Rising Stars and Notable Performances
The 2026 high school baseball season is underway across Iowa, and the weekly power rankings reflect a competitive landscape as teams gear up for the IHSAA state tournaments. Scouting reports and a dedicated blog provide continuous coverage of the action, while a player‑of‑the‑week award adds extra excitement to each Friday night.
Among the standout athletes, Abram Decena of Centerville Big Reds has posted a .733 batting average, hitting three home runs and driving in 14 runs, while Alex Williams from Southeast Polk sits at 5‑1 on the mound with a strong earned‑run average. Brayden Hanks of Cedar Falls brings a 1.925 OPS, adding five homers and 12 RBIs to his resume.
Cael Wishman of Baxter HS combines a .571 average with 11 strikeouts in 5.2 innings pitched, and Cal Heydon from Coon Rapids‑Bayard has gone 11‑for‑20 with four doubles, two homers and seven stolen bases. Caleb Peters of Waterloo East delivered a complete‑game effort with 12 strikeouts, and Chance Georgius of Roland‑Story contributed a 7‑for‑17 performance featuring three doubles and five RBIs.
Other notable outings include Lincoln Berding of Mason City High School, who has recorded 29 strikeouts in 14 innings, and Chase Fjellans from North Polk, who collected eight hits in 18 at‑bats with three doubles and a triple. Dane Clark of Humboldt smashed three home runs while knocking in 10 runs, and Gabe Ries of Mason City added nine hits, three homers and 11 RBIs across six games.
Pitching highlights continue with Reece Blaisdell of Roland‑Story tossing a no‑hitter and earning another win, while Reed Smith of Winterset went 8‑for‑15 with three doubles. Jake Knoll of Roland‑Story posted nine hits, seven runs scored and seven RBIs, and Jake North of Oskaloosa boasts a .652 average with 12 RBIs and four stolen bases. Kelan Starr of Maquoketa and Owen Harms of Iowa City West also contribute solid offensive numbers, rounding out a deep pool of talent.