10 CLASS 4A BASEBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2023
 

HUNTER ALVORD, MCPHERSON
 
Alvord played a big part in McPherson’s run to its first state baseball title last season, earning Class 4A co-player of the year honors with Tonganoxie’s Gehrig Goldbeck. Also the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division III player of the year, Alvord batted .459 with 4 home runs, 25 RBIs and 25 stolen bases. The senior shortstop also went 8-2 on the mound with a 1.00 ERA, striking out 54 in 49 innings. Alvord, the quarterback for McPherson's state semifinal-qualifying football team, has signed to play baseball at Cowley Community College.
 

TY CASH, CLEARWATER
 
Cash is one of five Clearwater seniors who received all-league recognition last season, being named to the All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division IV first team at third base. He collected 15 hits, including 3 doubles, and had 13 RBIs as Clearwater finished 9-13. On the mound, he allowed 1 earned run or less in his first eight appearances and averaged just under a strikeout in 23.2 innings. Cash also earned all-league second-team honors as a sophomore, when he helped the Indians reach the Class 4A state tournament and finish fourth.
 

VICTOR CHRISTAL, BISHOP MIEGE

Christal earned All-State first team honors as a utility player and made All-EKL first team at third base last season. Christal led Miege to a 12-9 record and a regional title game appearance last season.
 

JARRETT HERRMANN, IOLA

One of six returning starters for Iola from its Class 4A state-qualifying squad, Herrmann had a huge season at the plate in leading the Mustangs to a 16-5 overall record. The senior third baseman hit .544 with a pair of home runs, driving in 24 and scoring 39 runs. He also swiped 13 bases and is a key member of the Iola pitching rotation. Herrmann was one of two first-team All-Class 4A selections for Iola last year along with returning senior outfielder Brandon McKarnin.
 

TJ KERNS, OTTAWA

Kerns earned All-State and All-Frontier League first-team honors as a pitcher last season. Kerns went 8-1 with his only loss coming against state runner-up Tonganoxie, which only earned four hits against him. He finished with a 3.00 ERA with 19 strikeouts over 46.2 innings. He led Ottawa to a 16-6 record and fourth-place finish at state.

CARTER LONG, CLAY CENTER

Long has been a starter for Clay Center each of the past two seasons as the Tigers finished as Class 4A state runners-up in 2021 and qualified in 2022. Last year as a sophomore, Long hit .426 with 5 home runs and 31 RBI on his way to first-team All-North Central Kansas League honors. Long, an outfielder, is one of nine returning starters for the Tigers and one of three returning first-team all-leaguers along with senior first baseman Mark Hoffman and junior catcher Tucker Jackson.
 

JARET MYERS, MCPHERSON
 
Myers had a big junior season on the mound for the Bullpups, posting a 10-0 record with a 0.99 ERA as McPherson claimed its first Class 4A championship last May. An All-Class 4A and All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division III first-team pitcher, Myers notched the 5-2 victory over Tonganoxie in the title game, yielding two earned runs in 6 1/3 innings with six strikeouts. Offensively, Myers batted .259 with 15 hits and 7 RBIs for the season. He plays third base when he’s not pitching.
 

JEFFREY NEILL, BUHLER
 
Neill, a junior, was named an All-Class 4A second-team utility player after helping the Crusaders post a 15-6 record last spring. One of four returning regulars in the Buhler lineup, Neill, a pitcher and infielder, batted .415 with 13 doubles and 2 triples among his 27 hits. He also had 19 RBIs. On the mound, the right-handed Neill was 6-1 with a 1.65 ERA and pitched a complete-game victory against eventual 4A champion McPherson.
 

STOCTON TIMBROOK, ABILENE

Timbrook helped Abilene to a 13-9 record and the program's first-ever berth in the Class 4A state tournament with the Cowboys falling in the quarterfinals to Tonganoxie. Timbrook, a junior shortstop-pitcher, hit a team-best .420, collecting eight extra-base hits (4 doubles, 2 triples and 2 home runs) and driving in 27 runs and scoring 16. He also was 4-2 on the mound with a 3.46 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 36.1 innings. Timbrook earned first-team All-North Central Kansas League honors.
 

LOGAN WAKE, TONGANOXIE

Wake earned All-State second team and All-Frontier League first team honors as a catcher last year. Wake pushed in 17 RBIs on a .413 batting average and stole 15 bases. Wake led Tonganoxie to a 20-4 record and a state runner-up finish, losing 5-2 to McPherson.