photo by: Journal-World Sports Staff

The Journal-World All-Area Teams.

Coach of the Year: Mike Hill, Free State

photo by: Nathan Friedman/Special to the Journal-World

Free State head coach Mike Hill speaks to the team following the game against Shawnee Mission East on Tuesday, April 2, 2026, in Lawrence.

Hill led Free State for the final time to a 6A state tournament runner-up finish in 2026. The Firebirds went 26-5, hosted and won a regional and reached the state tournament for the eighth year in a row.

Player of the Year: Zane Shaw, Free State

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Zane Shaw comes off the field after making a play in the infield during the Firebirds’ state tournament game against Olathe Northwest on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at Blue Valley West High School in Overland Park.

Shaw was both the Sunflower League and 6A all-state Pitcher of the Year this season after going 9-0 and throwing 58.1 innings. He recorded 97 strikeouts, only walked seven batters and held an ERA of 0.96.

Kayden Baker, Perry-Lecompton

Kayden Baker

Baker earned 3A first-team all-state honors and first-team all-Big East honors in his junior season. He recorded a team-record 43 hits and 31 stolen bases. He led the Kaws with a .453 batting average and scored 28 runs.

Jack Cline, Eudora

Jack Cline

Cline led the Cardinals his final year in the infield and earned second-team all-Frontier League honors.

Merek Davenport, Tonganoxie

Merek Davenport

Davenport earned 4A first-team all-state honors, first-team all-Frontier League honors and Frontier League Pitcher of the Year this season by throwing 100 strikeouts with a 0.60 ERA. Across his four seasons with the Chieftains, he threw 272 strikeouts.

Baron Dohrn, Tonganoxie

Baron Dohrn

Dohrn, a senior catcher for the Chieftains, earned second-team all-Frontier League honors while batting .351 with a .457 on-base percentage. He picked off seven runners on the season.

Ben Graves, Free State

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Ben Graves celebrates during the Firebirds’ state tournament game against Olathe Northwest on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at Blue Valley West High School in Overland Park.

Graves was a utility player for the Firebirds, starting at shortstop and also pitching 42.1 innings with an ERA of 1.82. He had two saves and 41 strikeouts against only eight walks. At the plate, he had an on-base percentage of .513 and scored 30 runs.

Hudson Hardesty, Lawrence

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence pitcher Hudson Hardesty runs to first base in a 6-3 City Showdown loss to Free State on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Hoglund Ballpark in Lawrence.

Hardesty was Lawrence’s most prolific player both on the mound as the team’s ace and in the batter’s box as the team’s best hitter. He earned first-team all-state honors as a pitcher and all-state honorable mention at first base.

Asher Lawson, Veritas Christian

Asher Lawson, Veritas Christian

Lawson was the team MVP for his junior season, finishing with a .416 batting average and a 1.115 OPS. He led the team in RBIs, hits extra bases and home runs.

Ryker Mahnke, Free State

photo by: Henry Wiley/Special to the Journal-World

Free State’s Ryker Mahnke celebrates a run that put the Firebirds in the lead against Shawnee Mission South on Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Lenexa, Kansas.

Mahnke batted .489 during his junior campaign with the Firebirds and had an on-base percentage of .608. Along with being a steady center fielder, he tallied 44 hits, 10 doubles and 16 stolen bases.

Nathan Young, Free State

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Nathan Young pitches the ball against Olathe Northwest on Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Lawrence.

Young pitched 66 innings in his final year with Free State and earned a 9-2 record. He threw 51 strikeouts against 17 walks with an ERA of 1.17.

Honorable Mention: Wyatt Ballard, Veritas Christian; Kaleb Confer, Perry-Lecompton; Brandt Edmonds, Lawrence; Payton Grado, Eudora; Brayden Hirschmann, Baldwin; Owen Lester, Free State; Cedric Sansome, Baldwin; James Summers, Veritas Christian; Dayton Tucker, Perry-Lecompton; Brady Wollesen, Lawrence.