Wichita Eagle honors top high school baseball players on 2024 All-Metro team

The Wichita Eagle announced its annual All-Metro baseball team on Monday, recognizing some of the best high school baseball players in the state of Kansas from the 2024 season.

The All-Metro features the top players and the top coaches from Sedgwick, Butler and Harvey counties based on statistics, team success, postseason recognition and area coaches’ feedback.

Goddard senior pitcher Coltin Watkins, a three-time All-Metro selection, was named the Player of the Year.

2024 WICHITA EAGLE ALL-METRO BASEBALL TEAM

Cole Adams, Eisenhower junior infielder

Voted a first-team all-state utility player in Class 5A, Adams threw the most innings for Eisenhower and also led the team in hitting this season. He finished with a .462 batting average, which included 36 hits, to go along with 20 runs scored and 18 RBIs. He struck out 41 hitters in 33-plus innings pitched and sported a 4.62 ERA. After the Tigers lost six straight early in the season, Adams’ two-way play helped a late-season surge that saw the team win a pair of one-run games in regional play to punch its ticket back to the Class 5A state tournament.

Scotty Carr, Rose Hill senior outfielder

Returned from a torn ACL and meniscus in five months to play his senior baseball season, hitting .466 with 21 runs and 13 RBIs while playing superb defense in the outfield. He helped lead Rose Hill to a regional championship and appearance in the Class 4A state tournament and was voted a first-team all-state outfielder in 4A and an all-league pick in AV-CTL Div. IV.

Rose Hill coach Scott Carr on Carr: “He was really disappointed to not be able to play basketball, so it was really nice to see him be able to compete again with his friends. He’s not a year-round player, so he probably went 10 months without seeing a live pitch and he just came back and started hitting again. This was his last time playing baseball, so it was nice to see him be productive as a coach and then just to see him smile again as a father.”

Parker Clubb, Mulvane sophomore utility

Already committed to Louisville before his first high school game, Clubb thrived in his sophomore season at Mulvane. He was downright dominant on the mound, allowing just two earned runs in 39 innings pitched (0.36 ERA) while striking out 60 hitters and surrendering just 16 walks. He also caught when he wasn’t pitching, hitting .403 at the plate with 27 RBIs and 10 extra-base hits to help lead Mulvane to 17 wins and a regional final appearance. Clubb was voted a first team all-state pitcher in Class 4A and a first-team all-league pitcher and utility player in AV-CTL Div. III.

Mulvane coach Steve Nelson on Clubb: “The overall improvement he made from his freshman year to this year was outstanding. He was the guy when we needed a game on the mound. We knew who we were throwing out there. He was locked in each and every day and just overpowered kids.”

Corey Crumrine, Sedgwick junior infielder

Voted the Pitcher of the Year in Class 2-1A, Crumrine finished with a 10-1 record on the mound with a 0.38 ERA and 96 strikeouts to just six walks in 56 innings. He also finished with a .408 batting average at the plate with 43 runs scored and 23 RBIs to help lead Sedgwick to a 21-4 record and a regional championship appearance.

Sedgwick coach Doug Mabry on Crumrine: “He’s a three-sport athlete and someone who showed outstanding poise on the mound and tremendous command. One of the things I think separates him from the competition is his ability to really be efficient with his pitching. He was a guy who threw more than 50 innings for us and averaged under 14 pitches per inning. In the pitch-count era, that was incredibly valuable to a small-school team like us to be able to roll him out there so many times in doubleheaders.”

Jackson Ellison, Heights senior utility

A pillar to the revival of Heights baseball, Ellison led the team in hitting with a .440 batting average, which included three home runs, 23 runs and 28 RBIs at the plate. He also threw 29 innings on the mound, striking out 39 hitters and allowing just four earned runs for a 0.97 ERA. After helping lead the Falcons to a City League title, 22 wins and a return to the Class 6A tournament, the Butler Community College commit was voted a first team all-state utility player in Class 6A and a first team all-league catcher in the City League.

Heights coach Mark McBratney on Ellison: “Jackson has got some of the best instinctual feel that I’ve ever coached at this level. He’s not a big dude and I think he’s been overlooked because of that. He let that fuel him this year and he put up a monster season. He’s a special, special kid and he figured out how to be a leader for this team. ... He performed at a very high level this whole season. I might be a little biased, but he honestly should have been the 6A Player of the Year.”

