10 CLASS 3A BASEBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2023
 

TREVOR AMERSHEK, GIRARD

Amershek earned All-State honorable mention and All-CNC first team honors as a pitcher last year. Amershek led Girard to a 21-3 record and a fourth-place finish at state.
 

PARRISH BEAGLE, MAUR HILL

Beagle was a first-team All-Class 2-1A selection and first-team All-Northeast Kansas League pick as a pitcher last year after going 7-1 with a 0.88 ERA and 110 strikeouts against just 10 walks in 48 innings. He just as easily could have earned the same honors at shortstop where he hit .423 with 23 RBI, 34 runs scored and 12 stolen bases. Beagle led Maur Hill to a 14-8 record last year and already is off to a hot start this year with a no-hitter and one-hitter in his first two outings while also going 6 for 9 with 8 RBI.
 

BRETT BLACK, WICHITA COLLEGIATE
 
Black’s pitching and defense at first base were key components of Collegiate’s run to its first Class 3A state championship in 21 years last spring. He earned All-3A and All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division IV first-team honors after batting .406 with 3 doubles, 15 RBIs and 28 runs scored. He also went 8-1 with a 2.09 ERA in 53 2/3 innings, striking out 73 with just 12 walks. Black was efficient on the mound, averaging just 14 pitches per inning.
 

JOSH HERRMANN, SABETHA

A three-year starter behind the plate for Sabetha, Herrmann helped lead the Bluejays to the Class 3A state tournament last year and a 15-8 record overall. He carried a .343 average that ranks second among Bluejay returners behind junior Christian McAfee's .388 average. Herrmann and McAfee also top Sabetha's rotation with Herrmann going 2-1 with a 2.41 ERA and 22 strikeouts and McAfee going 4-1 with a 2.71 ERA and 33 Ks. Herrmann was a first-team All-Big Seven League selection for the second straight year.
 

BRADY HUNT, WICHITA COLLEGIATE
 
Hunt’s defensive abilities and handling of Collegiate’s pitching staff helped him earn All-Class 3A and All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division IV first-team honors last season for the state-champion Spartans. He batted .431 with 3 home runs and 26 RBI, and added 11 other hits for extra bases that contributed to his .528 on-base percentage. Hunt had a .995 fielding percentage and threw out 9 of 17 runners who attempted to steal bases.
 

COLE LINTON, GOODLAND 

The junior has aleady established himself as one of the top pitchers in western Kansas. He was a first-team pick on the All-Great West Activities Conference team last year. He finished with an ERA of 2.80 last year and hit .33A. Linton struck out 11 in first start this year, giving up three hits and one earned run in 4.2 innings of work to earn the win. Goodland reached the Class 3A tournament last year after beating Holcomb and Lakin in regionals. 
 

HAYDEN MALAISE, WICHITA COLLEGIATE
 
Malaise put together one of the best two-way seasons in Collegiate’s program history in 2022 to help the Spartans win the Class 3A title. He was named 3A pitcher of the year after going 10-0 with an 0.77 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 54 1/3 innings. Opponents batted just .134 against him and only .184 with runners in scoring position. Primarily a first baseman when he isn’t pitching, Malaise batted .381 with 4 home runs and 29 RBIs and scored 24 runs last season, and was named Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division IV player of the year along with first-team pitcher and utility player.
 

LOGAN MYERS, FRONTENAC

Myers racked up 25 RBIs and 11 stolen bases with a .369 batting average last year. As a pitcher Myers went 4-0 last season with a .226 ERA. Myers led a Frontenac team that went 18-4 last season and reached the regional final.

 

SHANE PUCKETT, COLBY

Puckett was a second-team All-3A selection as a middle infielder last year as a junior. Puckett hit a team-best .489 last year and led the Eagles in hits (23), RBIs (18), home runs (2) and doubles (4). He also tied for the team lead in runs scored with 13. Puckett was also the Eagles’ top pitcher, going 3-4 with a 2.76 ERA in 38 innings worked. He was a first-team All-Great West Activities Conference selection as an infielder. He has signed with Garden City Community College. 
SETH STOVER, COLUMBUS

Stover led Columbus to a 22-3 record and a state runner-up finish, with the Titans losing in the title game, 10-3, against Wichita Collegiate. Stover earned 22 hits and 25 RBIs with two home runs on a .393 batting average. On the mound, Stover finished with 56 strikeouts and a 0.85 ERA.