photo by: Chris Duderstadt

Free State alumnus Kyle Abrahamson hits a double in the fifth inning of the Kansas City Metro Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Game on Monday at the 3&2 East Baseball Complex in Lenexa. Abrahamson and Lawrence High graduate Andrew Stewart guided the Kansas All-Stars to a 6-2 win.

LENEXA — Left fielder Kyle Abrahamson and shortstop Andrew Stewart were quick to show why they belonged in the Kansas City Metro Baseball Metro Coaches Association All-Star Game on Monday at 3&2 East Baseball Complex.

In a game that featured some of the top graduating seniors in the metro area, Abrahamson, who recently graduated from Free State High School, set the tone from the very first batter in a 6-2 win for the Kansas All-Stars. The College of the Ozarks signee made a diving catch to rob Staley’s Jackson Dierenfeldt of extra bases.

“I knew it was high and the wind was blowing that way, so I knew I’d have a chance,” Abrahamson said. “I just came in and was able to make a play on it. That was the only ball I got out there, so at least it looked cool.”

The Missouri All-Stars jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the third when Ft. Osage’s Spencer Patrick and Zane Orr traded places with doubles. Abrahamson and Stewart helped the Kansas All-Stars answer quickly, though, in the home half of the third. After Abrahamson led off the frame with a single, Stewart drove in the fellow Lawrence native with a base knock to tie it up. The Kansas-All-Stars added one more in the third on a fielder’s choice.

photo by: Chris Duderstadt

Lawrence High alumnus Andrew Stewart hits an RBI single in a 6-2 win for the Kansas All-Stars in the Kansas City Metro Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Game on Monday at the 3&2 East Baseball Complex.

“All I was thinking was just get the run in no matter where the ball is,” said Stewart, a Barton signee and recent graduate of Lawrence High School. “I kept my hands back and hit the ball to right field. That’s the best thing you can do in that situation.”

Abrahamson continued to swing out bat in the fifth, as he belted an opposite-field double to the gap in left-center. Stewart nearly plated Abrahamson again, but was a victim of a web gem by Liberty’s Logan Steenstra after lining out to third.

“I was feeling good at the plate. The pitching was good so I had to be locked in,” Abrahamson said. “I swung first-pitch fastball on both at-bats and they were there. I knew pitchers were going to try to get ahead, so I was just trying to beat them to it.”

The Kansas All-Stars broke the game open with a four-run fourth inning — which was highlighted by a two-run single from Bishop Miege’s Carter Putz. The Missouri All-Stars brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh with a two-out rally, but were only able to score one out of it.

While Abrahamson and Stewart enjoyed being able to be on the same team as many of the players they’ve gone up against over the past few years, they’re also in the process of preparing for the next level.

“I am really excited,” said Stewart, who will be joined by fellow Lawrence High alumnus Ian Henricks at Barton. “They had a good season this year, and I’m really excited to get down there and play with a really good ball club.”

Abrahamson added of the College of the Ozarks, “I’m really excited and fortunate to get the opportunity to continue my career and not end it here. I’m looking forward to it. It should be a new, fun experience.”