Blue Valley West senior Eli Lovich, whose outfield play and pitching helped the Jaguars reach the Class 6A championship game, was selected as the Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches 6A player of the year, the organization announced.
The KABC released its 2024 All-State teams along with players, pitchers and coaches of the year for all classes. The left-handed Lovich, an Arkansas signee, led Blue Valley West to a 24-6 record to earn a spot on the All-6A first team. Blue Valley’s Grady Westphal, a junior right-hander, earned pitcher of the year honors and Olathe West’s Austin Fisher was the 6A coach of the year.
In Class 5A, Shawnee Heights junior Deacon Pomeroy was named player of the year after leading the T-Birds to a state tournament berth. Left-hander Coltin Watkins of Goddard earned pitcher of the year recognition and St. Thomas Aquinas’ Rick Sabath was the coach of the year after directing the Saints to a 5A championship.
Seniors Boston Bruce of Atchison and Victor Christal of Bishop Miege were voted as the 4A player and pitcher of the year, respectively. Rock Creek’s Shane Sieben, who guided the Mustangs to a 28-1 record and the 4A title, was selected coach of the year.
In Class 3A, Bishop Ward senior shortstop and pitcher Chris Mancinas earned player of the year honors, while Whit Rhodes took the 3A pitching honor after helping Hesston earn a state berth. Wichita Trinity’s Josh Robertson repeated as coach of the year after leading the Knights to a 3A runner-up finish.
Pittsburg-St. Mary’s Colgan had the 2-1A player of the year in senior Cooper Simmons and coach of the year in Mike Watt after finishing third at state. Sedgwick junior Corey Crumrine landed the 2-1A pitcher of the year award.
CLASS 6A
First team
Pitcher — Lance Alexander, jr., Olathe Northwest; Kyle Graves, sr., Free State; Max Hamilton, so., Olathe West; Nate Plankinton, sr., Topeka High; Grady Westphal, jr., Blue Valley. Catcher — Anthony Mazza, sr., Shawnee Mission East. First base — Cooper Oakley, sr., Wichita Heights. Middle infield — Kyle Graves, sr., Free State; Brooks Kappelmann, sr., Liberal; Brady Unrein, sr., Wichita Northwest. Third base—Samuel Dew, sr., Blue Valley West. Outfielder — Quinn Groebl, sr., Blue Valley North; Eli Lovich, sr., Blue Valley West; Kaison Overbey, sr., Wichita Northwest; Kyler Schuessler, jr., Shawnee Mission East. Utility — Jackson Ellison, sr., Wichita Heights. Designated hitter — Roy Roseman, so., Olathe West.
Second team
Pitcher — Andrew McCarthy, sr., Gardner Edgerton; Holden Meadows, jr., Olathe East; Ty Miller, jr., Olathe West; Christian Ryan, sr., Blue Valley West; Cooper Tannahill, sr., Maize. Catcher — Holden Grobl, jr., Blue Valley North. First base — Jaden Rose, sr., Blue Valley West. Middle infield — Jake Bauer, sr., Olathe North; Collin Guerra, sr., Olathe South; Remington Miller, sr., Dodge City. Third base — Brady Boomsma, jr., Wichita Heights. Outfield — Cameron Carter, sr., Olathe West; Quinton Coats, sr., Olathe South; Easton O’Keefe, sr., Blue Valley West; Colton Ruedy, sr., Derby. Utility — Dylan Butash, sr., Gardner Edgerton. Designated hitter — Ethan Hampton, jr., Olathe East.
Honorable mention
Pitcher — Alex Maldanado, sr., Wichita Heights; Liam Roche, sr., Shawnee Mission South; Sam Spiegel, jr., Manhattan; Hagan Warkins, so., Campus; Michael Winter, jr., Shawnee Mission East. Catcher — Micah McGavran, jr., Olathe West. First base — Chris Aiello, jr., Blue Valley. Middle infield — Kasch Oakley, so., Wichita Heights; Alfonso Olivarez, jr., Wichita North; Jake Wolcott, sr., Manhattan. Third base — Mason Lester, sr., Free State. Outfield — Anthony Alvarez, sr., Blue Valley West; Tyler Janssen, sr., Olathe North; Landon Joynt, sr., Wichita Heights; Cooper Stein, jr., Shawnee Mission West. Utility — Brayden Peterson, sr., Blue Valley. Designated hitter — Grady Westphal, jr., Blue Valley.
