CLASS 3A BASEBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2025
 

COLBY ARENSDORF, KINGMAN
 
Arensdorf has pitched his way on to Kingman’s career and single-season record lists after a big junior campaign in 2024. The right-hander earned first-team All-Central Plains League recognition after posting a 9-2 record with a 1.53 ERA as the Eagles won 20 games and earned a No. 1 regional seed. Arensdorf struck out 70 in 50.1 innings. Arensdorf’s 9 wins last season – and 20 career victories – are program records along with his 174 career strikeouts through the first one-third of the 2025 season.
 

GARRETT BABCOCK, NEODESHA
 
Babcock, a senior, is a four-year starter at catcher for Neodesha, which finished 13-9 last spring in its first season under coach Aaron Mosher. Occasionally in the lineup at first base, Babcock landed on the All-Tri-Valley League first team last season after batting .327 with a .507 on-base percentage. Babcock had 13 RBI, 14 runs scored and eight stolen bases.
 

 
ASHTON BLETSCHER, BELOIT

Bletscher has played all over the field the past two seasons, starting at various points at third base, left field, right field and pitcher. The senior enters his third year as a starter coming off being a first-team All-North Central Activities Association pick last year as a junior. He hit .352 and drew 19 walks, scoring 27 runs and stealing 16 bases. The 27 runs rank 12th in Beloit history in single season and Bletscher is a career .357 hitter.
 

MILES BUHRLE, HERITAGE CHRISTIAN

Buhrle returns for his junior year following a Kaw Valley All-League first team selection last year. Heritage Christian finished the year 12-12 after suffering an 1-0 loss in the opening round of regionals.
 

JOSH BURDICK, CHENEY
 
An All-State Top 33 pick at quarterback and All-Class 3A second-team performer in basketball this school year, Burdick has also helped Cheney build a solid baseball foundation as a four-year starter. He helped the Cardinals reach the regional finals last season, earning All-Central Plains League first team at the utility spot while juggling catching and pitching duties. The Emporia State football signee entered his senior season with a .335 career average and 26 hits for extra bases, and recorded 50 strikeouts in 37 innings with a 2.08 ERA a year ago.
 

 
HAYDEN BUTTREY, COUNCIL GROVE
 
Buttrey is a four-year starter in centerfield for the Braves and last year earned first-team All-Flint Hill League honors. He hit .415 as a junior becoming a force at the plate for the Braves.
 

 
COOPER CAMPIDILLI, SILVER LAKE
 
Campidilli has been a rock behind the plate for Silver Lake and ventures out to get an occasional start at third base as well, entering his third year as a starter overall. Last year, he hit. 370 with 23 RBI and 19 runs scored – his second straight year with at last 20 RBI. He’s a .357 hitter over his career and last year was a first-team All-Mid-East League selection.
 

JAKE CAPEHART, FRONTENAC

Capehart held a .348 batting average last year as he earned 31 hits, including five doubles and two triples, while stealing 14 bases and scoring 21 runs last year. He earned All-CNC first team honors as a junior. His versatility playing both as an outfielder and a pitcher allowed the Raiders the flexibility it needed to retool its roster and make a deep postseason run on the way to a third-place finish at state. 
 

 
LOGAN CATHCART, SILVER LAKE
 
Cathcart has been the Eagles’ most consistent pitcher over the past couple seasons and last year went 4-1 with 28 strikeouts in leading the Silver Lake staff. He also plays both middle infield positions when not pitching and hit .333 with 24 runs scored and 10 stolen bases. He earned first-team All-Mid-East League honors.
 

 
ELI DEAN, PERRY-LECOMPTON
 
Dean has earned All-Class 3A honors from the KABC each of the past two seasons, being a second-team selection as a sophomore before moving up to first-team honors last year at the middle infield spot. He set Perry’s single-season batting average record last year, hitting .591 and only struck out one time all season. A three-time first-team All-Big Seven League pick, Dean committed no errors at shortstop and has signed with Washburn.
 

MANNY DUNN, BISHOP WARD

Dunn drove in 22 RBIs, including with 4 home runs, on a .453 batting average while also stealing 17 bases. His performance as a junior pitcher earned him All-State second team and Kaw Valley All-League first team honors last year. Dunn helped lead the Cyclones to undefeated regular season record and a trip to the regional finals, before falling 4-1 to against Sabetha.
 

