Okoboji's Zalabowski named to INA All-State baseball squad

Okoboji right-hander Ray Zalabowski powers a strike towards the plate during a 17-strikeout performance Wednesday, May 27 against West Lyon. Zalabowski struck out 17 batters on two different occasions this season, including a 2-1 win over the Wildcats. [Order this photo]

Zalabowski, a right-handed pitcher/utility player, was the lone representative from the Dickinson County News' coverage area among this year's INA All-State selections, which were chosen by a panel of sports writers for all four classes. The writers tabbed Joey Flattery of Fort Dodge St. Edmond as the 2A Captain. Other captains included Stanford University recruit Dean McArdle of Sioux City North (4A), Matt Dermody of Norwalk (3A) and Jordan Adams of Mason City Newman (1A).

Flattery was selected the 2A captain. Flattery started the state championship game and yielded three earned runs in 5 1/3 innings to lead the Gaels to their first state title. Flattery, an Iowa Central recruit, threw his second victory of the tournament to finish with an 11-0 record. A second team selection in 2008, Flattery capped a stellar senior season slugging seven home runs with 33 runs batted in while hitting .517. In the regular season, he struck out 116 batters and allowed less than one run per game with a 0.98 earned run average.

Zalabowski, a Pioneer pitching ace that also split time at center field and first base was selected as a second team outfielder by the INA. He made a name for himself on a statewide platform last season at Principal Park with a brilliant pitching performance in a quarterfinal round contest against top-ranked and eventual state runner-up Cherokee. This season, Zalabowski showcased one of the best arms in the Siouxland Conference and proved to be a in a class with the best pitchers in the state. Zalabowski led the conference and finished eighth in Class 2A with 110 strikeouts. He placed fourth in 2A with a 12.6 strikeouts per seven innings pitched average. Scott Benson of Gladbrook-Reinbeck (13.3), Ben Bergman of Solon (13.1) and Flattery (12.7) were the only three players to strike out more batters per contest with a minimum of 50 innings pitched.

Zalabowski ended up first in the league in innings pitched (61), third in ERA (1.38), second in WHIP (0.70) and third in batting average allowed (.150). He also walked only nine batters and beamed just three. The flame thrower finished 7-1 with four saves in 14 appearances. He also tossed four complete games and two shutouts, striking out 17 batters on two separate occasions against Siouxland foes West Lyon and Sioux Center.

The junior slugger was second on he team with a .434 batting average and .472 on-base percentage. He had team-highs in hits (36), runs batted in (26) and doubles (6). Zalabowski scored 10 runs and belted one triple and two home runs as well.

Okoboji finished the season with a 17-9 record.

