USSSA Iowa State Tournament Champions in the 13U AA division ...

The Northeast Iowa Mudd Puppies, a team of baseball players combining from several communities throughout northeast Iowa, played their way to a State Championship in the 2026 United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) Iowa State Tournament held in Cedar Rapids July 17-19. The team competed in the 13 and Under AA division of the tournament competition, sweeping through all six of its tournament games over a three-day period to win this year’s State Tournament crown.

Pictured at right, left to right, displaying their State Championship banner are this year’s team members listed here with the school they attend in parentheses. Front row: Jace Fisher (Central Elkader), Ty Deering (Postville); Second row: Gannen Fritz (MFL/MarMac), Keagan Sylvester (Central Elkader), Jeremiah Weighner (Waukon), Renik Martinez (Postville), Aleck Martinez (Postville), Keegan Sperfslage (Clayton Ridge); Third row: Jack Wallace (Prairie Du Chien, WI), Aiden Henderson (MFL/MarMac), Cade Hansel (Clayton Ridge), Mason Swatek (MFL/MarMac), Caleb Verdon (Kee); Back row: Coaches Jacob Schellhorn, Jaron Wille, Aaron Swatek, Kyle Sperfslage, Jeremy Schellhorn. Photo by Ben Kolbeck.

The team opened its USSSA Iowa State Tournament with a pair of victories Friday, July 17 by scores of 11-2 over the Des Moines Cubs and 14-4 over Heat 13U Gold out of Cedar Falls. Two more victories came Saturday, July 18, including a 10-2 win over Kennedy Cougars 13U White out of Cedar Rapids and a 5-4 victorious battle with Jr. Warriors 13U Blue out of Cedar Rapids. The Mudd Puppies finished off their championship effort with two more victories Sunday, July 19, defeating Quad City Heat 13U Black out of Davenport by a 10-2 final result and further claiming their championship crown with an 8-0 triumph over Jr. Warriors 13U Blue once again.

Many of the same players from this season’s team had also played together two seasons ago to win the 11 and Under A division of the USSSA Iowa State Tournament in 2024, also played in Cedar Rapids, to wrap up a 12-10 season record two summers ago. This season’s team has compiled a 12-8 mark following its sweep through that mid-July State Tournament.