The 2025 local 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 after leading the Bulldogs to an unbeaten record in the Super Conference South Division.

Centyral Lee shortstop Blake Davis was a shortstop named to the team.

He led the Hawks to a 19-5 record and a second place finish in the Super Conference South Division at 9-3.

Notre Dame was third at 7-4 and New London was fourth at 5-6.

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. He had just five errors all season. He was 16-of-18 on stolen bases.

On the mound, he had a 5-1 record with two saves. he threw 25 and two-thirds innings and allowed 10 hits, 10 runs but only three earned. he struck out 54 batters and walked 16. His earned run average was a minicscule 0.82. His walks plus hits per innings pitched was 1.00. Opponents batted 0.091 against him.

2025 ALL-HAWK EYE BASEBALL TEAM

PITCHERS

EVAN HECOX, SR., BURLINGTON

LANCE LUDENS, SR., MEDIAPOLIS

PAYNE PROTTSMAN, JR., NOTRE DAME

CATCHER

TATE WELCHER, SR., NEW LONDON

FIRST BASEMAN

JEREMIAH CROW, SR., NOTRE DAME

SECOND BASEMAN

GAVIN STRAWHACKER, FR., NEW LONDON

SHORTSTOP

BLAKE DAVIS, SO., CENTRAL LEE

THIRD BASEMAN

WILL LUTTENEGGER JR., MEDIAPOLIS

OUTFIELDERS

KYLER CROW, JR., MEDIAPOLIS

LANDRY HABERICHTER, JR., NOTRE DAME

MEMPHIS WATSON, SR., NEW LONDON

DESIGNATED HITTER

ELI OLESON, JR., NOTRE DAME

UTILITIES

MADDOX DIEWOLD, SO, NOTRE DAME

BRAEDON OLIVER, SR., MEDIAPOLIS

BROCK THULEEN, SR., WEST BURLINGTON

CADEN ZAUGG, SO., BURLINGTON

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.