Player of the year — Eli Lovich, sr., Blue Valley West
Pitcher of the year — Grady Westphal, jr., Blue Valley
Coach of the year — Austin Fisher, Olathe West
CLASS 5A
First team
Pitcher — Shane Holman, sr., Bishop Carroll; Deacon Pomeroy, jr., Shawnee Heights; Anson Siebert, sr., Blue Valley Southwest; Coltin Watkins, sr., Goddard; Sterling Widman, sr., Blue Valley Southwest. Catcher—David Dobbs, jr., Seaman. First base — Holden Lough, sr., Spring Hill. Middle infield — Brady Howard, sr., Salina South; Keaton Neal, so., Spring Hill; Mason Pangborn, sr., Blue Valley Southwest. Third base — Kaden Budke, sr., Salina South. Outfield — Mason Healy, sr., Goddard; Kaleb Nye, sr., Kapaun Mt. Carmel; Blake O’Brien, sr., St. Thomas Aquinas; Carson Umphres, jr., Great Bend. Utility — Cole Adams, jr., Eisenhower. Designated hitter — Cru Huenfeld, jr., St. Thomas Aquinas.
Second team
Pitcher — Joaquin Banuelos, sr., Andover; Will Burger, sr., DeSoto; Tonio Mendez, sr., Lansing; Noah Thompson, jr., De Soto; Carson Umphres, jr., Great Bend. Catcher — Deacon Pomeroy, jr., Shawnee Heights. First base — Ian Premer, so., Great Bend. Middle infield — Westin Boyle, jr., St. Thomas Aquinas; Van Haneberg, sr., Bishop Carroll; Brody Shinkle, jr., Blue Valley Southwest. Third base — Peyton White, sr., Andover. Outfield — Brock Ellis, sr., Maize South; Carter Pabst, jr., Eisenhower; Zach Wilson, sr., Seaman; Justin Zerger, sr., Newton. Utility — Luke Youngdahl, sr., Maize South. Designated hitter — Trenton Kern, so., Great Bend.
Honorable mention
Pitcher — Lincoln Boyle, so., St. Thomas Aquinas; Axton Brewer, fr., Seaman; Holden Finley, sr., Seaman; Brady Howard, sr., Salina South; Henry Rambo, jr., Leavenworth. Catcher — Hunter Higgins, so., Maize South. First base — Gunner Gross, sr., Salina Central. Middle infield — JJ Grove, so., Great Bend; Cole Heitmann, sr., De Soto; Drew Torgerson, sr., Andover. Third base — Noah Davis, so., Leavenworth. Outfield — Jordan Armbruster, sr., Shawnee Heights; Issac Lager, jr., Bishop Carroll; Cayden Lindsey, so., Shawnee Heights; Nathan Tajchman, sr., Bishop Carroll. Utility — Phoenix Thompson, jr., De Soto. Designated hitter — Gage Bowker, sr., Goddard.
Player of the year — Deacon Pomeroy, jr., Shawnee Heights
Pitcher of the year — Coltin Watkins, sr., Goddard
Coach of the year — Rick Sabath, St. Thomas Aquinas
CLASS 4A
First team
Pitcher — Dub Chipman, jr., Fort Scott; Victor Christal, sr., Bishop Miege; Parker Clubb, so., Mulvane; Stockton Timbrook, sr., Abilene; Daegan Vinduska, sr., Rock Creek. Catcher — Jeter Purdy, sr., Atchison. First base — Larsen Koester, sr., Chanute. Middle infield — Boston Bruce, sr., Atchison; TJ Kerns, sr., Ottawa; Rhett Smith, sr., Chanute. Third base — Luke Schultz, jr., Louisburg. Outfield — Declan Battle, sr., Louisburg; Scotty Carr, sr., Rose Hill; Cole Pladson, jr., Clay Center; Brody Seidl, jr., McPherson. Utility — Trevor McGraw, sr., Tonganoxie. Designated hitter — Nathaniel Lamm, sr., Louisburg.