CAMERON EASTMAN, CHENEY
 
Eastman and the Cardinals knocked off regional top seed Kingman last season before their 12-9 season ran out of steam one win shy of state against Hesston. One of eight Cheney players with multiple seasons of starting experience, Eastman was an offensive catalyst last spring, batting .381 while also earning first-team All-Central Plains honors at pitcher after going 7-1 with a 1.37 ERA. The four-year starter entered his senior season with 70 career stolen bases. Eastman earned All-3A honorable mention at utility in 2024.
 

BLAKE ELLIS, HUMBOLDT
 
Ellis has locked down the shortstop position at Humboldt for four seasons, and earned All-Tri-Valley League honors last spring as the Cubs finished 19-5 with a loss to Burlington in the regional finals. Ellis batted .379 with 25 hits – 8 for extra bases – and had a home run, 19 RBI and 36 runs scored. Ellis helped Humboldt post a 23-3 record and fourth-place finish in Class 3A as a sophomore. 
 

ADRIK GOMEZ-ESQUIBEL, LAKIN

A four-year starter, Gomez-Esquibel can play catcher, third base and shortstop for the Broncs. He posted a .423 batting average last season with a .562 on-base percentage. Gomez-Esquibel delivered 24 RBI, scored 23 runs and had 8 doubles as a junior. He landed All-Hi PLains League honors for the third time, moving up to the first team last season. Gomez-Esquibel was a key player on the Broncs’ basketball team that reached the state tournament last March.
 

 
GRANT HAEFELE, MARYSVILLE
 
Haefele helped Marysville return to state for the first time since 2006, and has been key in the Bulldogs' turnaround from a one-win team in 2022. The junior hit .408 last season as a sophomore, swatting four home runs and driving in 26 while scoring 30 runs. He posted the second-best single-season total for stolen bases with 23 last year, earning first-team All-North Central Kansas League and first-team All-Class 3A honors, the all-league honors coming in the outfield and All-Class honors at utility.
 

 
ELI HARMISON, RILEY COUNTY

A four-year starter at shortstop and pitcher, Harmison earned first-team All-Mid-East League honors last year and was a second-team All-Class 3A pick. He holds a .387 career batting average with 68 career hits. He’ll be a team captain for the Falcons this year, fully recovered from an injury that wiped out the bulk of his senior football season.
 

CONNER HOSTETLER, CHAPARRAL
 
Chaparral won just six games last season, but Hostetler made enough of an impact to earn All-Central Plains League first-team honors as an infielder and honorable mention on the mound. Hostetler batted .453 with a .527 on-base percentage and 23 stolen bases. He also posted a 4-2 record and 1.70 ERA in 49.1 innings. Hostetler also recorded 59 strikeouts.
 

CHANDLER INGOLD, HAVEN
 
One of four returning starters for the Wildcats, Ingold threw a five-inning, no-hitter in Haven’s season-opening victory over Chase County in mid-March. Last season, Ingold was the All-Central Plains League first-team designated hitter, batting .386 with 16 stolen bases. The senior plays a utility role for coach Noah Krol, whose team is coming off 18-8 season that ended with a loss to state qualifier Hesston in the regional semifinals.
 

KYLER ISBELL, HUMBOLDT
 
Isbell is another of Humboldt’s four-year starters who experienced the state tournament as a sophomore, when the Cubs went 23-3 and finished fourth in Class 3A. Humboldt was bumped out by Burlington in the regional finals last season, but Isbell put together another solid year on the mound and at third. He earned All-Tri-Valley League first-team recognition after posting a 6-1 record with a 2.00 ERA. Isbell struck out 45 while walking 12. He also batted .260 with five extra-base hits and 10 RBI. Isbell is closing in on 150 career strikeouts.
 

KEEGAN JOHNSON, HOLCOMB

Johnson, a senior, tied for the team lead in stolen bases with 12 last season and had the second highest on-base percentage (.510) for the Longhorns. He had a team-high eight extra-base hits (seven doubles, one triple). Johnson also had a solid year on the mound, going 4-1 with a 2.75 ERA in 28 innings. The Longhorns went 18-6 in 2024. Johnson was a first-team All-Great West Activities Conference selection last season.

KORBIN JOHNSON, HOLCOMB

Korbin Johnson joined his older brother Keegan on the All-Great West Activities Conference first team last season. He was the Longhorns’ top pitcher as a sophomore, posting a 6-1 record with a 1.56 ERA. Johnson hit .343 on the season .506 on-base percentage. He scored 25 runs and swiped 11 bases. Keegan and Korbin Johnson helped lead the Longhorn football team into the 3A semifinals last fall. 

