Dietrich, Maki are new members of NHS Baseball Hall of Fame

Jeff Dietrich and Ryan Maki played baseball for Newton High School more than 10 years apart. They are forever Cardinals.

The former NHS baseball players were inducted into the Newton High Baseball Hall of Fame Saturday. The ceremony for the Class of 2016 inductees was held between Newton varsity games at the annual Cardinal Invitational at Eversman Field.

Dietrich played for Coach Jim Eversman during the 1979, 1980, and 1981 seasons. As a senior in 1981, he received first-team All-State honors. Dietrich threw three no-hitters — one each as a sophomore, a junior and a senior.

Dietrich’s career ERA of 2.22 ranks him eighth all time in school history, and his nine wins during 1981 is sixth best all-time at Newton. His career win total of 15 is eighth in NHS history.

Dietrich’s 124 career strikeouts ranks 15th in Cardinal baseball history and his 154 1/3 career innings pitched is 10th. His 87 2/3 innings pitched during 1981 is fourth highest single-season total in Newton baseball history.

Dietrich played baseball at Marshalltown Community College. He and his wife Andrea have four children, daughters Ashley and Bre and sons Colton and Lucas. They also have two grandsons.

Maki was more offensive-minded during the 1996 and 1997 baseball seasons for Newton. He had a .357 career batting average and recorded 117 hits, which are 11th best for Newton baseball. Ranked 13th in school history are his 328 at bats.

Maki played for coaches Rich Stoffers and Ryan Cooley. He was an all-conference player in his senior season, 1997, and he pitched three saves that season.

Maki scored 81 runs, which is 13th best in the NHS record book. He had seven triples — six in the 1996 season — fifth in the team’s history and had 25 doubles. Maki had 30 stole bases in 1996. He is the programs’ career leader in stole bases with 64.

After graduation from NHS, Maki enlisted in the United States Arm. He and his wife, Jennifer, have three children, sons Reagan and Dawton and daughter Taylor.

Maki and Dietrich were joined by their families to hang their hall of fame signs on the outfield fence at Eversman Field.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com