Apr. 5—High school baseball season is here again, and it's shaping up to be another eventful year.
Below are 10 southeastern Minnesota players to keep an eye on this season, most of whom are talented Division I or D-II baseball commits.
The senior Division I Creighton University commit is already off to a solid start this season after helping Lyle/Austin Pacelli take down Mabel-Canton in the season opener. The shortstop/pitcher went 3-for-4 at the plate and struck out 10 in five hitless innings. Last season, VaDeer earned All-State, All-Section 1-1A and All-Southeast Conference honors and helped the Athletics win a second straight Section 1, Class 1A title followed by a sixth-place finish at state. He was 9-1 with a 1.64 ERA as a pitcher with 134 strikeouts in 59 2/3 innings. He batted .462 with 5 doubles, 3 triples, 5 home runs, 33 RBIs, 33 runs scored and 18 steals.
The senior Division II Upper Iowa University commit received All-HVL honors last season. Klug, a third base/outfield/pitcher, batted .522 and had a 1.273 OPS with a double, 4 triples, 16 RBIs, 24 runs scored and 17 steals. He went 2-2 on the mound with three saves and a 1.33 ERA in 31 innings. He will make an impact for the Tigers again this season, who are set to play their first game against John Marshall on Saturday, April 5.
The senior pitcher/outfielder batted .342 with a .484 OBP, 20 RBIs, 24 runs scored and a home run. He went 5-2 on the mound with a 1.30 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 48 1/3 innings. Week earned All-Hiawatha Valley League and All-Section 1-2A honors last season. He is committed to Division I South Dakota State University. He will be an asset to the Panthers who play their first game on Thursday, April 3.
The junior outfielder/pitcher is a D-I University of Minnesota commit who helped the Cougars to a Section 1-2A title and a sixth-place state finish last season. Ohm, who was an All-HVL selection, finished 9-1 on the mound with a 2.21 ERA and had 101 strikeouts in 50 2/3 innings pitched. He also notched a .297 batting average with a .783 OPS, 3 doubles, 3 RBIs and 10 runs scored.
The senior pitcher/shortstop recorded 11 strikeouts through five innings pitched for Cannon Falls against Dover-Eyota on Thursday, March 27. Meyers helped get the Bombers to the Section 1-2A finals, where they were runner-up in 2024. He posted a 7-4 record with a 2.54 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 69 innings pitched. He batted .326 with 3 home runs, 11 doubles, 24 RBIs and a .402 on-base percentage.
The senior center fielder is committed to Division I University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. Welke moved from shortstop to centerfield last season and eventually batted .377 with a 1.134 OPS, 6 doubles, a triple, 2 home runs, 17 RBIs, 15 runs and 11 steals. He was All-Three Rivers and All-Section 1-2A.
The senior catcher is committed to D-I Creighton University. Bowron was named the Eagles' Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year as a junior and secured All-HVL and All-Section 1-2A honors. He hit .443 with a 1.45 OPS and had 11 doubles, 2 triples, 5 home runs, 21 RBIs and 21 runs scored. Bowron also drew 20 walks in 92 plate appearances.
The senior catcher/infield/pitcher batted .373 with a .469 OBP in 2024. Sems hit 7 doubles, 3 triples, 3 home runs with 27 RBIs and 21 scored. He earned All-HVL and All-Section 1-2A accolades as a junior. He also went 2-0 on the mound with a save and 2.80 ERA in 15 innings.
Bermea, a senior first baseman/pitcher, was runner-up for the All-Gopher Conference Player of the Year last season. As a junior, he recorded a .438 batting average, with a .523 OPS, 8 doubles, 1 home run, 33 RBIs and 11 runs scored. As a pitcher, he was 5-2 with one save and a 2.59 ERA and had 35 strikeouts in 43 innings.
The junior pitcher is committed to D-I University of St. Thomas. ...