Second team
Pitcher — Owen Blaine, sr., Ottawa; Yogi Purdy, so., Atchison; Ian Razak, jr., McPherson; Colton Roberts, jr., Rose Hill; Cooper Sieben, jr., Rock Creek. Catcher — Drew Becker, jr., Rock Creek. First base — Landon Haines, sr., Circle. Middle infield — Brock Gibbs, jr., Tonganoxie; Brody Haskell, so., Augusta; Brady Hope, sr., Larned. Third base — Hunter Loethen, jr., Paola. Outfield — Hudson Baker, sr., Labette County; Cash Carson, jr., Buhler; Spencer Goldston, sr., Fort Scott; Jayden Mies, sr., Pratt. Utility — Aven Woods, so., Chapman. Designated hitter — Cooper Nace, sr., Rose Hill.
Honorable mention
Pitcher — Logan Beede, jr., McPherson; Landon Haines, sr., Circle; Hunter Loethen, jr., Paola; Jayden Mies, sr., Pratt; Rhett Smith, sr., Chanute. Catcher — Danny Napier, so., Louisburg. First base — Brett Davidson, jr., Baldwin. Middle infield — Carter Bengtson, fr., McPherson; Brock Richardson, jr., McPherson; JD Troutman, jr., Paola. Third base — Heath Hoekman, so., Abilene. Outfield — Skylar Branam, jr., Wellington; Blake Costlow, fr., Paola; Owen Schmidt, jr., Pratt; Caleb Strong, fr., Pratt. Utility — Rocco Loffredo, sr., Fort Scott. Designated hitter — Kris Harding, so., Chanute.
Player of the year — Boston Bruce, sr., Atchison
Pitcher of the year — Victor Christal, sr., Bishop Miege
Coach of the year — Shane Sieben, Rock Creek
CLASS 3A
First team
Pitcher — Cooper Grace, jr., Hayden; Christian McAfee, sr., Sabetha; Whit Rhodes, sr., Hesston; Chad Robert, sr., Santa Fe Trail; Joaquin Sanchez, sr., Wichita Trinity. Catcher — Jackson Witt, sr., Wichita Trinity. First base — Kyle Strother, sr., Santa Fe Trail. Middle infield — Eli Dean, jr., Perry-Lecompton; Chris Mancinas, sr., Bishop Ward; Josiah Sems, jr., Wichita Trinity. Third base — Tony Moore, sr., Hoisington. Outfield — Sam Hull, sr., Humboldt; Malachi Jimenez, sr., Bluestem; Lane Rolfs, sr., Ellsworth; Trenton Sleichter, sr., Santa Fe Trail. Utility — Grant Haefele, so., Marysville. Designated hitter — Jacob Grimm, sr., Sabetha.
Second team
Pitcher — Manny Dunn, jr., Bishop Ward; Logun Fager, sr., Osage City; Noah Harper, sr., Riverton; Cole Linton, sr., Goodland; Matt Omundsen, sr., Wichita Trinity. Catcher — Carter Helm, sr., Kingman. First base — Connor Taylor, sr., Bishop Ward. Middle infield — Eli Harmison, jr., Riley County; Gunner Lewis, jr., Hesston; Nash Wray, jr., Haven. Third base — Cole Webber, sr., Ellsworth. Outfield — Max Kersenbrock, jr., Colby; Keylan Overton, jr., Bishop Ward; Keagan Shelite, jr., Hesston; Bryan Siemens, sr., Marysville. Utility — Will Cravens, sr., Ellsworth. Designated hitter — Jack Cary, sr., Wichita Trinity.
