CLASS 4A BASEBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2026
 

MAX AMREN, LOUISBURG

After beginning his sophomore season on the bench, Amren quickly forced his way into the starting lineup and eventually took over the leadoff spot, where he became one of Louisburg’s most consistent offensive threats. He finished the year hitting .403 with a 1.052 OPS, collecting 29 hits, including four doubles and two triples, while scoring 24 runs. Amren’s ability to get on base and create scoring opportunities at the top of the order played a major role in Louisburg’s 18-7 campaign and run to the regional championship game. For his efforts, he earned first-team All-Frontier League honors and was an all-state honorable mention selection. 
 

COLTON BANNISTER, WELLINGTON
 
Five of the Crusaders who made the All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail IV first team last season were seniors. The lone exception was Bannister, now a senior, who got the nod at third base. Bannister helped Wellington win 19 games last season before Mulvane stopped the Crusaders 5-1 in the Class 4A regional finals. After losing six starters off that team, Bannister’s leadership is aiding the transition. 
 

BRISTOL BARBOUR, LOUISBURG 

Louisburg will again lean on Barbour as one of the anchors in the middle of its lineup after a breakout junior campaign. Barbour was one of the Wildcats’ most dangerous hitters, batting .442 with a 1.210 OPS while consistently driving in runs and providing power. He led the team with four home runs and finished with 34 hits, seven doubles and 27 RBIs, emerging as a steady run producer in key moments. His performance earned him second-team All-Frontier League and second-team all-state honors at third base. Barbour’s value extends beyond the batter’s box as he also returns as one of Louisburg’s top pitching options, giving the Wildcats a reliable two-way presence. 
 

 
JAKE BARTLEY, ABILENE
 
Bartley has been a starter since Day 1 for the Cowboys and fills a number of different positions. Last year, he was a first-team All-Class 4A selection at first base after hitting .442 with 42 hits, both team bests. Bartley belted 4 home runs and drove in a team-high 44 runs. He also had 10 doubles and stole 10 bases. Bartley also pitches and went 3-3 with a 4.42 ERA and 33 strikeouts, and also plays some in the outfield. He was a first-team All-North Central Kansas League selection and helped Abilene to the Class 4A state tournament for the fourth straight year.
 

CARTER BENGTSON, MCPHERSON
 
Bengston is a three-year starter with the versatility to play wherever the Bullpups need him on the infield. Primarily a shortstop or second baseman, Bengston helped McPherson finish 27-4 and third in Class 4A last season by batting .421 with 25 RBIs, 35 runs scored and 14 stolen bases. His return has helped ease the loss of seven graduated seniors off last year’s team. Bengston was the All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III first-team second baseman last spring. 
 

KOLTEN BONNEL, ATCHISON

Bonnel enters his final season as one of the most top offensive threats in the Meadowlark Coference. A first-team all-league selection, Bonnel put together an impressive junior campaign, hitting .457 with a .559 on-base percentage and a .667 slugging mark. Bonnel’s ability to impact the game in multiple ways makes him a centerpiece for the Phoenix lineup. He tallied 37 hits, including 15 extra-base hits, drove in 28 runs and scored 42 more, while also working 16 walks to just eight strikeouts. On the bases, he was equally dangerous, swiping 18 bags. 
 

 
KANIN BROWN, FORT SCOTT

Coming off a dominant 28-3 season that ended with a state championship, Brown returns as one of the key pieces for a Tiger program that has become a consistent contender in Class 4A. A steady presence up the middle, Brown has been part of multiple deep postseason runs, including a third-place finish earlier in his career, and brings both experience and leadership into his final season. Brown was one of Fort Scott’s top hitters in 2025, hitting .352 with 37 hits and 32 RBIs, while earning first-team All-SEK honors and honorable mention all-state recognition. 
  

 
PARKER CLUBB, MULVANE
 
Clubb has been a two-way standout for the Wildcats, and he entered the 2026 season as one of the senior leaders on a team that has high hopes in Class 4A. He was voted co-player of the year along with McPherson’s Ian Razak in Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III last spring, going 5-2 with a 1.11 ERA and batting .366 with three home runs, 22 RBIs and 18 runs scored. The Louisville-bound Clubb earned first-team all-league honors at pitcher and utilty as well as All-4A first-team pitcher for the second straight season.
 

 
MILLER COFFMAN, CLAY CENTER
 
Coffman helped Clay Center return to the Class 4A state tournament last year as the Tigers went 19-7 overall, falling to Paola 4-3 in the quarterfinals. He finished the season with a .414 average, scoring 35 runs and driving in 14. Coffman posted a .559 on-base percentage. He also held a 3.85 ERA on the mound last year and will play a bigger role in the rotation after the graduation of Gatorade Player of the Year Cole Pladson. Coffman was a first-team All-North Central Kansas League selection last year in the outfield.
 

BLAKE COSTLOW, PAOLA

A first-team All-Frontier League selection and second-team all-state outfielder, Costlow was instrumental in leading the Panthers to a fourth-place finish at state. Costlow put together a record-setting campaign in 2025, batting .394 with a single-season school record 39 hits. He showed the ability to impact the game in multiple ways, tallying five doubles, three triples and a home run while leading the team in hits (39), singles (30), RBIs (30), runs scored (38) and stolen bases (30). 
 