2009 INA All-State Baseball Teams

Class 4A

First Team

Pitcher -- Dean McArdle, Sr., Sioux City North

Pitcher -- Jimmy Six, Sr., Marshalltown

Pitcher -- Ryan Torgerson, Sr., Johnston

Catcher -- Spencer Navin, Jr., West Des Moines Dowling Catholic

First Base -- Billy Dittmer, Sr., North Scott, Eldridge

Infield -- Chad Christensen, Sr., Cedar Rapids Washington

Infield -- Damek Tomscha, Jr., Sioux City North

Infield -- Kellen Sweeney, Jr., Cedar Rapids Jefferson

Outfield -- Greg Larpenter, Sr., Johnston

Outfield -- Josh DeBoer, Sr., Iowa City, West

Outfield -- Eric Toole, Soph., Council Bluffs Lewis Central

Utility -- Jonathan Musser, Jr., West Des MoinesDowling Catholic

Utility -- Scott Schebler, Sr., Cedar Rapids Prairie

Second Team

Pitcher -- Dakota Freese, Soph., Cedar Rapids Washington

Pitcher -- Ricky Sandquist, Sr., Fort Dodge

Pitcher -- Austin Christensen, Soph., Cedar Rapids Kennedy

Catcher -- Trevor Kenyon, Jr., Davenport Central

First Base -- TJ Flanagan, Sr., Marshalltown

Infield -- Jonathan Nelson, Sr., Johnston

Infield -- Sean Moore, Jr., Iowa City West

Infield -- Connor McClain, Jr., Waterloo West

Outfield -- Eddy Diosdado, Sr., Fort Dodge

Outfield -- Tyler Gustafson, Sr., Burlington

Outfield -- Britt Anderson, Jr., Sioux City East

Utility -- Jake Peter, Soph., Mason City

Utility -- Mitch Overstreet, Sr., Bettendorf

Third Team

Pitcher -- Eric McGlauflin, Jr., Sioux City North

Pitcher -- Dan Behmer, Sr., Ankeny

Pitcher -- Willie Dodds, Sr., Davenport West

Catcher -- Shaun Miller, Sr., Johnston

First Base -- Josh Otten, Sr., West Des Moines Dowling Catholic

Infield -- Jared Barth, Sr., Sioux City East

Infield -- Ben Sigmund, Jr., Des Moines East

Infield -- Jake Mangler, Jr., Clinton

Outfield -- Nick Tillo, Sr., Sioux City North

Outfield -- Alex Ausenhus, Sr., Mason City

Outfield -- Jeff Woody, Sr., Southeast Polk

Utility -- Brad Lamberti, Sr., Southeast Polk

Utility Brendon Fifer, Sr., West Des Moines Valley

Class 3A

First Team

Pitcher -- Matt Dermody, Sr., Norwalk

Pitcher -- Blane Reutter, Jr., Boone

Pitcher -- Ethan Brown, Sr., Benton Community

Catcher -- Mikey Hinrichs, Sr., Carlisle

First Base -- Tyler Lefeber, Sr., Harlan

Infield -- Cody VanNess, Sr., Denison-Schleswig

Infield -- Jordan Huffman, Sr., Sergeant Bluff-Luton

Infield -- Greg Oldsen, Sr., Central Clinton, DeWitt

Outfield -- Mike Eckhart, Sr., Boone

Outfield -- Jared McIntosh, Sr., Davenport Assumption

Outfield -- Andy Briggs, Sr., Waverly-Shell Rock

Utility -- Tyler Candor, Sr., LMars

Utility -- Jordan Kaiser, Sr., Benton Community

Second Team

Pitcher -- Adam Feller, Sr., Charles City

Pitcher -- Josh Frank, Sr., Boone

Pitcher -- Derek Dunn, Jr., Carlisle

Catcher -- Tony Pertzborn, Sr., Storm Lake

First Base -- Nathan Bruck, Sr., Denison-Schleswig

Infield -- Dan Marshall, Sr., West Delaware

Infield -- Matt Kastli, Jr., Oelwein

Infield -- Tyler Smith, Jr., Decorah

Outfield -- Sam Stetzel, Sr., Perry

Outfield -- Jordan Rewerts, Sr., Waverly-Shell Rock

Outfield -- Jon De Haan, Sr., MOC-Floyd Valley

Utility -- Mitch Gotto, Sr., Western Dubuque, Epworth

Utility -- Danny Lee, Sr., Knoxville

Third Team

Pitcher -- Bobby Sievert, Sr., Harlan

Pitcher -- Kole Klocko, Jr., Norwalk

Pitcher -- Brandon Scherff, Jr., Denison-Schleswig

Catcher -- Tony Stenberg, Sr., Benton Community

First Base -- Henry Kreiger-Coble, Soph., Mount Pleasant

Infield -- Tanner Meyer, Sr., Western Dubuque, Epworth

Infield -- Michael Kaufmann, Jr., Harlan

Infield -- Josh Becker, Sr., Charles City

Outfield -- Taylor Kaufman, Soph., Glenwood

Outfield -- Jordan McCoy, Jr., Centerville

Outfield -- Tanner Weigel, Sr., New Hampton

Utility -- Taylor Petersen, Jr., Atlantic

Utility -- Jake Dunbar, Jr., Fairfield

