By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Four city players earned first-team recognition on the All-Centennial League baseball team, including three players from Class 6A state qualifier Topeka High.
Topeka High put juniors Nate Plankinton and Isaiah Kincade and senior Elijah Kincade on the the 11-member first team, selected by league coaches, after the Trojans posted a 16-7 record and earned their first trip to state in more than seven decades.
Hayden, which went 11-6 on the season, is represented on the first team by sophomore Cooper Grace.
Topeka High is represented on the second team by junior Matt Genrich while Hayden put seniors Konnor Becker and Jackson Summers on the second team and Washburn Rural put junior Kyle Walker, senior Zach Sharshel, sophomore Sam Bettis and senior Ty Weber on the second 11.
Hayden senior Braydn Rose and Washburn Rural seniors Dayten Smoot, Aiden Rea and Kaleb Wellshear earned all-league honorable mention.
Centennial League champion Manhattan, which put a league-high five players on the first team, swept the individual awards.
Manhattan senior Kyler Horsman was named the league player of the year while junior Jake Wolcott was named the newcomer of the year and Don Hess the coach of the year.
ALL-CENTENNIAL LEAGUE BASEBALL
First team
Kyler Horsman, Manhattan; Ian Luce, Mahattan; Jonathan Phillips, Junction City; Nate Plankinton, Topeka High; Cooper Grace, Hayden; Isaiah Kincade, Topeka High; Jaxon Vikander, Manhattan; Elijah Kincade, Topeka High; Logan Nabus, Junction City; PJ Hughes, Manhattan; Ian Bluemel, Manhattan.
Second team
Keenan Schartz, Manhattan; Kyle Walker, Washburn Rural; Zach Sharshel, Washburn Rural; Konnor Becker; Jackson Summers, Hayden; Gavin Moore, Junction City; Owen Ruge, Emporia; Matt Genrich, Topeka High; Sam Bettis, Washburn Rural; Tate Hoover, Manhattan; Ty Weber, Washburn Rural.
Honorable mention
Emporia: Drew Hess. Hayden: Braydn Rose. Junction City: Levi Mehl,Tate Miller, Cooper Bogenhagen, Lincoln Upham, Brock Bazan. Manhattan: Tyler Gagnon, Jake Wolcott., Jaxon Bowles.Washburn Rural: Dayten Smoot; Aiden Rea; Kaleb Welshear.
Player of the year -- Kyler Horsman, Manhattan.
Newcomer of the year -- Jack Wolcott, Manhattan.
Coach of the year -- Don Hess, Manhattan.