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Meet the 2017 Star Tribune baseball All-Metro first team

By Ron Haggstrom, Star Tribune, 06/14/17, 5:15PM CDT

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See who made the second team.

All-metro first team

              

Sam Carlson, Metro Player of the Year

School: Burnsville | Year: Senior | Position: P/OF/1B | College: Florida

Metro Player of the Year is counted on to carry the Blaze, both with his arm and bat. Carlson is 5-1 with one save, 0.67 ERA, 76 strikeouts in 52 innings. Allowed only 31 hits. At the plate, Carlson has hit seven home runs and is batting .493. “He is truly a leader,” Blaze coach Mick Scholl said.

Read Ron Haggstrom's feature on the Blaze senior.


Seth Halvorsen

School: Heritage Christian | Year: Junior | Position: SS/P | College: Missouri

A terrifying hitter who also can be overpowering on the mound. “A true five-tool player,” Eagles coach Jon Ledeboer said. “Seth loves to face the highest competition.” Batted .488 with a slugging percentage of .963. On the mound, struck out 112 batters in 54⅔ innings.

 

 


Jack Kelly

School: St. Michael-Albertville | Year: Senior | Position: C | College: Northwestern

One of the state’s best signal callers and power hitters. Batted .407 with 24 of his 35 hits going for extra bases. Had seven doubles, 12 triples and five home runs while driving in 41 runs. “When we needed a big hit from him, he came through,” Knights coach Paul Schumm said.

 

 


Sam Riola

School: Blaine | Year: Senior | Position: P/SS | College: Bethel

The Bengals’ success went hand-in-hand with Riola’s development. Went 8-1 with one save and a 0.99 ERA. Also led the team in runs scored. “On the mound, in the field, Sam is a big reason we were able to get to 19 wins,” Bengals coach Eric Feigum said.

 


Jimmy Ramsey

School: Minnetonka | Year: Senior | Position: OF/P | College: Oregon

Bounced back from a sub-par junior year to have a spectacular senior season. The 6-7 Ramsey batted .500 with seven home runs and 27 RBI. As a pitcher, went 3-2 with one save and a 1.37 ERA. “He had a great season at the plate because of his discipline,” Skippers coach Paul Twenge said.

 

 


Trent Palmer

School: Anoka | Year: Senior | Position: P/SS | College: Jacksonville

“Trent does things on the mound that are mind-boggling, and his numbers back it,” Tornadoes coach Shannon Blansette said. Went 5-2 with one save, ERA of 1.12. Struck out a school record 84 batters, including at least a dozen in a game three times, in 50⅓ innings.

 


Max Meyer

School: Woodbury | Year: Senior | Position: P/SS  | College: Minnesota

“Max can an impact the game in all facets, with his defense at shortstop, his pitching on the mound, and his bat at the plate,” Royals coach Kevin McDermott said. “He is flat-out a winner.” Meyer is 9-1 with one save and a 0.77 ERA with 102 strikeouts in 72 innings, also hitting .433.

 


Cameron Kline

School: Forest Lake | Year: Senior | Position: P/OF | College: MSU, Mankato

Like his team, Kline has flown under the radar. Not only an outstanding pitcher, but also a solid outfielder and hitter. Posted an 8-1 record, 0.84 ERA. “He has the ability to rise to the occasion and pitch well in big games,” Rangers coach Tal Gravelle said. “He understands how to compete.”

 


Will Oberg

School: Wayzata | Year: Senior | Position: P/1B | College: Undecided

Oberg is 7-1 on the mound with a 1.07 ERA and has hit five home runs at the plate. “He’s been an anchor to our lineup and has come through in the clutch on a routine basis,” Wayzata coach Bobby DeWitt said. “His pitching this year has been phenomenal.” 

 


All-Metro second team

         

COLE ALBERS

School: Champlin Park  |  Grade: Sr.  |  Position: SS/P | College: South Carolina-Upstate.

Smooth in the field, prides himself on defense. 

 

WILL FRISCH

School: Stillwater  |  Grade: Soph.  |  Position: P/3B | College: Undecided

Burst onto the scene with hard fastball for Class 4A, No. 1 Ponies. 

 

MAX GAMM

School: East Ridge  |  Grade: Sr.  |  Position: SS | College: Nebraska-Omaha

A contact hitter with a very strong arm.

 

NICK JUAIRE

School: Lakeville North  |  Grade: Jr.  |  Position: C | College: TCU

Switch-hitter is solid defensively with an outstanding arm.

 

DANNY KAPALA

School: Eastview  |  Grade: Sr.  |  Position: P/1B | College: Minnesota

Posted 6-1 record with one save, 1.45 ERA. 

 

GRIFFIN LANOUE

School: Rosemount  |  Grade: Sr.  |  Position: P/SS | College: Xavier

Had a winning record on the mound despite lack of run support. 

 

ALEX LOGELIN

School: Waconia  |  Grade: Sr.  |  Position: C |  College: Wayne State

Hit .410 with zero strikeouts, caught 57 percent of base stealers. 

 

RON SWEENY III

School: Woodbury  |  Grade: Sr.  |  Position: 1B | College: Iowa Western

Power hitter (six home runs) to go with a .380 average. 

 

SAM THORESEN

School: Minnetonka  |  Grade: Sr.  |  Position: P | College: Minnesota

Skippers’ staff ace went 5-1 with a 1.64 ERA


The MN Baseball Hub poll is based on opinion and for entertainment purposes only.


How the team was chosen

The all-metro teams and player of the year were chosen based on nominations from metro area coaches, conversations with coaches and staff observations.


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