First team:

Aaron Klatt, Junior, Albert Lea; co-player of 2010:

Klatt led the Tigers in both major hitting and pitching categories and was one of the top players in the Big Nine Conference. He had a team-high .387 batting average and also led the team in strikeouts and inning pitched, striking out 65 batters in 54 1/3 innings this season.

At the plate, Klatt had 12 RBIs and one home run to go along with five stolen bases in five attempts. He was just as consistent on the mound, going 6-3 with a 2.32 ERA.

In addition to All-Area, Klatt was selected Big Nine All-Conference and voted team Most Valuable Player.

Nick Fure, Senior, USC; co-player of 2010:

Always competing at a high level, Fure batted .431 with 4 home runs and 27 RBIs this season.

He was the Rebel’s top pitcher, going 4-4, with all four loses credited after the fifth inning of the game.

Fure threw for 63 strikeouts in 54 innings and held opposing batters to a .221 batting average.

As team co-captain, Fure led the Rebels to a co-conference championship and Southern Division championship in the Gopher Conference.

He will play Century College in White Bear Lake next year.

Jordan Mondeel, Senior, Albert Lea:

Batting leadoff for the Tigers the past two years, Mondeel catalyzed the team’s offense this season with a .373 batting average, .525 on base percentage and scoring a team high 22 runs.

He had four doubles, three triples and stole a team high nine bases in 10 attempts.

He was a solid left fielder, committing only one fielder error the entire season.

Mondeel was named to the Lion’s All-Star team and voted Big Nine All-Conference.

Connor Kortan, Junior, Albert Lea:

An offensive force, Kortan was near the top of the team in every major hitting category this season. As the team’s catcher, he batted in the middle of the order and was a clutch hitter.

His .379 batting average, paired with 12 walks and only three strikeouts, led him to a team-high .529 on base percentage. Eight of Kortan’s 22 hits went for extra bases and he finished the season with 17 RBIs.

Kortan was Big Nine All-Conference this season.

A.J. Dreyer, Senior, USC:

A big presence on the mound and behind the plate, Dreyer hit .392 with eight doubles and four home runs this season and led the team with 33 RBIs.

With a big arm, Dreyer threw out eight of 11 base runners attempting to steal, including four in one game and did a good job calling games.

As a pitcher, Dreyer went 4-3 with a 1.83 ERA in 46 innings.

He was a co-captain this season and a three year varsity starter. He will join Nick Fure next season and attend Century College in White Bear Lake.

Dustin Dylla, Junior, USC:

As the Rebels’ center fielder, Dylla had a strong arm and got good reads on balls hit to him.

An aggressive fielder, Dylla rarely went home with a clean uniform, playing hard in the field and on the bases.

He had a .377 batting average with 20 RBIs and struck out only six times in 61 at bats, leading to a .493 on base percentage.

On the mound, Dylla was 3-0 and took two no-hitters into the seventh inning. He ended up throwing two-hitters in both of those games.

Jon Mittag, Senior, Glenville-Emmons:

Mittag paired with Tyler Woodside (second team All-Area) to form a dominant pitching duo.

In 47 innings, Mittag struck out 76 while walking just 16. He was 5-2 with a 1.49 ERA.

Offensively, Mittag had the second highest batting average on the team, hitting .417. He led the team with six doubles, 17 RBIs and struck out only three times, leading to an impressive .558 on base percentage.

Mittag was also an impressive fielder, committing no errors with 71 putouts and nine assists.

Chris Throne, Senior, Lake Mills:

Throne has given opposing pitchers nightmares this season, hitting .456 and slugging an incredible .860.

He’s hit five home runs to go along with four doubles and two triples so far this season, and has batted in 23 runs.

Throne is a clutch batter who has hit a grand slam this season.

Also leading the team’s pitching staff, Throne has posted a 2.16 ERA in 35 2/3 innings. He has struck out 52 batters in seven starts while walking only 13.

Levi Dahle, Junior, Lake Mills:

Batting after Chris Throne in the Bulldogs’ lineup, Dahle has been a consistent bat all season.

With a .421 batting average, Dahle leads the team in RBIs with 24 and has two extra base hits.

He is second on the team in hits and third in runs scored with with 24 and 23, respectively.

In 26 1/3 innings this season, Dahle has a 2.92 ERA and batters are hitting only .176 against him.

Dahle has struck out 34 batters to 16 walks.

