STATE BASEBALL STORYLINES

CLASS 6A

At Hoglund Stadium, Lawrence
 

TOPEKA HIGH ENDS DECADES LONG STATE DROUGHT 

Pinpointing the last time Topeka High baseball has made the state tournament requires some research, but the Trojans are believed to be making their first trip in several decades. 

“The only confirmed thing we can find of the last time making it to state was the Class AA state championship in 1947,” Topeka High coach Cody Miller said. 

Needless to say, there’s been a buzz around the halls of Troy after the Trojans ended the drought by taking an 11-1 run-rule win over Campus in the regional final last Wednesday at Hummer Sports Park. 

“Everybody is getting all kinds of pats on the back and shaking hands and high-fiving everybody,” Miller said. “I think everybody understands that this hasn’t been done for this program in a long, long time.

“Our girls for softball have been dominant the last couple years (back-to-back state championships in 2021 and 2022), and I think this feels a little bit different because it hasn’t been done for so long.”

Topeka High went a long period of time without a baseball program. In fact, 18-year Major League pitcher Mike Torrez didn’t have a chance to play high school baseball for his Trojans, with the school dropping the program in the late 1950’s when Torrez was in school. 

Miller said the community has embraced this year’s team. 

“We probably had 30 alums that came back and watched us in the regional and cheered loud,” Miller said. “It’s just great for the entire community.”

After falling in the regional title game the last two years, Miller knew this year’s team had a good shot at breaking through. 

“Our junior class is filled with a lot of quality players that have been in the program for a while,” Miller said. “We don’t have a huge senior class but all four guys are quality guys as well. We knew our depth wasn’t going to be what I prefer, but I knew our top-end guys could get it done.

“We were playing high-level teams, Manhattan and Derby those last two years. That gave us the motivation to try and get past (the regional). We felt like we right on the cusp of that. The moment wasn’t too big for us this year.”

The Trojans (16-6) put together a 10-hit attack against Campus and forced the run rule with an 8-run bottom of the fifth. 

“We have a lot of guys that can really swing the bats and I think it really came together for us,” Miller said. “A couple of our main guys really carried us, too. Elijah Kincade had an incredible two days at the plate. We got some timely hits when we really needed to push some runs across, and some guys really bared down at the plate.”

Junior Nate Plankinton is the Trojans ace. He’s 5-1 with an 0.62 era and 71 strikeouts with just 10 walks. 

“I think if Nate was 6-2, 6-3, he’d be on every single Division I’s board around this area,” Miller said. “In stature, he’s a little bit smaller, but his stuff is as good as anybody’s. He can throw his breaking stuff for strikes and he’s really a competitor. When Nate’s on the mound our entire team believes we have a chance to win.”

The Trojans’ pitching staff and lineup took a hit when Hank Stamper suffered a broken finger after being hit by a pitch in the fifth game of the season. Ty Votaw stepped up as the team’s No. 2 pitcher while Peyton Wheat and Mason Gomez have supplied depth on the mound. 

Isaiah Kincade is hitting .464 for the Trojans followed by Elijah Kincade (.433) and Votaw (.403).

Topeka High will look to extend its historic season by getting past Derby (14-8) in the first round of the 6A tournament at 1:15 p.m. Thursday at Hoglund Stadium. 

“We still have a chip on our shoulder,” Miller said. “We don’t have the reputation of some of the larger schools 6A schools for baseball. We still have something to prove on Thursday that we belong here in these last eight teams.”
CLASS 5A

At Eck Stadium, Wichita
 

SEAMAN EAGER TO PUT UNSPOKEN 2022 DEMONS TO REST
 
The ending to Seaman’s 2022 state baseball tournament is rarely, if ever, talked about.
 
But there’s no denying, the memory is still a haunting one for the Vikings.
 
“I go back every once in a while to it,” Seaman senior Bryson Vawter said of the Vikings’ 10-9 loss to St. Thomas Aquinas in last year’s Class 5A state quarterfinals. “Coach didn’t do anything wrong. We played well, they came back and the cards just ended up stacked against us.”
 
It wasn’t necessarily the loss that’s been the demon in need of exorcising. It was the manner in which it played out.
 
Seaman got off to the ideal start in the quarterfinal clash, jumping all over Aquinas to the tune of a five-run first inning. When the Vikings tacked on three more in the second, they were seemingly well on their way to the semifinals.
 
Looking ahead to the second day, Seaman coach Trent Oliva did what almost any other coach would have done in a similar situation. With tremendous depth in his pitching staff, Oliva opted to pull Vawter, his ace, and save him for a return to the mound the next day.
 
Needless to say, it ultimately backfired. Seaman’s relievers weren’t sharp and the Viking defense botched a pair of double play balls. Aquinas scored three in the third, five in the sixth and then, after Seaman went back on top in the sixth with a run, scored twice in the seventh for the stunning comeback victory.
 
