CLASS 6A BASEBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2025
 

 
DRAYDEN ACOSTA, TOPEKA HIGH

Graduation claimed the bulk of Topeka High’s 17-5 Class 6A state-qualifying team that posted the most wins in program history a year ago, leaving Acosta as one of the few proven commodities for the Trojans this season. He earned second-team All-Centennial League honors as a middle infielder for the Trojans a year ago, hitting .492 with 19 RBI on the season. 
 

CHRIS AIELLO, BLUE VALLEY

Aiello enters his senior year as one of the top returning players for a Blue Valley squad which went 17-11 last year, reaching the regional finals before losing 2-1 to eventual state champion Olathe South. Aiello posted 28 hits, including three home runs, and 15 RBIs with a .341 batting average last year. He earned All-State honorable mention and All-EKL first team honors at first base as a sophomore last season.
 

LANCE ALEXANDER, OLATHE NORTHWEST
 
Alexander struck out 72 batters while posting a 1.408 ERA as one of the top pitchers in the state last year. He earned All-State and All-EKL first team honors at pitcher during his junior campaign.
 

 
CARTER ASLIN, MANHATTAN

A standout quarterback who led Manhattan to a runner-up finish in Class 6A in the fall, Aslin doubles as a standout outfielder for the Indians in the spring. Moving into the starting centerfielder role last spring, Aslin hit .378 and scored 31 runs. He was a terror on the basepaths with 20 stolen bases and is expected to set single-season and career stolen base records for the program this year. He also was an outstanding defensive player, earning first-team All-Centennial League honors.
 

HOLDEN GROEBL, BLUE VALLEY NORTH

Groebl earned All-State second team and All-EKL first team honors at catcher as a junior last season. He helped the Tigers rebound from a sub-.500 record in 2023 to post a 14-13 mark last year. He delivered 14 extra-base hits and 20 RBIs with a .364 batting average. Groebl will play baseball for Cowley County CC next year.
 

MAX HAMILTON, OLATHE WEST

Hamilton earned eight wins on the mound last year, striking out 75 batters and posting a 1.52 ERA across 50 innings of work. He earned 16 of those strikes during a complete game shutout against Shawnee Mission South. Hamilton helped lead Olathe West to a 27-2 record and a trip to state. He earned All-State and All-Sunflower League first team honors at pitcher as a sophomore last season.
 

ETHAN HAMPTON, OLATHE EAST

Hampton earned All-State second team and All-Sunflower League first team honors at designated hitter as a junior last season. He helped lead Olathe East to an 18-9 record. The Hawks reached the regional finals before losing 5-3 in 8 innings against Shawnee Mission East.
 

BLAINE LARKIN, FREE STATE

Larkin did not end up earning All-State or all-league honors last season, but Free State’s ace pitcher had numbers that rivaled anybody who did make those lists. He went 7-1 last year with a 1.90 ERA and 50 strikeouts. Along with Cayman Cook, the Firebirds will have two accomplished pitchers on the mound as they try to build off last year’s 23-7 record and third-place state finish.
 

HOLDEN MEADOWS, OLATHE EAST

Meadows earned All-State second team honors, but was not an All-Sunflower League selection. He helped lead Olathe East to an 18-9 record. The Hawks reached the regional finals before losing 5-3 in 8 innings against Shawnee Mission East.
 

PARKER MEIROWSKY, MAIZE
 
Meirowsky was one of the young standouts who helped the Eagles end a four-season, state tournament drought last spring, batting .342 with a team-high 15 stolen bases. The junior joined three other Maize players who earned All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail I first-team honors, doing so at first base. Meirowsky’s return eases the loss of eight contribuiting seniors from a 21-8 team.
 

TY MILLER, OLATHE WEST

Miller got his first run on Olathe West’s varsity team as a sophomore during the 2023 season. That year, he had 20 strikeouts in his 28 innings on the mound. His command as a pitcher really came to light last year. Miller doubles his number of wins with 6 while striking out 39 batters in 42 innings and posting a 0.82 ERA. He earned All-State second team and All-Sunflower League first team honors at pitcher with those marks as a junior last season. He’ll try to replicate those results this year for an Owls team that went 27-2 a year ago, but were left wanting more when their state trip ended early with a 3-1 lose in the quarterfinals against the eventual state champs, Olathe South.
 

BEAU PETERSON, MILL VALLEY

Peterson earned All-Sunflower League first team honors at third base as a sophomore last year. He helped lead Mill Valley to a 15-12 record and regional finals appearance.
 

CULDEN PLANKENHORN, GARDEN CITY

Plankenhorn earned first-team All-Western Athletic Conference honors as a sophomore last season. The catcher/third baseman hit .326 and led the Buffaloes with a .508 on-base percentage. He drove in 12 runs and stole 17 bases. He’ll look to help the Buffaloes improve on last year’s 7-13 mark. Through the first six games this season, Plankenhorn was hitting .333 with three extra-base hits.
 

ROY ROSEMAN, OLATHE WEST

Roseman earned All-State and All-Sunflower League first team honors at first base as a sophomore last season. He posted a .386 batting average as he drove in 25 RBIs, hit 4 home runs and stole 16 bases. He helped lead Olathe West to a 27-2 record and a trip to state last year.
 

CHRISTIAN RYAN, BLUE VALLEY WEST

Ryan, a three-year starter for Blue Valley West, posted an 8-1 record with 52 strikeouts and a 1.46 ERA as a junior last season. Heearned All-State and All-EKL second team honors at pitcher. He helped lead Blue Valley West to a 24-6 record and a state runner-up finish. The Jaguars were looking for a three-peat, but they lost 10-2 against Olathe South in the state finals.
 

KYLER SCHUESSLER, SHAWNEE MISSION EAST
 
Schuessler earned All-State and All-Sunflower League first team honors as a junior outfielder last season. He helped lead Shawnee Mission East to a 20-11 record and fourth-place finish at state. The Lancers reached the state semifinals before losing 5-3 in extra innings against Blue Valley West.
 

GAVIN SHORT, MAIZE
 
The left-handed Short was a cog in Maize’s offense last season, batting .366 with 34 hits, 21 RBI and 25 runs scored. The All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail I first-team outfielder helped the Eagles win a regional title and earn their first state berth since 2018. Short, a junior, also pitches for the Eagles and threw six shutout innings in an 1-0 win over Seaman last month.
 

COOPER STEIN, SHAWNEE MISSION WEST

Stein earned All-State honorable mention and All-Sunflower League first team honors as a junior outfielder last season. He will try to help Shawnee Mission West improve from a 12-15 campaign in 2024.
 

GRADY WESTPHAL, BLUE VALLEY

Westphal earned All-State honorable mention at designated hitter and All-EKL first team honors at pitcher as a junior last season. He helped lead Blue Valley to a 17-11 record and regional finals appearance. Westphal had 19 hits with a .328 batting average last season.