BY JIM MISUNAS
LARNED – A promising Larned Indian spring baseball season was ruined when the Kansas State High School Activities Association canceled sports due to the coronavirus threat.
The Indians (10-9, 8-8 CKL) returned a trio of All-CKL starters – second team C-P Jack Stelter and second team P Aidan Smyth (4-3) along with honorable mention SS Mason Perez. Larned captured the 2015 and 2016 CKL baseball titles.
Concordia ended Larned’s 2019 season with a 6-1 regional victory. The Indians turned two double plays and threw out four baserunners in the loss.
Two-year starters returning were Mason Perez, OF Brayden Rupp, IF Mello Bryant, OF Brandon Ceniceros and IF Tristen Burger along with returning 2B-P Logan Erway, OF-P Dillan Smith and Colin Labourchardiere. Other quality pitchers were Christian Murray, Gavin Alvarez and Logan Coulson.
‘’It’s been surreal, the first time in 30 years I haven’t played or coached baseball in some capacity,” said Larned coach Chad Erway. “I told our guys in spring practice that I wanted to win the league this year, and I won’t typically say that. We were ready for our spring break ‘World Series,’ when everything was canceled. It makes you appreciate how ingrained baseball and sports is in our culture.”
Larned was in the third year of a rebuilding mode that should’ve translated into a league and state-qualifier contender.
“Every group has a window of opportunity, and this group would’ve been competitive,” Erway said. “They would’ve played baseball at a high level. Aidan Smyth would’ve been a legitimate ace. Our pitching arms were solid and the guys learned a better approach as hitters. It’s disappointing we didn’t see these guys as a junior/senior team.”
SOFTBALL— Larned’s girls featured a solid lineup with first-team All-Central Kansas League 1B Lynzi Myrick leading the Indians (7-12, 5-11 CKL). The Indians lost 6-4 to Sylvan-Lucas in the 3A regional.
The Indians also returned four other starters – senior SS Kendra Grandy, senior 1B-P Kaylee Mead along with 3B-OF Julie Tapia and P-IF Nikki Taylor. Other contributors would’ve been Shaylin Birney, Ariana Melton, P Kiana Meyer and Paisley Lovesee.
“We were looking forward to some redemption in the spring. Softball was going to be our chance to shine,” said Larned coach Amy Wilson. “We featured key players returning and new players contributing.”
Pitcher Taylor and catcher Martin formed a reliable battery.
“Taylor and Martin would’ve worked together for their third year,” Wilson said. “Lynzi Myrick is so versatile, she’s a great player no matter where we play her. We’ve hit the ball and scored runs pretty well the past few years.”
TRACK— Two-time CKL champion Brock Skelton was Larned’s best state gold-medal hopeful after placing in the triple jump (43-0, 4th); and long jump (20-4, 10th). Skelton is a two-time CKL placer with firsts (long jump, triple jump); runner-up (long jump; third), 100; and fourth (100).
High jumper MaKayla Leiker placed sixth (5-0), ninth and 12th at state. Brayden Lothman placed 11th in the 1,600 (4:47.04) after a runner-up finish in the CKL 800 and 1,600 meters. Sebastian Wittington placed runner-up in the CKL javelin. Skelton and Chance Sanger returned from the runner-up CKL 400-meter relay. Cierra Nord is a past CKL 1,600-meter runner-up.
BOYS GOLF — Larned sophomore J.T. Hill was poised for a nice season after shooting 97 to tie senior teammate Hunter Barker (97) for 14th place at Lake Barton’s 3A regional. Reed NcNett (100, 19th); senior Callen Ayre (107, 26th); and Leighton Crosby gave the Indians five players with varsity experience.
BOYS TENNIS— Larned’s No. 2 doubles team Britton Herrman-Joe Theis (16-13) were a returning 3A state qualifier who placed third in the Central Kansas League for the third-place team finisher. No. 2 singles Ian Orth also returned after placing fourth In the CKL meet.
The Indians graduated No. 1 doubles state qualifier Andrew Bright-Logan DeMond (25-9) and No. 1 singles four-time state qualifier Dalton Penka (22-12). Penka and Bright-DeMond each finished with 2-2 records at the state tournament.