“That’s something where everything had to go wrong for us and everything had to go right for them,” Oliva said. “At the same time, it’s baseball. I rolled the dice and it didn’t come out good for us. We’re going to try and correct it this year. And by correct it, I mean, there’s nothing we can do about that game. We can only control what’s in front of us and that’s what we’re going to try and do.
 
“We haven’t really spoke about it or talked about it. It’s in the past and we’re focused on the present. If anything, it taught them that the game’s not over until it’s over and that’s a lesson we learned the hard way.”
 
It also has given the Vikings a bit of extra incentive as they return to the state tournament this season. Seaman (18-4) is the No. 4 seed in Wichita this year, opening state play against Eisenhower (17-4) at 5:45 p.m. Thursday.
 
The state appearance is the 19^th straight for Seaman, setting a new state record. The Vikings had previously shared the state record for consecutive state appearances with Wyandotte.
 
And like last year’s devastating finish, Oliva said the state streak is something that also isn’t a hot topic of conversation in Seaman circles.
 
“It’s that cliché that names change, but expectations don’t,” Oliva said. “Just push it down the road another year. We don’t talk about it a lot. There was a newspaper article that brought it to the forefront and we addressed it right then and there and haven’t brought it up since. It’s control what we can control, play the game that’s in front of us and let the other stuff take care of itself.”
 
Seaman graduated nine seniors off last year’s roster. The roster turnover combined with a move out of the Centennial League to the United Kansas Conference has made the 2023 a somewhat different one for the Vikings.
 
And yet, it’s looked remarkably similar.
 
The Vikings started the year 7-0 before falling to Olathe North in early April. Seaman suffered league losses to Lansing (extra innings), De Soto (fellow 5A qualifier) and Shawnee Heights, none of the four losses by more than four runs.
 
“The league was an unknown being the first year in it,” Oliva said. “We knew we were going to get some really good competition and we did. It’s been a little different year in that we have a few sophomores that are playing big roles that hadn’t really been out there a lot in a front role. It’s been learning how they mix in with the seniors and juniors and how it all fits together. We’ve shown plenty of good moments and had some other not-so-good moments.”
 
Vawter has been the rock for Seaman to lean on and has responded. He’s 6-1 with a 1.41 ERA and also is hitting a team-best .441. He leads a senior-heavy staff that also includes Scout Jellison (3-1, 2.30 ERA) and Kiernan Meredith (4-0, 2.58 ERA).
 
“With Bryson back he’s going to be our guy,” Oliva said. “Pitching-wise, I thought we’d do a good job there. Defensively, we had guys filling different spots that did good over the summer time. It was about our bats and being consistent with that.”
 
After getting past Lansing 4-2 in the regional final, Seaman is ready to see what lies ahead at state.
 
“We’ve had our ups and downs this year, but we’re putting pieces together still and I think our best baseball is still ahead of us,” Vawter said. “We’ve got a chip on our shoulder this year, but I think we always have a chip on our shoulder. After going out like that last year, it’s left a bad taste in our mouths that we want to get rid of.”
 
CLASS 4A

At Dean Evans Stadium, Salina
 

CHANUTE RALLIES IN REGIONAL TO RETURN TO STATE 

Chanute baseball has had three different head coaches in the last four years, but the Comets always seem to keep things close to home in this program.

Ryan Ortiz entered this season in his first-year at the helm, but with a lifetime of experience with Chanute baseball. Ortiz is a Chanute graduate who played for the baseball team in 2000 and 2001 when the team reached state.

He would come back to Chanute as an assistant coach for the team. Just as his predecessor Kurt Sizemore was promoted from within, Ortiz would got elevated from assistant to head coach heading into this season. Sizemore took the job in 2019 when former head coach Zack Murry became Chanute’s athletic director, but stepped down after last season to spend more time with his family.

In addition to Ortiz, his assistant coach Nate Peter is also a Chanute graduate. Peter was a member of the Comets’ first state appearance in 1994.

In Ortiz’ first year at the helm, Chanute won their ninth regional to return to state once again. This is Chanute’s first state appearance since that final season with Murry at the helm. The Comets have never won a state title in baseball, with their best finish being fourth in 2005.

But it was not easy for Chanute to get back to state.

Chanute trailed in both regional games against lower seeds, but both times the Comets fired back to pull off the upsets with multiple-run margins of victory. Chanute beat Topeka Hayden 6-4 before taking down third-seeded Ottawa 6-3. The Cyclones finished third in Class 4A last year.

Chanute will enter state with a 14-8 record as the No. 8 seed, giving them a first-round matchup with one-loss Clay Center Community/Wakefield co-op. 

The Comets will look to junior first-baseman Larson Koester to deliver at the plate during this state run. Koester led the team in extra-base hits and RBI while posting a .462 batting average. Not too far behind him in that latter category are junior outfielder Nathan Meisch at .426 and junior shortstop/pitcher Rhett Smith at .425. 

