By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden junior Cooper Grace and Topeka High senior Nate Plankinton, who were named the co-players of the year, and Shawnee Heights junior three-time first-team pick Deacon Pomeroy, headline the TopSports.news 2024 All-Shawnee County baseball team.
Grace helped lead Hayden to the Class 3A state championship while Plankinton helped lead Topeka High to a second straight 6A state tournament berth.
Grace and Plankinton were earlier named the co-players of the year in the Centennial League and both earned All-State first-team recognition from the Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches while Pomeroy was named the UKC and KABC 5A player of the year.
Hayden's Bill Arnold was named the county coach of the year after leading the seventh-seeded Wildcats the 3A state championship with an 18-12 record, while Hayden freshman Mason Becker was named the newcomer of the year.
Arnold has coached Hayden to three state baseball titles while also leading the Wildcats to a state football championship.
In addition to three-time pick Pomeroy, Grace and Plankinton are both All-Shawnee County repeat first-team picks along with Topeka High senior Isaiah Kincade, Washburn Rural senior Kyle Walker and Silver Lake junior Dysen Schooler.
Grace and Becker are joined on the all-county first team by junior Brady Heinen and senior Evan Lenherr, while Topeka High senior Matt Genrich joins Kincade and Plankinton on the first team.
Shawnee Heights senior Jordan Armbruster was a first-team selection along with teammate Pomeroy while Washburn Rural is represented on the first team by Walker and senior Colin Redeker and senior Tanner Martin joined teammate Schooler on the first team.
Seaman put junior David Dobbs and senior Zach Wilson on the all-county team while Rossville is represented by senior Camden Horak.
2024 ALL-SHAWNEE COUNTY BASEBALL
First team
Name, school Class
Jordan Armbruster, Shawnee Heights Sr.
Mason Becker, Hayden Fr.
David Dobbs, Seaman Jr.
Matt Genrich, Topeka High Sr.
Cooper Grace, Hayden Jr.
Brady Heinen, Hayden Jr.
Camden Horak, Rossville Sr.
Isaiah Kincade, Topeka High Sr.
Evan Lenherr, Hayden Sr.
Tanner Martin, Silver Lake Sr.
Nate Plankinton, Topeka High Sr.
Deacon Pomeroy, Shawnee Heights Jr.
Colin Redeker, Washburn Rural Sr.
Dysen Schooler, Silver Lake Jr.
Kyle Walker, Washburn Rural Sr.
Zach Wilson, Seaman Sr.
Second team
Name, school Class
Drayden Acosta, Topeka High So.
Braden Ailslieger, Washburn Rural Sr.
Liam Annand, Hayden Jr.
Cooper Campidilli, Silver Lake Jr.
Avery Crosswhite, Rossville Sr.
Branton DeWeese, Washburn Rural Sr.
Carson Garner, Shawnee Heights Jr.
Lee Gonzales, Topeka High Sr.
Kaiden Griffin, Seaman Sr.
Braden Hauschel, Washburn Rural Sr.
Cayden Lindsey, Shawnee Heights So.
Kade Mitchell, Hayden So.
Aiden Roberts, Hayden So.
Ben Schaub, Shawnee Heights Sr.
Hank Stamper, Topeka High Sr.
Connon Wells, Washburn Rural Sr.
Honorable mention
Hayden: Easton Blosser. Highland Park: Talan Olmsted, Craige Sipple, Armani Vaughan. Rossville: Conner Bush, Logan Kufahl, Cameron Miller. Seaman: Axton Brewer, Bryer Finley, Holden Finley. Shawnee Heights: Jayden Holly, Carter Ulrich. Silver Lake: Logan Cathcart, Brody Renfro. Topeka West: Elijah Berg. Washburn Rural: Isaac Ansley, Kaeden Fenton, Kyler VanDonge.
Co-players of the year -- Cooper Grace, Hayden, and Nate Plankinton, Topeka High.
Newcomer of the year -- Mason Becker, Hayden.
Coach of the year -- Bill Arnold, Hayden.