Minneapolis’ Bladen Johnson – Athlete Spotlight – Presented by Scott Ausherman American Family Insurance
By Cooper Chadwick Batting .375 with nine RBIs early in the season, junior Bladen Johnson has been a steady presence at the plate for Minneapolis. Johnson plays first base and pitches for Minneapolis and has high expectations for himself this season. “I want to be able to strike people out when I get on the […]
Smoky Valley’s Dalton Eastep – Coach of the Month – Presented by Salina Regional Orthopedic Clinic
By Matt Browning Entering his fifth season as head coach, Dalton Eastep has built his baseball program at Smoky Valley around a simple but impactful idea: maximizing each player’s potential. Eastep, who previously served as an assistant under former coach Troy Miller, has also spent time coaching middle school football at Smoky Valley, including three […]
Clay Center’s Miller Coffman – Athlete Spotlight – Presented by Hog Wild Pit BBQ
Clay Center’s Miller Coffman and jaw-dropping stats last year. He hit .433 which earned him first team all-league honors. He hopes for status quo this season as he leads the Tigers. “My main focus is just to be better than last year,” Coffman said. “Specifically getting on base because that’s my main job for this […]
Minneapolis’ Grant Rice – Athlete Spotlight – Presented by Carrico Implement
By Hayden Swope: As his final high school season approaches, Grant Rice of Minneapolis is focused on making the most of every moment on the field with his teammates. “I’m really excited to just go out and have fun this season,” Rice said. “Since it’s my last season, I want to make sure I enjoy […]
Marion’s Kadon Mercer – Athlete Spotlight – Presented by Spur Ridge
By Hayden Swope Kadon Mercer of Marion is eager to take on a leadership role and help guide a young team to success as the spring season kicks off. “I am extremely excited to lead a young team and help to coach them up,” Mercer said. “I believe that helping younger players is the best […]
McPherson’s Carter Bengston – Athlete Spotlight – Presented by Peoples Bank and Trust
By Cooper Chadwick Junior middle infielder Carter Bengston is excited to see how McPherson’s new group of guys will compete this season. “We have a ton of new players stepping up and we have put in a ton of work this offseason and I believe it’s going to show on the field. I have been […]
McPherson’s Cade Strathman – Athlete Spotlight – Presented by Galen Shields State Farm
By Angela Brunk As a senior at McPherson High School, Cade Strathman is preparing for one final season in the Bullpup uniform. A versatile player who can line up just about anywhere on the field, Strathman primarily plays middle infield and pitches, bringing consistency and leadership to his team. “One last ride with my teammates, […]
Salina Central’s Keaton Smith – Athlete Spotlight – Presented by Spencer Cleaning
By Blake Chadwick For Keaton Smith, baseball has never just been about statistics or wins. For the Salina Central senior, the game has always been about passion, perseverance, and the relationships built along the way. Smith has been around the game since he was four years old, and that lifelong connection to baseball has helped […]
Salina South’s Kolton Herbel – Athlete Spotlight – Presented by Kelly Kitchener Shelter Insurance
By Blake Chadwick After battling through adversity last season, Kolton Herbel is embracing his senior year with the Salina South baseball program and the opportunity to lead a veteran group of teammates. The senior has spent over 10 years playing baseball and much of that time has been alongside many of the same teammates he […]
Salina Central’s Parker Graves – Athlete Spotlight – Presented by Kelly Kitchener Shelter Insurance
By Hayden Swope Salina Central’s Parker Graves is most excited to share one final year on the field with teammates he has known since childhood. “This season I am most excited to play one last year with my buddies,” Graves said. “I grew up playing tee ball and coach pitch with these guys so it’s […]