MAREK DAVENPORT, TONGANOXIE

Tonganoxie will lean heavily on Davenport as it looks to build off last season’s state tournament appearance, and the 6-6 left-hander has already proven he’s up to the task. A returning second team all-state and first team all-league selection, Davenport was one of the Frontier League’s most reliable arms a year ago, going 6-2 with a 1.40 ERA and had 93 strikeouts in 62 innings pitched. His ability to limit damage and control games made him a key piece in Tonganoxie’s postseason run. 
  

 
HAYS ENSLEY, MULVANE
 
Ensley enjoyed a productive 2025 season as a Wildcat outfielder, batting .353 with 30 hits, one home run, 14 RBIs and 25 runs scored. Those numbers helped Mulvane earn its first Class 4A state tournament berth since 2021. Ensley earned All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III first-team and All-4A second-team honors last season, and batted a team-leading .579 as the Wildcats won their first 10 games this spring.
  

BRODY HASKELL, AUGUSTA
 
A multi-sport standout, Haskell is in his fourth season as a starter on a team that returned virtually intact after challenging then-unbeaten Hayden before falling by one run in their regional semifinal. Haskell, a shortstop and pitcher, batted .474 with 36 hits, 13 RBI and 18 stolen bases. He earned All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III (pitcher) and All-Class 4A (middle infield) second-team honors as the Orioles went 8-13. Haskell was also second-team all-state as a sophomore, when he batted .405.
 

PATRICK KEEHN, ANDALE
 
Keehn, a senior and four-year starter, entered the season as an anchor for Andale’s pitching staff. He went 3-3 with a 2.15 ERA last season, striking out 55 in 48.2 innings. The Indians finished 10-17, but Keehn was a first-team All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail IV selection along with classmate Easton Linnens. Keehn plans to play next season at Butler Community College.
 

EASTON LINNENS, ANDALE
 
Linnens, a four-year starter, provides the Indians with good experience in the outfield. A Friends University signee, he batted .303 with 28 hits, 10 RBIs, 27 runs scored and 17 stolen bases as Andale went 10-17. Linnens was one of five Indians selected on the All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail IV team – all underclassmen – a year ago.
 

 
BROCK LUBBERS, ROCK CREEK
 
Lubbers helped Rock Creek to a runner-up finish at last year’s Class 4A state tournament as the Mustangs finished with a 23-7 record and lost 6-4 to Fort Scott in the state championship game. Lubbers finished last season 9-0 with a 0.77 ERA, striking out 92 and walking just 17 in 63.2 innings. He also recorded three saves and at the plate hit .346 with 22 RBI and 15 runs scored. Lubbers was first-team All-Class 4A as a pitcher and earned his second straight first-team All-League selection and will be counted on even more as the team ace this year after the graduation of fellow hurlers Ryker Zoeller and Cooper Sieben.
 

 
PETER MARTINIE, ROCK CREEK
 
A senior shortstop, Martinie is a slick fielder and his defense helped Rock Creek plenty as the Mustangs reached the Class 4A state championship game before falling 6-4 to Fort Scott. Martinie hit .282 with 15 runs scored and 13 driven in. He earned first-team All-North Central Kansas League honors.
 

 
CALEB MENKE, HAYDEN
 
Menke held down the designated hitter spot for the Wildcats a year ago and ranked tied for fourth on the team with a .403 average He was also fourth on the team in RBI with 21 and added 25 runs scored and a team-high 22 walks. Menke was a first-team All-Centennial League selection and helped Hayden to a 23-1 record.
 

 
KADE MITCHELL, HAYDEN

The speedy Mitchell patrolled centerfield for Hayden a year ago and helped lead the Wildcats to a 23-1 record, the bid for a perfect season coming to an end in the regional semifinals with a 9-8 loss to Tonganoxie. Mitchell hit .403, tied for fourth on the team with fellow returner Caleb Menke, and tied for second on the team in RBI with 26. His 28 runs scored also were second and his 15 stolen bases were third. Mitchell was named second-team All-Class 4A and first-team All-Centennial League.
 

 
MACOY MOODY, WAMEGO
 
A three-year starter for Wamego on the mound and in the outfield, Moody posted a 1.48 ERA in 33 innings pitched last year. He struck out 45 and held opponents to a .128 batting average. Moody earned first-team All-North Central Kansas League honors.
 

LUKE NELSON, BISHOP MIEGE

Nelson enters the season as one of the most dangerous hitters in Class 4A and a cornerstone for the Stags on both sides of the ball. A physical presence in the middle of the order, Nelson put together a standout junior campaign, batting .400 with 30 hits, eight doubles, a triple and four home runs while driving in 32 runs. He led Miege in average, hits and RBIs. At shortstop, he anchors the infield after earning second-team All-Eastern Kansas League and second-team all-state honors. 
 

