May 20, 2025
Local NewsState & National

Waiting in the wings: Panthers ready for baseball season

By CHEYENNE ROCHE
Front row, from left: Conner Brinner, Allen Reed, Parker Varner, Mattias Schultes, Tommy Sand, Brayden Schoon, Camden Smith, Stephen Sistad, Tyler Riley, Nico Lepla, Rayden Mullin. Middle row: Rohm Carter, Carlos Page, Logan Stehr, Seth Gordon, Gabe Blazek, Kal Barber, Brady McDonald, Tanner Ray, Landyn Scherer, Cason Scarberry, Dylan Dornack, Garrett Troutwine. Back row: Hunter Kiley, Damion Bowbly, Davin Wallace, Mark Kasha, Jameson McDonald, Chasse Downing, Rhett Driskell, Tom Mikkelsen, Ryder Sharp, Layne Sand

Front row, from left: Conner Brinner, Allen Reed, Parker Varner, Mattias Schultes, Tommy Sand, Brayden Schoon, Camden Smith, Stephen Sistad, Tyler Riley, Nico Lepla, Rayden Mullin. Middle row: Rohm Carter, Carlos Page, Logan Stehr, Seth Gordon, Gabe Blazek, Kal Barber, Brady McDonald, Tanner Ray, Landyn Scherer, Cason Scarberry, Dylan Dornack, Garrett Troutwine. Back row: Hunter Kiley, Damion Bowbly, Davin Wallace, Mark Kasha, Jameson McDonald, Chasse Downing, Rhett Driskell, Tom Mikkelsen, Ryder Sharp, Layne Sand (MEG HAINES)

Despite graduating a talented group of seniors, the Panthers are back with another group ready to hold up the legacy of Creston baseball.

They will put this to the test today as they open the season at Carlisle. They open at home Tuesday with a doubleheader against Winterset.

The team is led by returning all-state pitcher Parker Varner, a senior who the team will look to as the go-to on the mound.

“Our rotation is really going to be led with Varner and then Tanner Ray and Tom Mikkelsen,” coach Brandon Phipps said. “I’m really excited for the junior Kal Barber as well. Between those four right there, I think they’re going to eat a lot of innings.”

Last season, Varner struck out 77 batters, the 11th most in the state. He had a team-low ERA of 1.52 and walked only 11 out of nearly 300 batters.

With strong seniors like Cael Turner and Dylan Hoepker on the mound, Mikkelsen, Ray and Barber didn’t get a ton of appearances last season, but they’re ready for their chance this year.

Though things could change as the season progresses, sophomore Mikkelsen will lead the way at catcher with freshman Brady McDonald stepping in when Mikkelsen is on the mound.

The infield is likely to see a starting lineup of senior Mattias Schultes at first, senior Tommy Sand on second, sophomore Ray at short stop and Varner on third. Freshman Landon Scherer is predicted to cover short stop when Ray pitches while senior Camden Smith will be the cover on third for Varner.

“A lot of them have experience; a lot of them are seniors,” Phipps said. “Infield-wise I feel pretty good about it.”

The Panthers are used to leaning on talented young players to fill out the lineup, and this year is no different.

“We have three newcomers, Brady McDonald, Logan Stehr and Landon Sherer, they’re just straight up baseball guys,” Phipps said. “They’ve put a lot of time in and really just committed to improving themselves. I’m excited to see them fill in a bit in some varsity roles.”

Sophomores looking to make a step up this year include Rhett Driskell at first, Cason Scarberry as a pitcher and Layne Sand as a pitcher.

Juniors to watch include Mark Kasha, Barber, Gabe Blazek, Chasse Downing and Jameson McDonald. Seth Gordon is new to the team as a junior and is expected to be help in the outfield. On the bases, the Panthers will rely on the state-qualifying sprinter to come in to run.

Expected outfield starters are senior Brayden Schoon in left field, senior Tyler Riley in centerfield and Kasha in right field.

Others to get outfield playing time include Barber, McDonald, Gordon and Blazek. Riley will bring the most outfield experience to this crew, though Schoon is expected to play a big role.

“The thing is, with Brayden, he’s had to be extremely patient,” Phipps said. “We’ve had the same outfield core for a few years. Brayden is an absolute freak athlete. I think everybody has found that out by now. He was a great athlete for us last year; he just got stuck in a tough spot like a lot of these seniors, just kind of having to be patient for their time.”

At the plate, Phipps is looking at seniors like Varner, Smith, Schoon and Mattias who have shown they can connect for big hits.

“One through nine I feel like we’ve got a lot of good sticks in the lineup,” Phipps said. “It’s just a matter of guys stepping up and being consistent. It’s all going to start with our senior core.”

The rough batting lineup up is Ray, Stehr, Mikkelsen, Schultes, Schoon, Varner and Smith at one through seven. Eight different batters will vie for the final two spots.

Creston opens Hawkeye 10 play next week with games at Harlan and Red Oak.

Last season, the Panthers tied for second in the conference. Though they graduated some talent, Phipps said many of the other schools did as well.

“The Hawkeye 10 is going to look completely different so I view it as wide open,” Phipps said. “I would say going into it on paper, LC is always at the top there. After that, it’s pretty wide open.”

Cheyenne Roche

CHEYENNE ROCHE

Originally from Wisconsin, Cheyenne has a journalism and political science degree from UW-Eau Claire and a passion for reading and learning. She lives in Creston with her husband and their two little dogs.