Landon Haines, Circle senior infielder

A two-way standout who helped lead Circle to 17 wins and a trip to the Class 4A state tournament, Haines was voted a second team all-state player at first base and the MVP of AV-CTL Div. III. The Barton Community College recruit finished with a team-high .397 batting average with two home runs, 13 extra-base hits, 19 runs and 20 RBIs, while also throwing a team-high 36 innings on the mound with a 3.11 ERA and 48 strikeouts.

Circle coach Matt Jordan on Haines: “What stands out to me about Landon is his offseason, the work ethic and determination that he has for himself to get better. That was second to none. He made sure not to put too much pressure on himself because everyone knew he was the guy for us and we needed him to be good in order to be really successful. He really stepped up for us in a big way this year and we definitely would not have gone to state without him or have the wins that we did without him.”

Shane Holman, Bishop Carroll senior pitcher

A two-time All-Metro selection, Holman served as the ace on the staff of one of the best teams in 5A this season. He finished with a 6-2 record and a 0.79 ERA with 68 strikeouts and just 11 walks in 53-plus innings pitched. The Butler Community College recruit helped lead the Golden Eagles back to the state tournament, while being voted a first team all-state pitcher in Class 5A.

Carroll coach Charlie Ebright on Holman: “Shane was just that consistent guy on the mound for us. Every time you run him out there, we knew we had a chance to win the game. He commanded four pitches for a strike this year and he didn’t try to overpower you. He was a quintessential pitcher. He’s not just throwing, he’s pitching. He knew how to set up hitters and his strikeout numbers were way up this year because he just pounded the zone. He was phenomenal for us this year.”

Cooper Oakley, Heights senior infielder

One of the biggest and most-feared hitters in the state, Oakley was voted a first team all-state player at first base in Class 6A. The Friends commit finished with a .430 batting average, 23 runs and a team-high 29 RBIs to help lead the Falcons to a City League championship and back to the state tournament.

Heights coach Mark McBratney on Oakley: “Everyone in the area has known he’s a big, strong, powerful kid for years now. A lot of people weren’t going to let him beat them, so I told him early in the year, ‘Listen, you’re not going to get all of the pitches you want to hit.’ The difference-maker this year was he really bought in on doing the dirty work, shortening up and getting it to the next guy and letting those guys do the damage. I don’t know how many two-strike hits he had, but it was a lot. He just let the game come to him, and when someone left a fastball in the zone, he was going to pound it. He was huge for us having the season that we did this year.”

Whit Rhodes, Hesston senior pitcher

One of the state’s top pitching recruits in the class of 2024, Rhodes was voted the Pitcher of the Year in Class 3A. He helped lead the Swathers to 20 wins and a trip to the state tournament, finishing with an 8-2 record, 1.14 ERA and 115 strikeouts in 61-plus innings. He is still uncommitted this summer.

Hesston coach Aaron Johnson on Rhodes: “Whit has the work ethic and the grit to match the God-given talent that he has. Not a lot of kids have that combination, but he has both of them. He really is one-of-a-kind, especially for a smaller school like Hesston.”

Joaquin Sanchez, Trinity Academy senior pitcher

Part of a large senior class that led a turnaround at Trinity that culminated in this year’s run to the Class 3A state title game, Sanchez was an ace on the mound for the Knights. The Arizona Christian recruit carried a 2.13 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 42-plus innings on the mound, which earned him first team all-state honors in 3A.

Trinity coach Josh Robertson on Sanchez: “He was our guy that we threw against every big team this year. He came up big for us so many times as our go-to guy that we fed off of. He improved his velocity this year and had a power slider as his out pitch, which he could command and throw at any point in the count.”

Cooper Tannahill, Maize senior pitcher

A breakout star in 2024 in his transition from utility player to pitcher, Tannahill was voted a second team all-state pitcher in Class 5A. The Cloud Community College commit finished with a perfect 8-0 record and 1.11 ERA, striking out 41 hitters in 44 innings.

Maize coach Rocky Helm on Tannahill: “What made him so good this whole year was how hard he competed every time out. He always wanted to win so bad and always worked so hard in practice to improve himself. I still feel like a bad coach for not letting him pitch before this year. I didn’t know he was going to be so good on the mound. He was just in complete control every time out and he looked like he’s been doing this for years. His ability to locate and use every pitch he wanted made him a standout this year.”

