10 CLASS 5A BASEBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2023

 

TATE BLASI, BISHOP CARROLL
 
Blasi, a three-year starter, returns as the Golden Eagles’ starting shortstop and a key batter in the middle of Carroll’s lineup. He helped the Eagles reach the 5A championship game last season by batting .410 with 22 RBIs and shared the team lead with 26 runs scored. The All-Class 5A and All-Greater Wichita Athletic League first-team selection was perfect on 15 stolen-base attempts. Blasi plans to play next season at Dodge City Community College, where his older brother Cale competed.
 

JEREMY COMER, ST. JAMES ACADEMY

Comer earned All-State and All-EKL first-team honors at third base. Comer led St. James Academy to a 13-8 record and regional title game appearance, losing in the regional final against eventual state champion Blue Valley Southwest.
 

COLBY GOMEZ, NEWTON
 
Gomez, a junior, will hold down the shortstop position and provide relief pitching for the Railers after receiving All-Class 5A and All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division I first-team honors as a utility player last spring. He batted .463 last season with 32 hits – 8 for extra bases – and 19 RBIs. Gomez is one of five returning Railers who received all-league honors after Newton posted a 12-9 record in 2022.
 

 
TYNER HORN, EISENHOWER
 
Horn, a Wichita State signee, didn’t yield an earned run until Eisenhower’s regular-season finale last season and finished with a 5-1 record and 0.46 ERA. The right-hander added a save and struck out 69 to earn All-Class 5A first team and Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division II pitcher of the year honors. He also drove in 13 to help the Tigers advance to the 5A state tournament.
 

CRU HUENFELD, ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

Huenfeld drove in 36 RBIs on 31 hits with a .425 batting average. On the mound, Huenfeld went 1-1 with a 3.34 ERA and 11 strikeouts. Huenfeld led Aquinas to a 15-10 record and third-place finish at state, losing in the semifinals against eventual state champion Blue Valley Southwest.
 

BROOKS RICHARDSON, SALINA CENTRAL
 
Richardson enters his senior season looking to help the Mustangs improve on their six-win total from a year ago, when he earned All-Class 5A second-team and All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division II first-team honors at catcher. Richardson, an all-league designated hitter as a sophomore, batted .375 last spring with 6 home runs and 22 RBIs. Half of his 24 hits went for extra bases. The Mustangs’ 3-hole batter, Richardson plans to play collegiately at Washburn.
 

BO SHINKLE, BLUE VALLEY SOUTHWEST

Shinkle earned All-State and All-EKL first team honors last season as an outfielder. He racked up 15 RBIs with 15 extra-base hits and a .392 batting average last season. Shinkle led Blue Valley Southwest to a 19-6 record and the team’s second straight state championship. The Timberwolves also won their first EKL championship, beating Class 6A state champion Blue Valley West in a winner-take-all game at the end of the regular season.
 

COOPER TABOR, ANDOVER CENTRAL
 
Tabor’s middle-infield play earned him All-Class 5A and All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division II first-team honors a year ago. The senior batted .437 with 31 hits as the Jaguars finished 12-9. He drove in 10, scored 23 runs and had 14 stolen bases. Tabor will play shortstop or second base for the Jaguars, depending on who’s pitching. He has signed to play at Barton Community College.

 

BRYSON VAWTER, SEAMAN

Vawter was Seaman's ace last year, helping the Vikings to a 20-3 record and the program's 18th consecutive Class 5A state tournament appearance. The left-hander went 5-2 with a a 1.43 ERA and struck out 55 in 39 innings while walking just 14. He also was a force at the plate, hitting .422 with 2 home runs 26 RBI and 18 runs scored. Vawter was a first-team All-Class 5A selection at both pitcher and designated hitter, garnering those same honors on both the All-Centennial League and All-Shawnee County teams.
 

COLTIN WATKINS, GODDARD
 
Watkins, a junior left-hander, went 7-1 with a 1.28 ERA last season to earn All-Class 5A second-team and All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division II first-team honors. He yielded just 38 hits and struck out 75 in 49.1 innings. Watkins, who batted .338 with 18 RBIs last spring, will play first base when he’s not on the mound, and will bat anywhere from second to fourth in the Lions’ lineup.