Honorable mention
Pitcher — Jace Campbell, sr., Wichita Collegiate; Landon Ernst, jr., Burlington; Camden Horak, sr., Rossville; Mitchel Kramer, jr., Sabetha; Cooper Peterson, sr., Osawatomie; Cooper Watkins, so., Jefferson West. Catcher — Luke Briley, sr., Heritage Christian. First base — Ty Heitschmidt, so., Smoky Valley. Middle infield — Carter Drumright, jr., Wichita Collegiate; Payton Gaines, sr., Baxter Springs; Drake Graham, sr., Santa Fe Trail. Third base — Damon Esparza, sr., Bishop Ward. Outfield — Marcus Bauman, sr., Sabetha; Grady Gebhardt, so., Southeast of Saline; Jayden Hendricks, jr., Bishop Ward; Braden Roberts, jr., Wichita Trinity. Utility — Cameron Eastman, jr., Cheney. Designated hitter — Connor Taylor, sr., Bishop Ward.
Player of the year — Chris Mancinas, sr., Bishop Ward
Pitcher of the year — Whit Rhodes, sr., Hesston
Coach of the year — Josh Robertson, Wichita Trinity
CLASS 2-1A
First team
Pitcher — Kysen Bennett, sr., St. Mary’s Colgan; Brayden Berens, sr., Pratt-Skyline; Corey Crumrine, jr., Sedgwick; Eli Lang, sr., Minneola; Jake Voegele, jr., Cedar Vale-Dexter. Catcher — Gavin Wasmuth, sr., Marion. First base — Carter Cunningham, sr., Medicine Lodge. Middle infield — Jackson Kolteman, jr., Onaga; Jack Lanning, sr., Marion; Cooper Simmons, sr., St. Mary’s Colgan. Third base — Karston Wall, jr., Sedgwick. Outfield — Zac Evans, sr., Valley Falls; Gus Keller, sr., St. Mary’s Colgan; JT Prusa, jr., Bucklin; Jerry Rodriguez, sr., Colony-Crest. Utility — Rogan Weir, sr., Colony-Crest. Designated hitter — Wes Anderson, so., Frankfort; Austin Green, jr., Pleasant Ridge.
Second team
Pitcher — Cooper Bailey, sr., Marion; Evan Bogart, sr., Salina Sacred Heart; Carter Cunningham, sr., Medicine Lodge; Nathan Herkin, sr., Pleasant Ridge; Trenten VanHoutan, sr., Oskaloosa. Catcher — Corey Reese, sr., Lebo. First base — Ryan Golden, sr., Colony-Crest. Middle infield — Hayden Kearney, jr., Valley Falls; Sterling Lies, sr., Sedgwick; Logan Renken, jr., Little River. Third base — Rayce Fisher, sr., Onaga. Outfield — Collin Kearney, so., Valley Falls; Jeff Nold, sr., Sedgwick; Carter Olson, jr., Frankfort; Spencer Wade, jr., Northeast-Arma. Utility — Landon Schreiber, sr., Blue Valley-Randolph. Designated hitter — Logan Greenwalt, fr., Moundridge.
Honorable mention
Pitcher — Ross Burril, sr., Canton-Galva; Daniel Haivala, sr., Kansas City Christian; Bryan Jaske, sr., Ellinwood; Trevor Schafers, sr., Marion; Jonah Sparks, sr., Northeast-Arma. Catcher — Justin Novotny, sr., Pratt-Skyline. First base — Jackson Scarlett, sr., Sedgwick. Middle infield — Brycen Dickens, jr., Sedan; Logan Greenwalt, fr., Moundridge; Bryton Spencer, sr., Jayhawk-Linn. Third base — Carter Olson, jr., Frankfort; Coy Perry, sr., Oskaloosa. Outfield — Connor Commerford, jr., Oxford; Kye Gerdes, sr., Medicine Lodge; Hunter Lamond, sr., Onaga; Jameson Looper, so., Marion. Utility — Britt Grigsby, sr., Minneola. Designated hitter — Dylan Cherry, sr., Canton-Galva; Xavier Verges, sr., Onaga.
Player of the year — Cooper Simmons, sr., St. Mary’s Colgan
Pitcher of the year — Corey Crumrine, jr., Sedgwick
Coach of the year — Mike Watt, St. Mary’s Colgan