20 NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS BASEBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2022
 

PARRISH BEAGLE, MAUR HILL

Last season as a sophomore, Beagle earned first-team All-Class 2A honors at third base after hitting .420 with 12 extra-base hits, 36 runs scored, 21 stolen bases and 33 RBI while fielding at a .978 percentage with just one error. He'll move to shortstop this season. He also is one of the Raven's top pitchers, going 3-1 with a 1.08 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 32.1 innings, also picking up four saves. Beagle also was a first-team All-Northeast Kansas League selection.
 

DAGEN BREWER, SEAMAN

Brewer was the top power hitter in Topeka last season, belting a city-high six home runs. Brewer hit .375 overall, but had a slugging percentage of .893. His 25 RBI tied for the team lead and he drew a team-high 19 walks. The first-team All-Centennial League pick also struck out just three times in 82 plate appearances in leading the 19-4 Vikings to a runner-up league finish and 17th straight Class 5A state tournament appearance. In four pitching appearances he recorded one save and had a 1.40 ERA. Brewer was a second-team All-Class 5A selection at third base.
 

KADEN BROWN, ROSSVILLE

A versatile player for the Bulldawgs as a pitcher, catcher and outfielder, Brown its coming off a strong season after helping Rossville go 15-7. He hit .411 and drove in 16 runs while scoring 25. Brown also was extremely effective on the mound, going 3-0 with a 0.38 ERA, striking out 23 in 18 innings pitched.
 

MAX COLOMBO, TOPEKA HIGH

A senior at Cair Paravel who plays for Topeka High in a co-op agreement, Colombo helped the Trojans to the best season in program history as they finished 15-7 overall -- their first winning record in more than a decade. A shortstop-pitcher, Colombo led Topeka in batting average (.522) and RBI (35) and also scored 22 runs in earning first-team All-Centennial League honors on the infield. Colombo also was solid on the mound for the Trojans, posting a 1.59 ERA and striking out 42 in 26 1/3 innings.
 

BRADEN DINKEL, MANHATTAN

Dinkel was a second-team All-Class 6A selection at designated hitter last year after leading the Indians in hitting as a junior. Dinkel posted a .500 average and had 30 RBI and 30 runs scored. The first-team All-Centennial League pick also was a threat on the base paths with 18 stolen bases.
 

ZAC FISHER, ONAGA

An honorable mention All-Class 2-1A selection in the infield last season for the Buffaloes, Fisher was a presence both at the plate and on the mound. He led Onaga with a.465 average, belting six home runs and driving in 26 runs while scoring 31 times. He boasted a slugging percentage of .901 and also stole 25 bases. As a pitcher, Fisher was 4-3 with a 3.50 ERA and struck out 54 batters in 46 innings. He also earned first-team all-league honors.
 

AVERY GATZEMEYER, VALLEY FALLS

Valley Falls finished as Class 2-1A state runner-up last season and Gatzemeyer was a huge reason why. At the plate, he hit a robust .598 with a 1.667 OPS and 1.000 slugging percentage, driving in 41 while belting 8 home runs. He also mixed in 14 stolen bases. He arguably was even better on the mound where he went 6-0 and posted a 1.36 ERA, striking out 65 and allowing just 22 hits in 41 innings of work. Gatzemeyer was first-team All-Northeast Kansas League and first-team All-Class 2-1A.
 

BROCK HOWARD, WASHBURN RURAL

Howard enjoyed a huge junior season in his first season as Rural's full-time starting first baseman. He posted a .507 batting average and drove in 27 runs. He also scored 23 runs and led the Junior Blues with nine doubles, two triples and 10 hit by pitches, finishing with a slugging percentage of .701 and OPS of 1.280. A first-team All-Centennial League pick and first-team All-Class 6A selection, Howard also went 2-0 in his only two starts on the mound, giving up just three hits and no runs, striking out six.
 

DALTON KELLERMAN, ANDERSON COUNTY

Kellerman was the main offensive force in the Bulldogs' lineup a year ago, helping Anderson County to one of its best seasons in program history with the Bulldogs finishing runner-up in Class 3A. Splitting time between first, third and pitcher, Kellerman hit .532 with 5 triples and 30 RBI and was a first-team All-Pioneer League and first-team All-Class 3A selection. He also picked up a pair of wins and saves on the mound, sporting a 2.30 ERA with 24 strikeouts.

JONAS KONRADE, LEBO/WAVERLY

Konrade led Lebo/Waverly to a 15-3 mark last season, ranking as one of the top hitters in Class 2-1A. A second-team All-Class 2-1A pick at shortstop, Konrade hit .517 and his 37 RBI led the Wolfdogs by 13. He had a pair of homers among his 15 extra-base hits and struck out just nine times in 71 plate appearances. He saw just spot duty on the mound, but struck out 11 in 7 innings and was 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA.
 