Brady Unrein, Northwest senior infielder

A smooth-fielding shortstop, Unrein was voted a first-team all-state middle infielder in Class 6A. The Emporia State recruit finished with a .458 batting average, 20 extra-base hits, including three home runs and seven triples, a team-high 33 RBIs and 22 runs scored. He also threw 24 innings on the mound, striking out 39 hitters with a 2.92 ERA.

Northwest coach Gavin Darr on Unrein: “Brady had one of the best seasons anyone has ever had at Northwest and that’s really saying something. He really stepped up in his leadership role this season. He was the one leading all of our workouts. He was an everyday guy who brought others along with him. He was a guy who was just, ‘See ball, hit ball.’ He kept it simple. He was never sitting on a pitch. He can absolutely fly and his approach allowed him to hit to all fields because he trusted his hands against anybody.”

Coltin Watkins, Goddard senior

A three-time All-Metro selection, Watkins wrapped up a superb career by being voted the Pitcher of the Year in Class 5A. The Johnson County Community College recruit finished with 89 strikeouts in 43 innings pitched and a 1.30 ERA, while also hitting .352 at the plate with a team-high 22 RBIs and 14 runs scored.

Goddard coach Jim Foltz on Watkins: “He has really established himself as one of the better pitchers in the state and one of the best to come through Goddard. He broke our career strikeouts number, which he eclipsed some pretty impressive names. He’s been just a joy to coach and I truly believe he’s even got some more room for growth. I look forward to seeing what he’s able to accomplish in college.”

Peyton White, Andover senior infielder

Named the MVP of the AV-CTL Div. II and voted a second-team all-state third baseman in Class 5A, White helped lead the Trojans to 18 wins and a regional championship appearance. He led the team in hitting with a .400 batting average with a team-high 23 RBIs, 14 extra-base hits, two home runs and 15 runs. He also threw 45 innings on the mound, while striking out 41 batters and maintaining a 2.96 ERA.

Andover coach James Hilts on White: “He was a four-year starter for us and played all over the field throughout his time. He moved to a starting pitching role this year and he gave us a lot of innings on the mound and was really competitive. Every night he threw, we had a chance to win. But his real strength was his bat. He was a top-of-the-order hitter for us and when he got into hitter’s counts, he really punished fastballs in the zone. He was just a total player for us this year and a big part of our success.”

Jackson Witt, Trinity Academy senior catcher

An all-state catcher, Witt spearheaded a 22-win season for Trinity that ended with an appearance in the Class 3A state championship game. The Butler Community College recruit led the team in hitting with a .424 batting average, 13 doubles, 17 runs and a team-high 32 RBIs.

Trinity coach Josh Robertson on Witt: “He’s got a baseball IQ that you just can’t teach. He was a key guy in a group of seniors that won six games their freshman year and ended up playing for a state championship as a senior. He caught for us and we don’t go anywhere this year without him behind the plate. I was a catcher in my days, so I’m pretty particular about how to call a game, and Jackson is so good at everything it takes to be a catcher.”

Luke Youngdahl, Maize South senior outfielder

A two-way standout, Youngdahl helped Maize South compile a 19-5 record this season and was voted a second team all-state utility player in Class 5A. The Fort Scott Community College commit led the team in hitting with a .424 batting average, 25 runs, 18 RBIs and two home runs, while also throwing 28-plus innings on the mound with 28 strikeouts and a 4.20 ERA.

Maize South coach Chad Christensen on Youngdahl: “What really impressed me about Luke this year was how much he improved on his craft. He played a little bit of first base and right field for us, and he swung it so well we couldn’t keep his bat out of the lineup. He was a catalyst for everything that happened for us. He’s just a big, strong kid who can hit baseballs really hard. He’s just a big donkey.”

Mark McBratney, Heights coach

It hasn’t taken long for McBratney, a Heights alum, to turn around the program, as the Falcons won their first City league championship since 2007, won 22 games and reached the Class 6A state tournament this season. The Falcons were led this season by Jackson Ellison, Cooper Oakley, Alec Maldonado, Landon Joynt, Carson Smith, Brady Boomsma, Kasch Oakley, Lukas Thornton, Cale Milleson and Caleb Cross.

