The 2024 high school baseball season saw the Algona Bulldogs start to realize their potential. From 2017-2023, the Bulldogs played close to .500 baseball each season, with a combined record of 83-90 over those seven seasons. In 2024, Algona rose to a new level by compiling a 26-8 record, fueled by a 17 game win streak that spanned from June 3rd until finally losing on July 1st. The Bulldogs captured their first 20 win season since 2016, first North Central Conference title since 2014 with a 13-1 mark in conference games, and nearly punched their ticket to the class 3A state tournament before a 3-0 lead against eventual state champion North Polk slipped away in the late innings of the substate game. Now, in 2025, Algona is looking to finish the job and take the next step.
The optimism for the 2025 edition of the Bulldogs starts on the pitching mound, where a big three of pitchers who all threw over 55 innings with 77+ strikeouts in 2024 return to the bump.
Iowa Hawkeye commit Tate Slagle pitched his way to a record of 8-0 with a 0.99 era along with 106 strikeouts and 35 walks last season in 56.1 innings. Slagle’s 106 K’s were the second most in class 3A last season, something Head Coach Chad Slagle credits to his elite velocity.
Opponents hit .057 against Slagle, the best average against in class 3A. Fellow senior Aiden Ulrich finished last season with a 7-2 record and 1.91 ERA, with 77 strikeouts compared to 36 walks in 55 innings.
Junior Tate Garman proved to be a huge addition to the pitching staff last season, appearing in a team-leading 17 games. In 56 innings, Garman struck out 85 batters and walked 32, while compiling a 2.75 ERA and 7-5 record.
Junior Wes Streit also adds depth to an area of strength for the Bulldogs, appearing in 10 games and pitching 23.2 innings to the tune of a 2.66 ERA last season.
Slagle believes the way Algona handles their pitching staff early in the season will be important to making sure the staff is healthy at the end of the season.
Positionally, Algona saw three regular starters in the batting order graduate from last year’s team, with first baseman Logan Lentz, second baseman Daniel Kemna, and third baseman Reid Louwagie. According to Slagle, Algona has given lots of people looks on the infield over the offseason in the battles for those positions. Players like Ryan Weier, Brooks Kuhlmann, Landon Campe, Owen Moe, Foster Myhre, Sam Schutjer, and Tate Carter are possible candidates to see increases in playing time, or a new role on varsity. Slagle also mentioned the possibility of last year’s primary designated hitter Mason Ulrich seeing regular time at first base.
In the batting order, Aiden Ulrich and Tate Slagle will look to continue to do damage in the middle, as those two are the returning RBI leaders in class 3A. Slagle batted .481 with 7 homers and 45 RBI last season along with a .621 on base percentage, and was disruptive on the basepaths with 31 steals in 33 attempts. Ulrich delivered a .445 batting average with 4 home runs and 45 runs knocked in with a .580 on base percentage.
Sophomore Dawson Elsbecker proved to be a breakout player for Algona during last year’s freshman campaign, rounding out the batting order with a .302 mark and a .483 on base percentage. Garman is also one of Algona’s four returning .300 hitters. batting .333 with 2 homers and 24 runs batted in last season, plus 28 steals in 30 attempts.
Another aspect of the 2025 season will be the new schedule employed by the North Central Conference, which will feature doubleheaders for conference games. Slagle believes the new schedule format will improve the strength of the league, as teams will be able to deploy their top pitchers with less worrying about saving them for other games.
More doubleheaders also means more days off throughout the rest of the week. The practice time gained with this change will be invaluable according to Slagle.
Algona is not backing down from their goals after last year’s run, as Slagle says the team has their eyes on another North Central Conference title and views themselves as being among the best teams in class 3A.
Algona’s scheduled season opener against Iowa Falls-Alden on May 19th has been postponed to a date to be determined due to rain. The first game on the schedule is now on Thursday May 22nd with a non-conference matchup at Spencer. The crosstown showdown against Bishop Garrigan will take place at Bulldog Park on May 23rd, and can be heard on KLGZ 98.5 FM/AM 1600 and seen on the Algona Radio YouTube channel.