NATE KAMINSKA, CANEY VALLEY
 
The younger brother of former Wichita State and Nebraska pitcher Jace Kaminska, Nate has been a solid performer on the mound himself for the Bullpups. Kaminska earned All-Tri-Valley League first-team honors and All-3A honorable mention last season after going 6-4 with a 2.15 ERA. The senior has been part of Caney’s rotation for three seasons. The Bullpups were unbeaten in their first three doubleheaders this season, with Kaminska starting the opener of each.
 

MAX KERSENBROCK, COLBY

The senior is Colby’s top returning hitter after finishing with a .349 average last season. He recorded a team-high 22 hits with 14 RBI, 6 doubles and 3 triples. He was a first-team All-Great West Activities Conference selection and earned second-team All-3A honors as an outfielder in 2024. He’ll look to help the Eagles build off last season’s 13-7 record. Kersenbrock was off to a great start this season, hitting .600 with three doubles and a home run during the Eagles’ 4-0 start.
 

TRACE KOPPER, CIMARRON

Kopper put up strong numbers in his junior campaign last year, leading the Bluejays in most offensive categories. He hit .419, scored 28 runs and stole 17 bases. Kopper put together 12 multi-hit games last season, including three 3-hit outings. He was solid on the mound, going 4-0 with a 3.37 ERA in nine appearances. He earned first-team All-Great West Activities Conference honors in 2024. The Bluejays are off to a 6-2 start after posting a 14-9 mark in 2024.
 

 
MITCHELL KRAMER, SABETHA
 
There’s no question what the highlight of Kramer’s junior season was last spring – a seven-inning perfect game against Royal Valley in which he struck out 18 Panthers. A four-year starter both on the mound and in the infield, Kramer ranks second in school history with strikeouts in a season with 52 last spring when he went 4-0 with a 0.92 ERA. He also holds the school record for stolen bases (24) and is tied for the home run record and ranks second in doubles and triples, hitting .342 with 8 doubles, 3 triples, 2 homers and 22 RBI last year. Kramer has helped the Bluejays to the Class 3A state tournament all three seasons and was first-team All-Big Seven League and honorable All-Class 3A last season.
  

 
GUNNAR MCMAHAN, WEST FRANKLIN
 
A four-year starter for the Falcons, McMahan can be untouchable at times on the mound. Which explains his two career no-hitters, one coming his sophomore year and another coming last season as a junior. He finished with a 3-2 mark and 3.53 ERA. When he’s not pitching, McMahan starts at shortstop where he was a first-team All-Flint Hills League selection last season after hitting .476 with 13 RBI, 12 runs scored and 15 stolen bases.
 

PEYTON MODICH, CHERRYVALE
 
Modich, a senior, has started since his freshman year for the Chargers, pitching and playing first base. Coach Scott John admires his veteran’s approach, saying, “Peyton is a great kid who understands how to pitch and not just throw. He has worked hard to be as good as he is.” Modich was voted to the All-Tri-Valley League first team after posting a 1.12 ERA in 47.1 innings last season.
 

 
IAN NICKELSON, SOUTHEAST OF SALINE
 
Nickelson took over as the Trojans’ starting third baseman last year and had a big season at the plate. He hit .404 with an on-base percentage of .648 and OPS of 1.264. When Nickelson wasn’t getting a hit, he was getting hit – setting a school record by getting hit by a pitch a whopping 18 times last season. He was a first-team All-North Central Activities Association selection.
 

 
SAM NORDHUS, NEMAHA CENTRAL
 
Nordhus was Nemaha Central’s ace a year ago as a junior, going 5-2 with a 3.80 ERA on his way to first-team All-Big Seven League honors. As a sophomore, he was a first-team all-league outfielder. He goes into his senior season ranked in the top 10 in hits, home runs, RBI and triples and is the Thunder’s all-time leader in stolen bases. He is coming off a broken ankle suffered early in the football season that wiped out the bulk of that season.
 

KEYLAN OVERTON, BISHOP WARD

Overton earned All-State and Kaw Valley All-League second team honors as junior outfielder last season. He drove in 19 runs while posting a .439 batting average. Overton helped lead Bishop Ward to a 22-1 record, although the Cyclones' season got cut short with a 4-1 loss to Sabetha in the regional finals.
 

LOGAN PAGE, HUMBOLDT
 
Part of Humboldt’s trio of returning All-Tri-Valley League first-team players, Page has been a four-year starter on the mound and in center. The lefty batted .333 last season with 24 hits including seven doubles and two home runs. Page added 25 RBI. He was 6-2 with a 1.31 ERA with 56 strikeouts in 42.2 innings. A part of Humboldt’s fourth-place team in 3A two years ago, Page is on track to surpass 200 career strikeouts this season.
 