McBratney on coaching the Falcons: “I don’t view this as me accomplishing anything. It wasn’t me, it was all my kids. My objective when I took over was to pass down knowledge and try to make these kids better people. This year was so much fun because every single one of them bought into what it takes to become a team, an extreme team. They loved one another, which is really important. This class is extremely special because they put Heights baseball back on the map and that’s something I’m very proud of, being a Heights alumni and playing for coach (Joe) Auer. So if I’m the Coach of the Year, it’s really about these kids being the team of the year because they bought into everything we told them and they’re the reason why we got as far as we did.”

All-Metro second team

Joaquin Banuelos, Andover senior

Charlie Barrier, Kapaun Mt. Carmel junior

Brady Boomsma, Heights junior

Colton Bough, Maize South sophomore

Taccarri Brown, Northwest senior

Jace Campbell, Collegiate senior

Jack Cary, Trinity Academy senior

Cameron Eastman, Cheney junior

Brock Ellis, Maize South senior

Nolan Fevurly, Mulvane junior

Van Haneberg, Bishop Carroll senior

Mason Healy, Goddard senior

Jace Jefferson, Andover Central junior

Malachi Jimenez, Bluestem senior

Gunnar Lewis, Hesston junior

Alec Maldonado, Heights senior

Braxton Martin, Bishop Carroll junior

Cooper Nace, Rose Hill senior

Kaleb Nye, Kapaun Mt. Carmel senior

Matt Omundsen, Trinity Academy senior

Kaison Overbey, Northwest senior

Carter Pabst, Eisenhower junior

Colton Roberts, Rose Hill junior

Easton Roth, Maize senior

Colton Ruedy, Derby senior

Josiah Sems, Trinity Academy junior

Keagan Shelite, Hesston junior

Gavin Short, Maize sophomore

Karston Wall, Sedgwick junior

Hagen Warkins, Campus sophomore

Justin Zerger, Newton senior

Josh Robertson, Trinity Academy coach

All-Metro third team

Brooks Allen, Andover senior

Maddox Archibald, Andover Central junior

Drake Blasi, Maize freshman

Andrew Bolan, Andover Central junior

Mason Bond, Collegiate freshman

Gage Bowker, Goddard senior

Josh Burdick, Cheney junior

Hudson Cahill, Kapaun Mt. Carmel senior

Grady Clements, Campus junior

Jared Cobb, Eisenhower junior

Canon Cole, East senior

Jackson Daniel, Kapaun Mt. Carmel junior

Brody DeGarmo, Andover Central junior

Carter Drumright, Collegiate junior

Ethan Eberhardt, Trinity Academy senior

Rowan Foster, Derby sophomore

Colton Fowler, Andale-Garden Plain senior

Brayden Fox, Newton sophomore

Nate Fugarino, Clearwater junior

Peyton Gosch, Kapaun Mt. Carmel junior

Jack Gregory, Cheney senior

Reed Hackelman, Mulvane sophomore

Hudson Halstead, Derby sophomore

Brody Haskell, Augusta sophomore

Gunner Hewitt, Maize senior

Hunter Higgins, Maize South sophomore

Landon Joynt, Heights senior

Cash Killian, Circle sophomore

Isaac Lager, Bishop Carroll junior

Christian Laws, West sophomore

Sterling Lies, Sedgwick senior

Tate McNew, Maize South junior

Parker Meirowsky, Maize sophomore

Cameron Mock, Rose Hill senior

Jeff Nold, Sedgwick senior

Kasch Oakley, Heights sophomore

Aedan O’Halloran, Hesston senior

Alfonso Olivarez, North junior

Landon Preston, Andover Central junior

Cal Purvis, Bishop Carroll sophomore

Cole Rickard, El Dorado senior

Caden Riojas, Derby senior

Braden Roberts, Trinity Academy junior

Austin Rudkin, Goddard senior

Jackson Scarlett, Sedgwick senior

Jacob Stehley, Collegiate freshman

Brock Stiner, Douglass senior

Jaxson Sullivan, Maize South senior

Nathan Tajchman, Bishop Carroll senior

Drew Torgerson, Andover senior

Hank Welu, Valley Center senior

Colton Wilburn, West sophomore

Matt Jordan, Circle coach