He led the Lake Mills Bulldogs to an impressive start to the 2010 season. The Bulldogs were 14-3 through 17 games this season and in second place in the North Iowa Conference.

Second team:

Cole Sorenson, Junior, Albert Lea:

An excellent outfielder and pitcher, Sorenson led the Tigers in many facets this season.

He batted .267 and led the team in both RBIs with 21 and doubles with nine; he also had two triples and a home run.

In 36 2/3 innings on the hill, Sorenson led the Tigers’ staff with a team low 2.10 ERA. He threw for 36 strikeouts with 14 walks and had the team’s lone save this season.

Coach Joe Sczublewski looks for Sorenson to be one of the best players in the Big Nine next season, a conference he’s already been named Honorable Mention in.

Colby Strilaeff, Senior, Albert Lea:

After being named to the Tribune’s All-Area second team last season due to his pitching abilities, Strilaeff is back on the team this year, but for his bat.

Voted the team’s most improved player, Strilaeff made strides this year at the plate.

With a .346 batting average and .450 on base percentage, he knocked in 12 runs, had five doubles and a home run.

Strilaeff threw 16 1/3 innings this season with a 4.72 ERA. He struck out 17 batters and walked seven.

Luke Grossman, Senior, Albert Lea:

Grossman played multiple positions this season, depending on who was pitching and had a breakthrough year at the plate.

Grossman led Albert Lea in at bats with 71, and took advantage of his time at the plate, hitting .310 with 15 RBIs and 15 runs scored.

He had four doubles, a triple and a home run, while stealing three bases in four attempts.

Grossman was named Big Nine Honorable Mention this season.

Carter Kortan, Junior, Albert Lea:

As the Tigers’ shortstop this season, Kortan was known throughout the Big Nine as an excellent defensive player and received enough notice through his glove to be named Big Nine Honorable Mention.

Kortan batted .240 this season, with his average tailing off towards the end of the season, but scored 12 runs and stole four bases in six attempts.

He had nine RBIs with one double and had an on base percentage .351.

Tyler Woodside, Junior, Glenville-Emmons:

One of the top pitchers in the area, Woodside had an outstanding .90 ERA to go along with a 2-3 record in which he lost all three games in the bottom half of the ninth inning.

In 39 innings, Woodside struck out 38 batters and walked only 5 while giving up just 21 hits.

Offensively, Woodside was solid, batting .333 with four doubles, a triple and a home run.

He was second on the team with 14 RBIs and had an on base percentae of .426.

Spencer Kral, Junior, Glenville-Emmons:

Kral was Glenville-Emmons’ offensive leader this season, finishing first on the team in batting average and home runs.

He had a .438 batting average with two home runs. He was third on the team with 12 RBIs and was the Wolverines’ top base stealer with nine. Kral also had four doubles and a triple.

Kral also did some work on the mound, pitching 18 1/3 innings in four appearances.

He struck out 21 batters while walking nine and finished the season with a 2-2 record.

Drey LyBarger, Junior, Lake Mills:

As the Bulldogs’ catcher, LyBarger always gave opposing base runners trouble with his quick release and ability to throw out base stealers. He also kept pitches in front of the plate, keeping runners from advancing bases on passed balls.

Offensively, LyBarger hit .311 with four doubles, a triple and a home run. He stole five bases and walked nine times.

Pitching in 23 1/3 innings, LyBarger had a 1.50 ERA and struck out 33 batters. His opponents batting average was an unprecidented .089.

Brett Hagen, Senior, NRHEG:

Hagen was the Panthers’ leader at the plate and on the mound this season, finishing with the team’s most RBIs and lowest ERA.

Offensively, Hagen batted .350 with 11 RBIs, five doubles and nine stolen bases.

On the mound, Hagen was 2-3, with a 3.84 ERA in 31 innings. He struck out 37 batters while walking 15 and threw three complete games.

Hagen was one of the most durable players on the Panther roster, playing in all but one game. He was second on the team in at bats and second in runs scored with 11.

Derick Varner, Senior, Northwood-Kensett:

Through 13 games this season, Northwood-Kensett’s Varner is hitting .610 with 25 hits in 41 at bats.

Varner led the team with 24 runs, six doubles and a triple. He was also second on the team with eight RBIs.

Varner had a .619 on base percentage and a .805 slugging percentage.

He leads the Gopher Conference in on base percentage, slugging percentage, and batting average.