YOGI PURDY, ATCHISON

Few hitters in the state were as productive as Atchison senior Yogi Purdy a season ago, and he enters his final year as one of the premier bats in Class 4A. The Meadowlark League Player of the Year and a second-team all-state selection at first base, Purdy put together an eye-popping junior campaign. He hit .533 with 40 hits, five home runs and 41 RBIs, while also scoring 46 runs and swiping 22 bases, showcasing a rare combination of power and speed. Purdy is also back on the mound for the Phoenix this season after not being able to pitch last year due to an injury.  
  

 
AIDEN ROBERTS, HAYDEN
 
Roberts gives Hayden two-thirds of its standout outfield back this year with fellow senior Kade Mitchell also back. Roberts ranked second on the Wildcats a year ago with a .409 average which included six doubles. Roberts drove in 13 and scored 21 runs and earned first-team All-Centennial League honors after helping Hayden to a 23-1 record.
 

GREY SANDERS, MULVANE
 
Sanders combined with classmate Parker Clubb to give Mulvane a solid 1-2 combination on the mound last season. The senior right-hander went 6-1 with a 0.80 ERA and 97 strikeouts, helping the Wildcats finish 21-5 and reach the Class 4A state quarterfinals. Sanders, a University of Kansas commit, joined Clubb and now-graduated Nolan Fevurly as Mulvane’s pitching trio on the All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III first team. He also earned all-state second-team recognition. 
 

BROCK SANDERS, INDEPENDENCE

A four-year starter, Sanders has been a steady presence wherever the Bulldogs have needed him — lining up at third base, catcher, shortstop and even on the mound. As a junior, Sanders was one of the area’s most dangerous hitters, batting .490 with 25 hits, five doubles and 19 RBIs while also going a perfect 6-for-6 on stolen base attempts. Sanders was equally reliable defensively, posting a .948 fielding percentage with just four errors in 77 chances, showcasing his consistency across multiple positions. His performance earned him first team All-SEK honors and helped lead Independence to a strong 13-6 season. 
  

 
JORDY SCOTT, ROCK CREEK
 
Scott was an impact freshman for the Mustangs a year ago, taking over a starting spot in the outfield. He was Rock Creek’s leading hitter a year ago, sporting a .404 average that included 7 doubles, 3 triples and a home run. Scott scored 26 runs and drove in 21, helping the Mustangs to a runner-up finish at the Class 4A state tournament. He not only earned first-team All-North Central Kansas League honors, but was a first-team All-Class 4A selection as well.
 

 
RIGLEY SLEICHTER, SANTA FE TRAIL
 
A three-sport standout for the Chargers, Sleichter goes into the spring coming off big football and basketball seasons. Playing just about everywhere on the field a year ago as a freshman, Sleichter earned first-team All-Pioneer League honors. He hit .400 with 32 hits and drove in 12 runs. Once he got on, he was a threat on the basepaths, finishing with 25 steals.
 

KAMEN SPRAGUE, INDEPENDENCE

Sprague returns as one of the most experienced two-way players in the SEK after starting for four years. A first-team All-SEK selection, Sprague was a key piece in the Bulldogs’ 13-6 season a year ago and will again be counted on to lead both at the plate and on the mound. Sprague put together an impressive junior campaign offensively, hitting .431 with 22 hits, including seven doubles and a home run, while driving in 19 runs. He also showed good athleticism on the bases, going 9-for-10 in stolen base attempts. On the mound, Sprague was equally effective, posting a 3-3 record with a 1.387 ERA and 30 strikeouts across 35.1 innings. 
 

NOAH STANLEY, ANDALE
 
Stanley put up good offensive numbers last year as a freshman for Andale. He batted. 418 with a .455 on-base percentage. Stanley recorded 38 hits, including five doubles and five triples, and added 19 RBIs, 21 runs and 21 stolen bases. He was the lone Indian named to the Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches All-State team, earning honorable mention in Class 4A along with All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail IV honorable mention.
 

CADE STRATHMAN, MCPHERSON
 
Strathman got the first-team nod at third base last season on the All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III team after helping McPherson post a 27-4 record and finish third in Class 4A. Strathman batted .268 with 21 RBIs and 30 runs scored. On the mound, he went 4-1 with 25 strikeouts in 22 innings, giving the Bullpups a proven arm as they headed into the 2026 season. Strathman, whose home run earlier this season solidified a victory over Andale, will play at Barton Community College next year.
  

HAGEN WARKINS, MULVANE
 
Mulvane had a wealth of pitching set to return after reaching the Class 4A state tournament last season. Then it added Warkins, a Campus transfer who was the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail I Pitcher of the Year last season. Warkins, also an all-league, first-team third baseman last spring, has contributed to a staff that posted a 2.13 ERA in a 10-0 start. The Johnson County Community College signee yielded one earned run in his first nine innings this season with 12 strikeouts.
 

 
AVEN WOODS, CHAPMAN
 
Woods had another big year at the plate for Chapman and now has hit better than .450 each of his first three seasons. Last year he posted his best average of his career with a .500 mark. He also drove in a career-high 33 runs and scored a career-high 24. Woods smacked 5 home runs as well. He earned first-team All-North Central Kansas League honors and was a first-team All-Class 4A pick at utility as well.