-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Hayden Derrig of St. Edmond celebrates after Gaels beat Gladbrook-Reinbeckduring in the 1A substate on Saturday at Rogers Park

For the past four summers, Hayden Derrig has been a key contributor for the St. Edmond baseball team.

This year, though, Derrig took on a new role within the program — leader.

As one of just two seniors alongside JT Laufersweiler, Derrig made sure to lead by example long before the first pitch of the season.

“I attended most of the offseason workouts as a way to help lead my younger teammates,” Derrig said. “That allowed me to work with them on things that they may have been struggling with.”

That extra work helped him start the season off strong, earning a win in his first five starts on the mound. Derrig tossed a one-hitter with a career-high 15 strikeouts in a 1-0 victory over South Central Calhoun to begin the year.

He followed that up by breaking his own record with 16 strikeouts in a 9-1 victory vs. Manson Northwest Webster in which he allowed just three hits.

Derrig struck out seven vs. Southeast Valley before back-to-back 12-strikeout showings in wins over Hampton-Dumont/CAL and Clarion-Goldfield/Dows. He allowed just 10 hits on those three games.

He finished out the year going 6-4 on the mound with 108 strikeouts in 62 innings. Opponents recorded just 43 hits against Derrig, who sported a 1.69 earned run average.

Derrig’s strikeout total was tied for first among all Class 1A pitchers after the conclusion of district play. He had a 13-strikeout performance in his final appearance as a Gael vs. rival Bishop Garrigan in a district final.

As an eighth-grader, Derrig got his feet wet, making a varsity appearance. He has since become a staple in the lineup and field, playing in 25 games as a freshman while recording 23 hits and driving in 10.

He followed that up with a 28-hit sophomore campaing that included a home run, 11 RBI and 45 strikeouts on the mound. Last year, Derrig had 30 hits with 25 runs, 15 steals and 10 walks while leading the North Central Conference in batting.

On the mound, he struck out 50 batters over 43 innings of work while earning first team all-conference.

Prior to the start of his own final season, Derrig committed to Central College.

“I really liked the coaches at Central,” Derrig said. “And the school has a great atmosphere about it.”

Derrig also took part in the Junior Showcase hosted by the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association.

Along with playing baseball, he was involved in golf for four years and basketball for two.

Vacation destination:Hawaii

Dinner with: Yadier Molina, Albert Pujols, Adam Wainwright

Surprise: graduated in the same class with my nephew

Sports role model: Lars Nootbaar

Everyday role model: my dad

Can’t go a day without my phone

Nickname: Glenn Quagmire

Superstition: Pancheros before every game

Rivalry: Webster City

Roadtrip: Field of Dreams

Listening to: Metro Boomin

Go to song: FE!N by Travis Scott

Team St Louis Cardinals

Athlete: Yadi Molina

Class: PE

Movie: Grown Ups 2

Binge: Stranger Things

Book:Harry Potter Goblet of Fire

Phone App: Instagram