All-Area baseball team members are pictured from left: Ty Bennett, Baldwin, Connor Quick, Baldwin, Korbin Hiebert, Eudora, Ethan Basler, Tonganoxie, Austin Fisher, Tonganoxie, Camden Karlin, Free State, player of the year Ethan Bradford, Free State, coach of the year Brad Stoll, Lawrence, Hank Dobson, Lawrence, Garrett Romero, Lawrence, Tucker Flory, Veritas, Blaine Pattin, Perry-Lecompton.

Player of the Year: Ethan Bradford, Free State

No pitcher was as dominant as Ethan Bradford this season. The Nebraska signee was named the Class 6A Pitcher of the Year, posting a 7-1 record and a .565 ERA in 14 games. He struck out 81 batters and walked 25 in a total of 62 innings. In his final outing, Bradford threw 103 pitches in a complete-game shutout during the Class 6A quarterfinals.

Coach of the Year: Brad Stoll, Lawrence High

The Lions had a special season, even though they fell short of making it to the 6A state tournament. Stoll, the 6A Coach of the Year, led LHS to a top five finish in the Sunflower League standings. Lawrence won nine games in a row after starting the year 3-4 before eventually falling to Washburn Rural in the regional championship.

First team

Ethan Basler, Tonganoxie — Tonganoxie’s outfielder had a strong showing at the plate in his senior campaign. Basler clubbed a .412 batting average with a .527 on-base percentage, which netted him a second-team All-State selection. Basler scored 24 runs, recording three triples and five doubles.

Ty Bennett, Baldwin — En route to earning an All-State selection as a utility player, Bennett posted a .431 batting average in 72 at-bats. Bennett drove in 20 batters and scored 21 runs in his senior season. Along with a second-team selection in Class 4A, Bennett was named to the first team in the Frontier League.

Hank Dobson, Lawrence — It was necessary for the Lions to have a closer like Dobson with as many one-run ball games they were in this past spring. He was an All-State closer, and was never rattled by any moment. He even delivered Lawrence’s signature offensive moment of the season with a walk-off single to beat Blue Valley North.

Austin Fisher, Tonganoxie — Behind the dish, Fisher brought stability to a team that made it back to the state tournament. Fisher hit .486 with 21 RBI and 10 doubles, earning a honorable mention selection on the Class 4A team. Fisher, a senior, received a first-team selection in the Frontier League as well.

Tucker Flory, Veritas — Even though he was unable to pitch, Flory was dynamic during his senior season with the Eagles. Flory, who dealt with a shoulder rehab from a torn labrum, clubbed .521 with 14 extra-base hits. He drove in 36 runs and posted a .583 on-base percentage, helping Veritas clinch another state title.

Korbin Hiebert, Eudora — Competing as an outfielder and pitcher, Hiebert provided plenty of production for the Cardinals. He hit .333 at the plate, and went 4-2 as a pitcher. Hiebert struck out 25 batters in 35 2/3 total innings. Hiebert was represented on the second team on the All-Frontier League team.

Camden Karlin, Free State — Playing a rare pitcher/catcher combo, Karlin was crucial reason why the Firebirds made it all the way to the state championship game. As a pitcher, Karlin went 6-1 with a 1.465 ERA in 11 games to go along with 38 strikeouts and five walks in 43 frames. Karlin also posted a .473 on-base percentage as Free State’s leadoff hitter.

Blaine Pattin, Perry-Lecompton — A prolific career came to a close for this Perry-Lecompton standout. Pattin hit .396 with 19 hits and 12 RBI in a rain-shortened season, earning his third first-team All-League selection as an infielder. He will play baseball at the collegiate level for Baker University.

Connor Quick, Baldwin — The junior third baseman was on fire at the plate in 2019. Quick registered a .478 batting average and 15 RBI in 65 at-bats. He tallied seven triples and six doubles, netting a first-team selection on the All-State team. Quick was also named to the second-team in the Frontier League as a pitcher.

Garrett Romero, Lawrence — The middle of the infield was impenetrable with Romero at second base. He was named to the All-State team as a second baseman, and was a big reason why the Lions were stellar on the defensive end all spring.

Honorable mention

Jake Baker, Free State; Will Bartkoski, Veritas; Jack Kallenberger, Free State; Devin Neal, Lawrence; Jayden Pierce, Eudora; Jackson Rau, Veritas; David Stuart, Free State.