Chris Coleman

Free State

Class: Senior

Sport: Baseball

The week: On a team full of big hitters, Coleman was the biggest last week. In the River City Festival, he followed up solid games against Collinsville, Okla., and Grandview, Mo., with a 3-for-3, 3 RBI performance against Gladstone (Mo.) Winnetonka. But his best day came Tuesday against Olathe North. With the bases loaded and the Firebirds trailing 8-6 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Coleman laced his fourth double of the game into the right-center field gap, helping FSHS stay undefeated (9-0). The catcher/designated hitter is batting .455, with seven doubles and seven RBIs this season.

Comment: “He just adds another dimension to our offense,” FSHS coach Mike Hill said. “He’s a good ballplayer. He’s gotten to this point because he works so hard and just does anything he can to make himself a better player.”

Andrew Maxwell

Ottawa

Class: Junior

Sport: Baseball

The week: Maxwell can do just about anything on the diamond. Last week, he came close to doing everything. He crushed two homers in a doubleheader sweep of Paola last Wednesday and was a hard-luck loser against Kansas City Sumner the next day. Maxwell, who throws nearly 90 mph, allowed only five hits and one earned run in the Cyclones’ 5-2 loss. Maxwell is hitting .531, with six home runs, 14 RBIs in 32 at-bats this season. He’s slugging a monstrous 1.281, and has a .615 on-base percentage.

Comment: “He does a lot for us,” Ottawa coach Shawn Herrmann said. “He’s our starting center fielder, our ace pitcher and hit bats in the three hole for us. And he’s just a junior.

“He’s got a real good curve ball and change-up, and hits his spots really well,” Herrmann said.