CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The American Rivers Conference released its 2024 All-Conference baseball teams on Wednesday, May 15 with six different Knights receiving either first team, second team or honorable mention honors.
The Knights had three players named to this season's first team with
Keaton Gray at third base,
Cael Boehmer at pitcher and
Zach Walton as an at-large honoree.
Eliot Jurgensen was named a second-team selection as an outfielder. Both
Joey Ciero and
Max Hansen were named honorable mentions as a starting pitcher and a relief pitcher respectively. Three first-team honorees marks the most for Wartburg baseball since the 2017 season.
The first team All-Conference honor marks back-to-back seasons earning a first-team selection for Gray. The senior third baseman played in and started all 42 games this season and led the Knights in batting average (.365), hits (66) and stolen bases (23). Gray added 11 doubles, three triples, three home runs and a total of 26 RBI out of the lead off spot. Gray's batting average is eighth best in the A-R-C, his 66 hits rank sixth in the A-R-C and his 23 steals is tied for second among A-R-C players.
Boehmer has earned first team All-Conference honors after being named to the second team a season ago. The fifth-year senior started in all 11 of his appearances on the mound this season as he led the Knights pitching staff in ERA (2.31), innings pitched (62.1), wins (six) and strikeouts (75). Boehmer allowed just one home run all season as well as an opposing batting average of just .193. The Lake Mills native ranks second in the A-R-C in ERA, fourth in batting average allowed, ninth in innings pitched and sixth in strikeouts among all A-R-C pitchers.
After being named to the second team for the past two seasons, Walton earned a first-team selection in 2024. The senior first baseman led Wartburg's offense in doubles (12), home runs (nine), RBI (45), OPS (1.131) and walks drawn (37). Walton also hit for an average of .342, recorded a team best on-base percentage of .493 and started the season with a reached base streak of 32 games. Walton led the A-R-C in walks drawn, is tied for second in home runs, tied for fifth in RBI and third in on-base percentage.
Jurgensen has now earned second-team honors in back-to-back seasons for the Knights. The junior center fielder set the single-season record for triples at Wartburg with nine this season, which leads all A-R-C hitters by three. The Ames, Iowa native ranked second or third for Wartburg in batting average (.343), hits (61), doubles (nine), home runs (seven), RBI (43), OPS (1.029) and stolen bases (14). Jurgensen also ranks top ten in OPS, stolen bases, home runs, runs scored and hits among the A-R-C.
Ciero earned his first All-Conference honor with an honorable mention nod. The fifth-year pitcher started all 10 of his appearances on the mound this season. The Glenn Ellyn, Ill. native put together a perfect 4-0 record in decisions this season and was a part of two combined shutouts. Ciero ranked second in innings pitched (59.0), wins (four) and strikeouts (50) for the Knights in 2024.
Hansen also earned his first All-Conference honor after being named an honorable mention. The Grand Mound, Iowa native was key piece of the Wartburg bullpen this season with 16 appearances and two starts. The fifth-year senior went 3-3 in decisions after pitching 33 innings and recording an ERA of 2.97, a batting average allowed of .242 and 28 strikeouts.