MARSHAL POTTER, RIVERTON

Potter posted 15 RBIs last season thanks to his .324 batting average and .851 OPS during his trips to the plate. On the mound, he earned a 1-1 record in two starts, while also earning eight strikeouts across his six total games of action at pitcher. His performance helped the Rams finish 20-8 with a trip to the regional finals, before losing 7-4 against Frontenac. Potter earned All-CNC first team honors last year at outfielder as a junior.
 

 
BRADEN ROBERTS, WICHITA TRINITY
 
One of two returning All-Central Plains League first-team players for Trinity, Roberts plays center and pitches for new coach Matt Baty. Roberts, a three-year starter, helped the Knights reach the Class 3A title game in 2024, batting .303 with 42 runs scored and 18 stolen bases. An All-3A honorable mention pick last spring, Roberts is batting in the leadoff spot this season.
 

 
ALEX SCHEELE, MARYSVILLE
 
Scheele was the leading hitter for a Marysville team that knocked off the No. 1, 2 and 3 seeds at its regional to earn its first Class 3A state tournament berth since 2006. He finished with a .431 average, cranking out 31 hits. Scheele drove in 25 runs and scored 18, earning first-team All-North Central Kansas League honors in the infield as the Bulldogs’ starting third baseman. He struck out just four times last season.
 

 
DYSEN SCHOOLER, SILVER LAKE
 
A starter since his freshman season, Schooler can man both positions on the left side of the infield and also has been a valuable member of the Eagles’ pitching staff. He hit .492 last season, driving in 22 and scoring 21 runs. He’s also a threat on the basepaths and is the Eagles’ record holder for stolen bases, swiping 19 last season. On the mound he struck out 20 and he was a first-team All-Mid-East League selection.
 

 
JOSIAH SEMS, WICHITA TRINITY
 
Sems, a senior, was the Central Plains League’s player of the year and an All-Class 3A first-team middle infielder last season. He led Trinity to a 22-5 record and Class 3A runner-up finish, batting .398 with 34 RBI, 30 runs scored and 15 stolen bases. Sems, a two-year starter, has seen time on the mound in addition to playing shortstop. He adds to a potent top of the order for the Knights, batting second behind All-CPL performer Braden Roberts.
  

 
LANE SMITH, ST. MARYS

A junior, Smith enters his third year as a starting outfielder for the Bears. Last year, he hit .443 and had 16 stolen bases. He earned first-team All-Mid-East League honors and his 27 hits were just four away from being a top-five single-season performance in program history.
 

JACK VILELA, COLUMBUS

Vilela racked up 33 hits on a .516 batting average to drive in 23 RBIs and stole 11 bases. As a pitcher, he had a 4-3 record with a 2.69 ERA and 65 strikeouts across 39 innings pitched. Vilela earned All-CNC first team honors for his work as an infielder during his junior campaign last year. He posted a .811 fielding percentage with 41 putouts in 53 total chances.
 

 
COOPER WATKINS, JEFFERSON WEST
 
Watkins has earned All-Big Seven League honors each of his first two seasons at West, being a first-team selection last season. He’s been the ace of the Tiger staff and last year went 6-1 with a 1.56 ERA. He struck out 64 batters and walked just nine. Watkins also was an honorable mention All-Class 3A selection last year.
 

 
BRAYDEN WHEAT, ANDERSON COUNTY

A junior who plays centerfield and pitches for the Bulldogs, Wheat hit .350 last year with 17 RBI and 18 runs scored. He posted a 2.78 ERA in 32.2 innings pitched. Wheat was a first-team All-Pioneer League selection.
 

 
TRE WILSON, IOLA

Wilson was the player of the year in the Pioneer League last year as the top vote-getter for the all-league team. One of the top catchers in the state, Wilson will get to experience the other side of the battery some this season as a relief pitcher for the Mustangs. Last year, he hit .452 with 14 doubles, 2 home runs and 38 RBI. He also scored 28 runs and stole 12 bases.
 

NASH WRAY, HAVEN
 
Wray, a senior, is back to anchor the shortstop position for Haven after earning All-Class 3A second-team honors in 2024. The Wildcats’ leadoff hitter batted .561 last spring, collecting 46 hits while scoring 46 runs with 22 stolen bases. Wray, Haven's starting quarterback in the fall, was also voted to the All-Central Kansas League first team as the Wildcats posted an 18-8 record.