TOPEKA, Kan. – Coach: Bill Arnold.
2019 record: 12-10.
Top returners: Skyler Specht, P-SS, sr.; Erick Teske, OF-IF-P, sr.; Jake Gales, OF-P, sr.; Jonathan Knapp, OF-IF-P, sr.; Justin Weil, IF-P, sr.; Ryan Graves, IF, sr.; Corbin Bullock, P, sr.; Pete Harrod, C-OF-P, sr.
Worth noting: Specht is lone returner who started for Wildcats in 2019 and is three-year starter who has hit better than .300 in each of his first two seasons. … He’s also seen spot duty on the mound and was honorable mention All-City in 2019.
Schedule
April — 6. Seaman (Kansas City); 9. Emporia; 13. at KC Piper; 20. Highland Park; 22. at River City Baseball Festival (Lawrence); 23. at Junction City; 27. at Manhattan; 30. Topeka High. May — 7. at Topeka West; 11. Seaman.
HIGHLAND PARK
Coach: Robert Brown.
2019 record: N/A.
Top returners: Trent Long, 3B-P, jr.; Ayden Prettyman, SS-P, sr.; Christian Gallegos, OF-P, sr.; Malachi Carper, 2B, jr.
Worth noting: Long is lone returning starter from 2019 team and was honorable mention All-City in 2019. … Scots have just two seniors and bulk of roster are sophomores.
Schedule
April — 1. at Emporia; 7. at KC Sumner; 13. at KC Schlagle; 16. at Junction City; 20. at Hayden; 23. Manhattan; 27. Topeka High; 30. Topeka West. May — 7. at Seaman; 11. Washburn Rural; 13. at KC Washington.
SEAMAN
Coach: Trent Oliva.
2019 record: 20-5.
Top returners: Cole Askew, P-IF-OF, sr.; Kolden Howerton, OF-IF-P, sr.; Micah Kobuszewski, OF, sr.; Daigen Brewer, IF-OF, jr.
Worth noting: Vikings captured 2019 Class 5A state championship, the program’s ninth overall. … Vikings have been to state 16 straight seasons and have won two straight titles. … Askew hit .333 as a sophomore starter at shortstop. … Former assistant coach and Royal Valley coach Oliva takes over as head coach to replace legendary Steve Bushnell, who built program into state powerhouse.
Schedule
April — 1. at Manhattan; 5. at DeSoto; 6. Hayden (Kansas City); 9. Topeka High; 16. at Topeka West; 20. Junction City; 23. Washburn Rural; 27. Emporia; 29. at Basehor-Linwood. May — 4. at Shawnee Heights; 7. Highland Park; 11. at Hayden.
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS
Coach: Ryan Schmidt.
2019 record: 17-5.
Top returners: Andrew Rantz, SS-3B, sr.; Chase Carson, P, sr.; Max Orton, OF, sr.
Worth noting: T-Birds were 8-2 in United Kansas Conference play in 2019 but just missed out on state trip. … Rantz hit .405 with 9 RBI as sophomore in 2019 and was second-team All-City. … Carson was 3-0 with 2.19 ERA and 25 strikeouts. … Orton hit .300.
Schedule
April — 1. Basehor-Linwood; 6. KC Turner; 8. at KC Turner; 13. at DeSoto; 15. Blue Valley Northwest; 19. DeSoto; 20. Leavenworth; 22. at Leavenworth; 23-24. at River City Festival (Lawrence); 27. at Lansing; 29. Lansing. May — 4. Seaman; 6. at Blue Valley Southwest.
TOPEKA HIGH
Coach: Cody Miller.
2019 record: 7-13.
Top returners: Colin Daniels, C, sr.; Addison Sigg, OF, sr.; Lukas Brennan, P, sr.; Dillon Mitchell, 1B-P, jr.; Max Colombo, SS-P, jr.; Casey Champney, 3B, sr.; Devon Keeling, OF, sr.; John Cordova, OF, jr.; Culhann Carriz, P, sr.; Trent Adkins, P, sr.; Aiden Feldhausen, 2B, jr.; Brayden Humphrey, 2B, sr.; Elijah Kincade, DH/U, so.
Worth noting: Trojans return three starters from 2019 — Daniels, Sigg and Brennan. … Brennan was 2-2 with 3.18 ERA and was honorable mention All-City. … Daniels hit .274. … Trojans looking for first winning season since 2010.
Schedule
April — 1. Topeka West; 5. Manhattan; 9. at Seaman; 13. Washburn Rural; 19. KC Wyandotte; 20. Emporia; 27. at Highland Park; 30. at Hayden. May — 11. at Junction City.
TOPEKA WEST
Coach: John Tetuan.
2019 record: 3-15.
Top returners: Jordan Murray-Freeman, C, sr.; Aaron Lira, 1B-P, sr.; Robbie Malcom, 1B-DH, sr.; Tristan Speaker, SS, sr.; Jordan Parsel, 2B, jr.; Ty Epler, 3B, jr.
Worth noting: Speaker was second-team All-City selection in 2019 and hit team-high .404. … Parsel hit .333. … Lira was one of top pitchers and struck out 17. … Transfer Zander Putthoff could be big boost to pitching staff.
Schedule
April — 1. at Topeka High; 9. Junction City; 12. Emporia; 16. Seaman; 20. at Washburn Rural; 30. at Highland Park. May — 7. Hayden; 11. at Manhattan.
WASHBURN RURAL
Coach: Jay Mastin.
2019 record: 18-6.
Top returners: Brady Patterson, C, sr.; Davan Brady, IF, sr.; Alex Blum, P, sr.; Cooper Carlgren, P-OF, sr.; Anthony Taggart, IF, sr.; Hunter Jones, P-OF, sr.; Alex Haag, P-OF, sr.; Tucker Simpson, C-1B, sr.; Hunter Vondemkamp, IF-OF sr.; Kyle Walker, IF-P, sr.; Andrew Chavez, OfF, sr.; Tate Schoffelman, IF, sr; Robby Bolin, P-OF, jr.; Brock Howard, P-1B, jr.; Carson Rosen, P-IF, jr.; Ty Weber, P-IF, so.
Worth noting: Junior Blues were Centennial League champions in 2019 and qualified for Class 6A state tournament, taking third at state. … Patterson was first-team All-City in 2019, hitting .369 with 2 home runs and 18 RBI. … Carlgren went 3-0 with a 0.43 ERA and 17 strikeouts. … Brady hit .250 with 10 RBI. … Blum had two saves and struck out 18. … Vondemkamp hit .323 and was second-team All-City for Hayden in 2019 before transferring to Rural.
Schedule
April — 6. at Hays; 9. at Manhattan; 13. at Topeka High; 20. Topeka West; 23. at Seaman; 24. at River City Festival (Lawrence); 30. Emporia. May — 7. Junction City; 11. at Highland Park.
