Player of the Year

Hunter Gudde, Free State

One of the best pitchers in school history, Gudde led the Firebirds to the Class 6A state championship game for the second straight year. Named the Sunflower League’s Pitcher of the Year, Gudde posted a 7-2 record and a school-record 0.38 ERA, giving up only three earned runs and four walks in 552?3 innings. The right-hander will pitch at Johnson County CC.

photo by: John Young

Free State senior Hunter Gudde pitched a complete game shutout against Derby in a 10-0, five-inning victory Thursday at Hoglund Ballpark at Kansas University in the first round of the Class 6A state tournament.

Coach of the Year

Wilson Kilmer, Eudora

Back at the state tournament for the first time since 2006, the Cardinals finished with an 18-5 record under Kilmer. EHS reached state with regional wins over Baldwin and Ottawa, led by All-Frontier League selections Zach Courbat, Aaron Foster, Jared Fry, Chris Misner-Iles and Ben Van Diest.

First team

Zion Bowlin, Free State — A first-team all-state selection, Bowlin was among the FSHS team leaders with a .364 batting average, .479 on-base percentage, 21 runs scored and 18 RBIs. The junior third baseman didn’t make an error in the final 19 games of the season.

Zach Courbat, Eudora — Courbat was nearly unhittable on the mound and earned Class 4A-I Pitcher of the Year honors while leading the Cardinals to the state tournament. The Pratt CC signee struck out 47 batters in 61 innings, recording a 1.26 ERA and 9-1 record.

Lucas Dwyer, Wellsville — Helping the Eagles to their seventh straight trip to the Class 3A state tournament, Dwyer was the team’s ace on the mound. The Ottawa University signee, a first-team All-Pioneer League pick, struck out more than 60 batters and had a 5-0 record.

Jared Fry, Eudora — Fry earned first-team all-state honors as a designated hitter, boasting a .344 batting average, .481 on-base percentage and 13 RBIs. At catcher, the North Central Missouri College signee called his own pitches behind the plate and threw out 10 would-be base stealers.

Tyler Grauer, Mill Valley — Grauer improved with each start this season on his way to first-team all-state honors. The Indiana State signee, who helped the Jaguars to the Class 5A state tournament, had a 1.20 ERA in 35 innings, striking out 52 and giving up only six earned runs.

photo by: John Young

The 2016 Journal-World All-Area baseball team, clockwise from upper left: Zach Courbat, Eudora; Dalton VanHoutan, Oskaloosa; Jared Fry, Eudora; Lucas Dwyer, Wellsville; Trevor Munsch, Free State; and coach of the year Wilson Kilmer, Eudora. Not pictured: Zion Bowlin, Free State; Tyler Grauer, Mill Valley; Brad Kincaid, Lawrence; Blaine Ray, Ottawa; and player of the year Hunter Gudde, Free State.

Brad Kincaid, Lawrence — As a shortstop and closer for the Lions, Kincaid earned first-team All-Sunflower League honors as a utility player. The LHS senior hit .347 with a team-best 19 RBIs, five doubles and nine stolen bases. With a big curveball, he struck out 19 in 152?3 innings with a 1.34 ERA.

Trevor Munsch, Free State — A 6-foot-4 left-hander, Munsch frustrated hitters with a mid-80s fastball and devastating off-speed pitches. The second-team all-state selection had a 1.47 ERA in 57 innings, striking out 59. After helping the Firebirds to back-to-back state title games, Munsch has signed to pitch at Oklahoma.

Blaine Ray, Ottawa — Ray was a first-team all-state selection for his play in the outfield and at the plate. Committed to Kansas University, the junior center fielder had a .400 batting average with 18 RBIs, 15 runs and 19 walks, leading the Cyclones to a 13-9 record.

Dalton VanHoutan, Oskaloosa — Signed to play at McPherson College, VanHoutan threw four no-hitters this season, finishing with an 8-2 record, 1.19 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 53 innings. At the plate, the second-team all-state pick hit .315 with eight doubles, 23 runs and 24 RBIs.

Honorable mention

Mitchell Bond, Perry-Lecompton; Seth Breithaupt, Wellsville; Seth Coltrane, Santa Fe Trail; Mikey Corbett, Free State; Zach Curry, Ottawa; Tony Dougan, Wellsville; Aaron Funk, Free State; Brian Hawkins, Santa Fe Trail; Zach Hill, Veritas Christian; Billy Kelley, Tonganoxie; Cooper Lee, De Soto; Jacob Pavlyak, Free State; Kaleb Shaffer, Ottawa; Brody Troupe, McLouth; Ben Van Diest, Eudora; Jaxson Webb, Oskaloosa; Andrew White, De Soto.