Kiekhafer, Prince finish off careers on ball diamond

Just a pair of baseball players from the 2014 graduating class from Colfax ended their high school careers on the ball diamond this year, including four year letter winner Ethin Kiekhafer and one year letter winner Nolan Prince.

Kiekhafer became a starter his freshman year and stayed in the lineup somewhere the next three years. When he wasn’t pitching his first three years he spent most of his time at first base but as a senior he could be found on the pitcher’s mound, second or third base and even the outfield. On the offensive side of the ball, he collected 65 career hits in 58 games with 13 doubles and one round tripper, scored 43 times, brought in 34 runs and swiped 10 bases. His batting average steadily improved from his freshman year at .275 to .431 as a senior which was second highest for the team. In 18 games his senior year, Kiekhafer banged 25 hits including five doubles, drew six walks, knocked in nine runs, crossed home plate 16 times and stole four bases. From the pitcher’s mound, he compiled a four year record of 9-9 with 114 innings thrown, earning two saves with 84 strikeouts and 73 walks. As a senior he pitched 48 innings and finished 4-3 in 10 games with one save, 38 Ks and 23 free passes with a .394 earned run average. The Vikings record improved from 3-15 his freshman year to 8-8 his sophomore year, 7-6 as a junior and 8-10 this season. Their conference record in the four years was 18-28. He was a three time All Conference selection, Second Team as a sophomore and First Team his junior and senior years.

“Ethin is just a good all around athlete and he has good baseball sense,” coach Tim Wilson said. “He was willing to play anywhere we asked him to as long as he could help the team. You don’t see a lot of four year players like him who can make an impact from both sides of the plate,” he added.

Prince worked his way up from the junior varsity level and played first base and was a designated hitter this year. In 11 games, he collected seven hits with one double and one RBI and could always be heard encouraging the rest of the team.

“Nolan battled some obstacles the last few seasons but I am proud he stuck it out and played this year,” Wilson said. “He started hitting the ball well at the end of the season and had some key hits for the team.”