Sanders bounces back

Travis Sanders is back with Lawrence High’s baseball team about six months after suffering a torn ACL while playing for the Lions’ football team.

“Brandon Rush got back in five months,” Sanders said of the Kansas University basketball player who suffered a similar injury, “so he was my role model all the way.”

Sanders wrecked his left knee during the Lions’ Oct. 12 district game against Washburn Rural, then underwent corrective surgery on Oct. 30. He joined the LHS baseball team on April 18.

“My therapist kept telling me I could be back for baseball,” Sanders said. “That was my motivation : to play my senior year.”

Lawrence High coach Brad Stoll has been using Sanders as the designated hitter and batting him in the No. 3 hole.

“He has one of the quickest bats on our team,” Stoll said. “We’re glad to have him back.”

Two-sport smash

In a lineup of sensational baseball talent, Free State junior Tyler Hatesohl holds two unique distinctions every time he takes the field.

For starters, Hatesohl is one of the only juniors in the entire FSHS baseball program.

Secondly, the swift-fielding first baseman is one of a handful of players in the Firebirds’ starting lineup who brings starting experience from another sport to the diamond.

This fall, Hatesohl was one of the top 11 for Jason Pendleton’s boys soccer team. In addition, pitcher Caleb Gress and outfielder Camren Tornedon also started for Bob Lisher’s football team and Alex Hardman was one of the Firebirds’ top bowlers this winter.

LHS soccer signees

Speaking of soccer, on Friday three girls from the Lawrence High School soccer team will sign national letters of intent to play college soccer.

Madison Bertrand (Johnson County Community College), Kathleen Hermesch (University of St. Mary) and Kaela Severa (Rockhurst University) will sign at 3:30 p.m. in the LHS cafeteria.

Former Lion signs

Ottawa University’s men’s basketball program has announced the signing of former Lawrence High standout Tony Anderson.

Anderson arrives at Ottawa after transferring from Barry University in Miami Shores, Fla.

The 6-foot-7 forward played two seasons at Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa, Okla. and averaged nine points and five rebounds per game for the Jets while helping them to a conference championship in 2006. He played one semester for Barry University before transferring at semester to OU.

At LHS, Anderson helped lead the Lions to the Class 6A State Tournament in 2005.

Locals on AAU roster

This weekend’s AAU basketball tournament at Kansas University’s Allen Fieldhouse will feature some of the nation’s top high school recruits. But it also will feature several local stars in the younger divisions.

Team KIWI-TEK Select, coached by LHS assistant Jeff Forbes, will compete in the 16-and-under division of the Jayhawk Invitational.

Members of the team include: Trent Edwards, Garrett Wagner, Trenton Meyer, Zack Wright, Clark Cunningham, Chris Gaston, Kyle Pattrick, Camdon Schwartz and Brandon Kraus.

The event will run Friday through Sunday.