BY JIM MISUNAS
ELLINWOOD – Ellinwood High School missed out on a banner spring season when activities were canceled by the Kansas State High School Activities Association due to the coronavirus.
Ellinwood’s girls missed a golden opportunity with three state track qualifiers returning – fourth-place Central Prairie League champion Ashtin Klepper (800, 2:25.09); fifth-place CPL champion Erin Hammeke (1,600, 5:38.75) and eighth-place Hammeke (3,200, 12:28.59).
Ellinwood coach Andrew Cherry led the Eagle girls to back-to-back Central Prairie League track titles in 2018 and 2019.
Other key girls returnees were Mary Dimitt (discus, shot put), Daphne Doll (relays) and Gracie Schlessiger (high jump, relays).
Erin Hammeke captured the 2A cross country championship and joined Ashtin Klepper, Gracie Schlessiger, Kloe Robbins and Daphne Doll in a talented middle distance and distance group.
“Erin Hammeke won the state cross country title and was ready to move up in 2A,” said coach Andrew Cherry. “We were counting on contending for the Central Prairie League championship. We had quality distance runners.”
LaTaja Gray (100, 200, relays) would lead our sprint team backed by talented freshman Brittany Simpson (200, 400).
“There were a couple others who would’ve helped our 400-meter relay,” Cherry said. “Mary Dimitt and Bella Baker were going to step up in the field events.
Couple others who could’ve helped 400-meter relay. Throws, distance events. Mary Dimitt, ready to compete. Bella Baker had success in the discus.
Key boys returnees were Aiden Ricker (800, 1,600), Cody Zink (pole vault, 300 hurdles, 400, 1,600 relay). Dylan White (discus, shot put, javelin) would lead the throwing events.
“Freshman Asher Miller was our top cross country runner,” Cherry said. “Aiden Ricke ran well at the CPL meet and was stepping up.”
SENIORS—LaTaja Gray, Dylan White
JUNIORS—Michael Dimitt, Daphne Doll, Erin Hammeke, Ashtin Klepper, Aiden Ricker, Kaden Ritterhouse, Logan Sturtz, Austin Trimmer
SOPHOMORES—Kaden Baird, Gus Corbett, Mary Dimitt, Preston McCord, Allison McReynolds, Riley Robbins, Gracie Schlessiger, Cody Zink
FRESHMEN—Bella Baker, Samuel Brauer, Matthew Cook, Jayden Keith, Asher Miller, Brooklin Morgan, Anna Ricker, Kloe Robbins, Brittany Simpson
BASEBALL — Ellinwood’s baseball team swept Skyline for the school’s first doubleheader win in a 3-14 season during 2019 that ended in an 18-3 loss to Little River. Ellinwood’s baseball team won one game in 2017 and 2018.
Ellinwood’s fourth season of baseball under coach Trevor Bieberle offered promise with nine seniors and six juniors headlining a team with solid experience. Six seniors would’ve been four-year starters. Team leaders would’ve been David Hammeke, Tyler Knop, Luke Wondra, Kyler Doll, Gage Hosman, Tyler Stuhlsatz and Parker Scheck.
But Kansas Governor Laura Kelly canceled the spring season due to fear about the coronavirus.
“This was the year we had marked to compete and set the tone for our program. I feel the worst for our seniors who worked so hard to build a culture in our program,” Bieberle said. “They didn’t get the chance to experience success on the baseball field like they deserved. We’ll forever be indebted for what they started. We are going to make sure we keep them involved in the future with some plans to honor them when all this settles down.”
After getting run ruled for two seasons, Ellinwood extended most games to seven innings last year and beat Skyline for a historic sweep.
“They were thrown into the fire and went through growing pains,” Bieberle said. “Last year, they took big steps. We improved in every statistical category and had a great summer. Unfortunately we didn’t get that opportunity. We had a solid group of varsity pitchers with seven guys we would trust to take the mound.”
Ninth-graders Parker Scheck and standout athlete Tyler Stuhlsatz headlined a young group of promising players.
“We would’ve mixed in some great young talent,” Bieberle said. “Three freshman had the opportunity to push for varsity playing time.”
The lost opportunity feels especially painful for Ellinwood, which expected to surprise a lot of teams.
“Anytime you lose game reps for guys it sets you back,” he said. “We had junior varsity games to give our younger guys a chance to be ready when we lose our senior group. We’ll get to play some summer baseball. We’ll work together with baseball specific workouts and intra-squad scrimmages. We have a group that will put the work to be ready for next year. Now, I’m counting down the days for next year.”
ELLINWOOD BASEBALL 2020
SENIORS—Woodson Corbett, Kyler Doll, David Hammeke, Tyler Knop, Cole Kubick, Adam Mannie, Chris Nielsen, Ryan Niles, Luke Wondra
JUNIORS—Dalton Gowdy, Gage Hosman, Lane Klepper, Alex Ortiz, Brad Shumate, Wyatt Standlee
SOPHOMORES—Preston McCord, Tony Ortiz, Cole Petz, Trey Schofield
NINTH-GRADERS—Cale Batchman, Koy Behnke, Britton Dutton, Eli Miller, Parker Scheck, Tyler Stuhlsatz
SOFTBALL — First-year softball coach Shelbi Frees inherited an experienced team. Ellsworth upset Ellinwood 2-1 in regionals with the Eagles one out away from a first-round victory.
Ellinwood’s softball program, a two-time 2A state runner-up, featured returning pitcher Teigan Torres (11-8) that returned starters C Katelynn Panning, SS-RF Jozlyn Brown, LF Elaina Hernandez, RF-2B Anahi Mendez, SS Ashlynn Raya and OF Jennie Menges. Talented athlete Mya Maxwell was poised to make an immediate impact.
SENIORS—3B Marie Maestas, C Katelynn Panning, RF Taryn Robl, P Teigan Torres
JUNIORS—SS-RF Jozlyn Brown, LF Elaina Hernandez, OF Jennie Magner, RF-2B Anahi Mendez, SS Ashlynn Raya
SOPHOMORES—1B-3B Brook McReynolds
BOYS TENNIS — No. 1 singles Caleb Robl and No. 1 doubles Caleb Bookout and Brook Degenhardt would’ve returned for a third consecutive varsity season. No. 2 doubles Colby Heinz-Nathan Ringwald would’ve returned for first-year coach Dustin Wheeler.
Robl defeated Hillsboro’s Ethan Plenert and lost to Central Plains’ J.J. Heredia and Hesston’s Logan Gamble at 3A regionals. Bookout-Degenhardt lost to regional champions Brett Liebl-Devin Ryan and Smoky Valley’s Cole Brumbaugh-Johann Rauchholz at regionals. Heinz-Ringwald lost to Hesston’s Decker-Carlson at regionals.
SENIORS—Caleb Bookout, Brook Degenhardt
JUNIORS—Caleb Robl, Nathan Ringwald
SOPHOMORES—Coby Heinz, Shaun Weber
