photo by: Journal-World Sports Staff

The Journal-World All-Area Teams.

All-Area selections are made by the Journal-World sports staff.

• Coach of the Year: Mike Hill, Free State

photo by: Matt Tait

Free State baseball coach Mike Hill, left, and his son, Matt, are now on the same coaching staff with the Firebirds, preparing to take FSHS into the 6A state tournament on Friday afternoon in Fort Scott in this 2022 photo.

Mike Hill led a fairly young Firebirds team back to state for the program’s seventh all-time state semifinal appearance, where Free State’s postseason ended in a 2-1 loss to Blue Valley West. The only baseball coach in school history, Hill finished his 27th season at Free State 18-7 with an 8-1 win over Derby in the third-place title game.

• Player of the Year: Kyle Graves, Free State

photo by: Chance Parker

Free State junior Kyle Graves is pitches during the regional championship game against Lawrence High on Wednesday, May 17, 2023.

Leading Free State on the hill, Kyle Graves finished the season 5-1 — with two wins coming in the regional final and state quarterfinal — through 46 innings with a 1.51 ERA and 49 total strikeouts. Kyle, the older of the two Graves brothers set to return next season for the Firebirds, also hit .296 with 13 RBIs and four triples.

• Brooks Jones, Lawrence High

Brooks Jones

Brooks Jones played a key role in picking LHS out of an early slump, finishing the year 2-3 with a 2.41 ERA and 50 total strikeouts through 40.2 innings pitched. Jones delivered a near-shutout performance in the City Showdown against Free State (6.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 8 K) and picked up Second Team All-Sunflower League honors by the end of his junior campaign.

• Sammy Stoll, Lawrence High

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Sammy Stoll

Sammy Stoll fully embraced his job at first base in his third year with the Chesty Lions. The Second Team All-Sunflower League honoree finished the season with zero errors in 81 chances, delivering further at the plate (.316 BA) with nine RBIs, four doubles and a triple on 18 total hits.

• Ben Graves, Free State

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World

Free State freshman pitcher Ben Graves tosses the ball to first base against BV West during the state tournament on Friday, May 26, 2023. Free State ended their season with a 2-1 loss.

As far as freshman seasons go, Ben Graves arguably had the best one in the state. The younger Graves brother was penciled in on all 25 starting lineup cards this year and finished his first year 4-3 with a 1.86 ERA and 35 total strikeouts through 41.1 innings pitched. Chipping in 16 RBIs at the plate (.267 BA), Graves scooped up All-Sunflower League honorable mention honors.

• James Lee, Veritas

James Lee

The hard-throwing sophomore James Lee finished a shortened 17-game season with a 2.33 ERA and 65 total strikeouts through 33.0 innings pitched. He finished the year hitting .302, including 15 RBIs and two home runs in his sophomore campaign with the Eagles.

• Logan Wake, Tonganoxie

Logan Wake

Logan Wake finished his high school career with a strong season at the plate, batting .437 for three doubles and two triples for the Chieftains. Wake is a two-time First Team All-Frontier League catcher and voted First Team All-State catcher.

• Kaden Kerr, Eudora

Kaden Kerr

Kaden Kerr completed his junior season hitting .370 with 13 stolen bases, all while powering through dislocated ribs and a broken thumb. Grinding out his third year with the Cardinals, Kerr was named First Team All-Frontier League outfielder and All-State honorable mention.

• Mason Cox, Eudora

Mason Cox

One of Eudora’s leading arms, Mason Cox finished his senior season with a 3.60 ERA through 27 innings pitched. Cox is slated to continue his baseball career at Baker University in the fall.

• Gunnar Ball, Perry-Lecompton

photo by: Contributed Photo

Gunnar Ball

Senior outfielder Gunnar Ball finished the year batting .514 with 29 total RBIs. He was named a First Team All-Big 7 outfielder and represented the Kaws at the Senior All-Star Game in Manhattan.

• Ty Williams, Perry-Lecompton

Ty Williams

Senior utility Ty Williams racked up 30 RBIs on 37 total hits for the Kaws. He was named First Team All-Big 7 and Second Team All-State utility.

Honorable Mention: Brady Kern (Free State); Ryan Weishaar (Free State); Tyler Vigna (Free State); Jackson Waggoner (Free State); Tyler Jeffries (Free State); Connor Nowak (Lawrence); Tyson Grammer (Lawrence); Ameer Dowdell (Veritas); Austin Alvarez (Veritas); Kelton Ford (Eudora); Eli Dean (Perry-Lecompton).