Class 2A

First Team

Pitcher -- Cody Ege, Jr., Cherokee

Pitcher -- Joey Flattery, Sr., Fort Dodge St. Edmond

Pitcher -- Scott Benson, Sr., Gladbrook-Reinbeck

Catcher -- Sean Urzendowski, Sr., Council Bluffs St. Albert

First Base -- Joe Disney, Sr., West Marshall

Infield -- Matt Koch, Sr., Cherokee

Infield -- Taylor Zeutenhorst, Jr., Sheldon

Infield -- Jordan Howe, Sr., Northeast Goose Lake

Outfield -- Cody Strang, Sr., Solon

Outfield -- Nolan Nuss, Sr., Sumner-Fredericksburg

Outfield -- Jon Flattery, Sr., Fort Dodge St. Edmond

Utility -- Ben Bergman, Sr., Solon

Utility -- Kyle Moses, Sr., St. Ansgar

Second Team

Pitcher -- Drew Freie, Sr., Wilton

Pitcher -- Eric DeSousa, Jr., Dyersville Beckman

Pitcher -- Joe Goodman, Soph., Gilbert

Catcher -- Logan Cimmiyotti, Sr., St. Ansgar

First Base -- Dallas Hendrikson, Sr., St. Ansgar

Infield -- Dillion Wickett, Jr., Interstate-35

Infield -- Wade Morris, Sr., BCLUW

Infield -- Jake Waters, Jr., Council Bluffs St. Albert

Outfield -- Ray Zalabowski, Jr., Okoboji

Outfield -- Andrew Kraus, Sr., Starmont

Outfield -- Jordan Ries, Sr., Bellevue

Utility -- Drew McDonough, Sr., East Sac County

Utility -- John Engler, Sr., Fort Dodge St. Edmond

Third Team

Pitcher -- Jake McGruder, Sr., Council Bluffs. St. Albert

Pitcher -- Marcus Heemstra, Jr., Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley

Pitcher -- Blake Brommel, Jr., Interstate-35

Catcher -- Gabe Wingert, Jr., Westwood

First Base -- Drew Yoder, Sr., Mid-Prairie

Infield -- Ben Weeks, Sr., Solon

Infield -- Isaac Willenbring, Jr., Dyersville Beckman

Infield -- Clayton Michael, Sr., Logan-Magnolia

Outfield -- Andrew Brown, Jr., Council Bluffs St. Albert

Outfield -- Josh Arment, Jr., Des Moines Christian

Outfield -- Dustin Guihan, Sr., West Burlington

Utility -- Matt McCollough, Sr., Cascade

Utility -- Mitch Schmitt, Jr., Sumner-Fredericksburg

Class 1A

First Team

Pitcher -- Jacob Lehnhoff, Sr., Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn

Pitcher -- Ethan Westphal, Soph., Lenox

Pitcher -- Tom Kerndt, Sr., Kee, Lansing

Catcher -- Jordan Adams, Sr., Mason City Newman Catholic

First Base -- Jarek Sefrit, Sr., Bedford

Infield -- Ryan Powers, Jr., Calamus-Wheatland

Infield -- Jeremy Lambert, Sr., Alta

Infield -- Jake McCulley, Sr., North Mahaska

Outfield -- Brendon Boerm, Soph., North Tama

Outfield -- Reggie Kock, Sr., Ar-We-Va

Outfield -- Thomas Weber, Sr., Mason City Newman Catholic

Utility -- Brad Denning, Sr., Northern University

Utility -- Kyle McCann, Sr., Mason City Newman Catholic

Seocnd Team

Pitcher -- Jordan Hohensee, Jr., BGM, Brooklyn

Pitcher -- Austin Stille, Sr., Alta

Pitcher -- Carson Smith, Jr., Elk Horn-Kimballton

Catcher -- Collin Frampton, Sr., Don Bosco

First Base -- Danny Hershberger, Sr., Iowa Mennonite

Infield -- Cole Welter, Jr., Don Bosco

Infield -- Bo Murley, Sr., Janesville

Infield -- Dillon Coates, Soph., Martensdale-St. Mary's

Outfield -- Bryce Deeth, Sr., Coon Rapids-Bayard

Outfield -- Cole Park, Sr., Bedford

Outfield -- Klayton Breitbach, Sr., Don Bosco, Gilbertville

Utility -- Alex Whigham, Jr., Stanton

Utility -- Jeff Gacke, Sr., Central Lyon

Third Team

Pitcher -- Jordan Gacke, Sr., Central Lyon

Pitcher -- Josh Krueger, Sr., Adair-Casey

Pitcher -- Jake Hugen, Sr., Twin Cedars, Bussey

Catcher -- Tyler Peterson, Sr., Lenox

First Base -- Cory Becker, Sr., Don Bosco

Infield -- Tyler Pawletzki, Sr., Ar-We-Va

Infield -- Jesse Ney, Sr., Iowa Mennonite

Infield -- John Lewarke, Sr., Mason City Newman Catholic

Outfield -- Josh Van Wyk, Sr., Lynnville-Sully

Outfield -- Jack Mills, Sr., Alta

Outfield -- Kyle Pinegar, Sr., Twin Cedars, Bussey

Utility -- Alex Yancey, Sr., Lisbon

Utility -- Jacob Edmundson, Sr., Tri-County, Thornburg