into the state tournament with a 1.20 ERA and with a miniscule 1.46 ERA for the season. Garner went 4-for-6 in the biggest game of the year for Red Wing and batted .299 for the season as a leadoff hitter. Garner scored 21 runs and will play at Dakota County Technical College in the fall.

Tyler Boyle-Hoban, senior, pitcher, third base, first base Cannon Falls

Boyle-Hoban went 9-0 for the Bombers with a 1.66 ERA. He played a big role in getting the Bombers back to the state tournament for the first time since 1997 and he threw a two-hit shutout at the Class 2A state tournament to catapult Cannon Falls to the consolation championship game. For his performance, Boyle-Hoban was named to the Class 2A all-tournament team at state. Boyle-Hoban finished his career with an 11-1 mark and a 2.79 ERA. He hit .342 with 10 RBI and 10 doubles. He pitched in big games for Cannon Falls and delivered wins in sections against No. 1 seed Stewartville and No. 2 seed Kasson-Mantorville.

David Goggin, senior, catcher, Red Wing

Goggin hit .333 this season with 20 RBI, second on the team behind Ryan Boldt, while also hitting seven doubles and two triples. Goggin hit in the No. 2 spot all season and caught every game for the Wingers, including a marathon day in the state tournament, catching all 20 innings. Goggin, who will play at San Angelo State in the fall, had just one error all season. Goggin finished third on the team in slugging with a .474 average and had an on-base percentage of .475, second on the team. Goggin also was named a Lion’s All-Star.

James Georgakas, junior, pitcher, Ellsworth

Georgakas delivered for the Panthers all season long and especially in big games. Georgakas struck out nine and gave up five hits in a 5-1 victory over the No. 1-ranked team in the state, Racine-St. Catherine’s in the state semifinals and finished the season with a 9-1 record and 92 strikeouts in 60 2/3 innings. He walked 29 and ended with a 1.15 ERA.

Braxton Lindow, senior, outfield, Cannon Falls

Lindow returned from tearing his anterior cruciate ligament during the football season to hit .375 in 21 games and drive in 16 runs. His 16 RBI ranked fourth on the team despite missing seven games. Lindow owns a career .395 batting average and will play at St. Olaf next season. He was named a Lion’s All-Star as well as being a three-time all-conference and all-subsection team selection. Lindow also was named academic all-state and all-state.

Ty Buck, freshman, pitcher, third base, Red Wing

Buck, a freshman, made an impact in the lineup and on the mound this season for the Wingers. Buck, who touches mid-80s already with his velocity, became one of the go-to options for Red Wing in the late innings. Buck routinely came on in the biggest spots of the season. Buck hit .297 in 17 games and had six RBI in that time. He allowed one run the entire season.

Brady Schroeder, senior, pitcher, outfield, Ellsworth

Schroeder was one of Ellsworth’s aces on the mound this season and went 6-4 with a 2.94 ERA in 66 2/3 innings. Schroeder made the All-Pioneer Press team and was named all-conference and the first team Western Wisconsin All-District team. He hit .333 with two home runs and a .494 slugging percentage. Schroeder stole 20 bases and hit five doubles.

Michael Growette, senior, pitcher, first base, Cannon Falls

It’s tough to say where Growette had his biggest impact this season for the Bombers after he hit .394 and went 6-2 with a 2.15 ERA. Either way, he played a pivotal role as Cannon Falls made the Class 2A state tournament. Growette had 12 RBI and 28 hits in 71 at-bats and struck out 30 hitters in 62 innings. He was named all-conference, all-subsection, all-state, academic all-state and received the 2011 Charlie Ruud Pitcher of the Year award.

Jacob Betthauser, senior, shortstop, Ellsworth

Betthauser put up big numbers all season for the Panthers, who reached the Wisconsin state tournament for the first time in school history this season. Betthauser finished with a .453 average and slugged .693. He drove in 25 runs, hit two home runs, two triples and eighth doubles. Betthauser also stole 13 bases and was named to the second team all-district team. He played great defense and was also a clutch hitter, Ellsworth head coach Steve Block said.

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