On the mound, Smith has posted 52 strikeouts on the way to a 5-1 mark. Freshman Kris Harding gives the Comets another trusted arm with his 1.40 ERA and 4-1 record.

Paola also advanced to state despite holding a double-digit seed in the Class 4A East bracket. The No. 10-seed Panthers earned a 2-0 victory over Louisburg in the regional opener before delivering a stunning 16-5 victory over No. 2-seed Atchison, which entered the contest with only one other loss this season.

Paola will hold the No. 7 seed at state, matching up with 21-1 Rock Creek in the state quarterfinal.
CLASS 3A

At Tointon Family Stadium, Manhattan
 

GOODLAND LOOKS TO MAKE NOISE AFTER WINNING THRILLER IN REGIONAL FINAL

After winning 13 of its last 15 games entering the postseason, Goodland found itself in an absolute dogfight in its bid for a second straight state berth. 

The Cowboys had to get through two solid Great West Activities Conference opponents at the regional tournament in Goodland. 

Goodland took a 4-2 win over Scott City in the semifinals to set up a meeting with Holcomb in the regional final for the second straight year. 

The Cowboys rallied from a 4-0 deficit to force extra innings before Maverick Spresser’s walk-off hit in the eighth gave Goodland a 5-4 victory over the Longhorns. 

“These guys have been fighting all season,” Goodland coach David Avila said. 

Goodland is 18-4 with two of the losses to Limon (Colo). The other two setbacks were against Colby and 6A Garden City early in the season.

Cole Linton has been dominant on the mound in his junior season, but received a major scare when the Cowboys played Limon on May 2. Linton was hit by a pitch and was initially feared to have suffered a broken bone in his hand. 

But he was cleared to return as the Cowboys wrapped up the regular season against Cimarron a week later. He was sharp in the regional semifinal, striking out 11 and allowing four hits and two unearned runs while going the distance. 

At the plate, Manuel Gonzalez leads the Cowboys with a .391 average, followed by Kyan Ensign at .377 and Kacen Sedestrom at .357. Mason Hernandez has a team-high five home runs. 

The Cowboys will open the 3A tournament against Santa Fe Trail (19-2) at 1:15 p.m. Thursday. 
CLASS 2-1A

At Great Bend Sports Complex
 

MARION GLAD TO BE BACK IN THE HUNT
 
Marion coach Roger Schroeder’s focus has been 99.9% on Heart of America League rival Sedgwick, the Warriors’ Class 2-1A quarterfinal opponent on Thursday.
 
But after a four-year absence from the state tournament, Schroeder allowed himself a wandering eye to the possibilities within the eight-team bracket.
 
A victory on Thursday could give the Warriors a semifinal matchup with Elkhart, which spoiled Marion’s last state trip in 2019 with a 3-2 walk-off victory in the championship game.
 
“I would be an absolute liar if I said we haven’t looked at the bracket as a whole,” Schroeder said.
 
While Marion hasn’t won a state title, the Warriors were on an impressive three-year run from 2017-19 that yielded runner-up finishes in 3A and 2-1A sandwiched around a third-place 3A finish in 2018. Thursday’s appearance will be Marion’s sixth since 2013.
 
“It feels like a long time,” Schroeder said of a drought that has left every player on Marion’s roster making his first state appearance. “The Covid year really took some wind out of our sail.”
 
After regional final losses to eventual 2-1A champion Sedgwick in 2021 and Remington a year ago, the Warriors cleared that hurdle by fending off Chase County 4-3 to win the Lyndon regional on May 17.
 
Marion’s top players include junior utility/pitcher Jack Lanning, whose older brothers, Luke and Seth, played for the Warriors in their previous state trip. He is batting .532 with 23 RBI, and also has a 2-0 record with two saves and a 2.44 ERA.
 
Lanning, senior Hayden Mendoza, junior Cooper Bailey and sophomore Lander Smith have all driven in at least 20 runs. Mendoza, Bailey and senior Mitch Norris have combined for 15 pitching victories this season.
 
“I think of this group similarly to our 2017 group in that in ’18 and ’19, we had some absolute horses on the mound,” said Schroeder, who earned his 200^th career victory in his 12^th season on April 28 against Inman. “I like our staff, and I think our guys are really good this year, but we don’t have a dude.
 
“We also lacked that dude in ’17. We just had a bunch of guys who knew how to get guys out and knew how to pitch. That’s what our staff is full of this year.”
 
A prolonged return to state this week will likely keep Marion renewing old acquaintances. The other side of the bracket features top seed Little River, which dealt the Warriors their only losses in an 11-3 and 17-4 sweep on March 31.
 
But first things first, Schroeder said.
 
“We’re focused on task one now,” Schroeder said. “We’ve been to enough state tournaments now, we know that you kind of sellout to do whatever you can to win on Thursday.”