DAIGAN KRUGER, SILVER LAKE

A solid role player for the Eagles as a freshman in 2019, Kruger emerged as one of Silver Lake's top performers last season, earning first-team All-Mid-East League and second-team All-Class 3A honors. He hit .521 with an OPS of 1.263, driving in 22 and scoring 27 times, stealing 11 bases. On the mound, he posted a 4-1 record with a 2.20 ERA and held opponents to a .142 average, striking out 32.
 

MCGWYRE LEATHERS, ROSSVILLE

Leathers was a second-team All-Class 3A selection last season at third base after hitting .333. Leathers, who also catches, also drove in 16 runs and scored 14 and was a second-team All-Mid-East League selection. Leathers was a first-team all-league selection as a freshman in 2019 when he helped lead Rossville to a third-place finish at the Class 2-1A state tournament.
 

EVAN NICKELSON, SOUTHEAST-SALINE

Nickelson has been a force on the mound for Southeast of Saline ever since his freshman year in 2019 when he went 4-0 with a 2.66 ERA and struck out 15. After the lost 2020 season, Nickelson was even better last season, going 5-0 for the Trojans with a 2.33 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 24 innings. The senior also holds down the hot corner for the Trojans and hit .493 with 6 doubles, a triple and homer last year, driving in 20 for the 20-2 Trojans who reached the regional championship game before falling 3-2 to Hesston.
 

HAYDEN OVIATT, WAMEGO

One of the top multi-sport athletes in the state, Oviatt comes into the 2022 baseball season fresh off an undefeated Class 4A state wrestling championship during the winter season. Also an All-State quarterback for the Red Raiders, Oviatt was a first-team All-Class 4A selection at designated hitter and second-team at outfield last season. He hit .449 with 15 extra-base hits and drove in 25. He also earned first-team All-North Central Kansas League honors.

KOLTON PAYNE, RILEY COUNTY

With Riley County losing eight seniors off last year's team, Payne will be a steadying presence for the Falcons this season as one of nine returning seniors. Payne earned first-team All-Class 3A honors at second base and will start at shortstop this year. He also was a first-team All-Mid-East League selection after hitting .526 with 23 RBI and 15 runs scored.
 

CADE PERKINS, MANHATTAN

Perkins was Manhattan's ace last season and went 5-2 with 51 strikeouts. The Indian standout also swung a potent bat, hitting .420 with 15 doubles and 32 RBI. He was a first-team All-Centennial League selection at designated hitter and second-team All-Class 6A at first base.
 

CARTER PHILLIPS, MISSION VALLEY

Phillips made an immediate impact for the Vikings as a freshman in 2019 when hit went 5-1 with a 2.85 ERA and struck out 72 while also hitting .373 and driving in 19 runs. After a lost sophomore season to COVID, Phillips didn't miss a beat last year, going 5-1 with a 0.67 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 42 innings pitched, earning first-team All-Class 2-1A honors as well as unanimous All-Flint Hills League honors. He also hit .493 with 3 home runs and 32 RBI a year ago. Phillips is already off to a hot start this season, 2-0 with 21 strikeouts and no runs allowed while hitting .500 with a pair of homers and 5 RBI.
 

DEREK ROCKERS, ANDERSON COUNTY

The ace on last year's Anderson County team that finished as Class 3A state runner-up to Rock Creek, Rockers showed out in a big way at the state tournament. He threw a perfect game in the Bulldogs' 1-0 win over Hugoton in the state quarterfinals and finished the season with 9 wins overall, striking out 113 and putting up an ERA of 0.85. Rockers also hit .312 and drove in 15 and was a first-team All-Pioneer League and first-team All-Class 3A selection.

TRENT SPIKER, DONIPHAN WEST

Spiker was a bright spot for the Mustangs last year, sticking out on a team that went just 6-11. He ranked second on the team with a .568 average and drove in 12 runs while leading the team in runs scored with 26 and stolen bases with 25. On the mound, Spiker posted a 0.75 ERA and struck out 66 in 28 innings of work.
 

BRYSON VAWTER, SEAMAN

Last year as a sophomore in a veteran Seaman lineup, Vawter wielded a big stick in the middle of the Viking batting order, hitting .391 to help the Vikings to a 19-4 record and 17th straight Class 5A state tournament appearance. He drove in 21 runs and ranked second on the team with eight doubles. A second-team All-Centennial League pick at designated hitter and first-team All-City selection, Vawter also provided solid relief out of the Viking bullpen, going 1-0 and striking out 21 in six appearances with a 0.45 ERA.