By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
It probably doesn't come as a big surprise to anyone who has followed local sports over the past several years, but a long and growing list of athletes who starred at Topeka/Shawnee County schools have continued to make a big impact at the college level over the winter and spring seasons.
Here's a look at just some of the stars who continue to make their high school alma maters and fans proud:
Campbell Bagshaw
CAMPBELL BAGSHAW, Washburn Rural/Kansas -- After seeing spot for Kansas softball in 2023 as a freshman, Bagshaw has fueled a breakout season for the No. 18-ranked Jayhawks (22-8-1) while putting together a big sophomore season. An infielder, Bagshaw leads the Jayhawks with a .317 batting average while compiling a .500 slugging percentage and a .380 on-base percentage. The former Washburn Rural multi-sport standout has five doubles, two triples and two home runs on the season while also compiling a .995 fielding percentage.
Olivia Bruno
OLIVIA BRUNO, Washburn Rural/Kansas -- A junior, Bruno has teamed with former Washburn Rural teammates Bagshaw and Kasey Hamilton to help No. 18-ranked Kansas get off to a 22-8-1 start on the season. Bruno, who earned All-Big 12 second-team honors as a freshman, has made 23 starts this season for the Jayhawks with a home run and nine runs batted in while compiling a .338 on-base percentage. Bruno is 1-1 in the pitching circle in 2024 with a 1.95 earned run average and 12 strikeouts in 14.1 innings.
NiJaree Canady
NiJAREE CANADY, Topeka High/Stanford -- After being named the NCAA Division I National Freshman of the Year in 2023, the former Topeka High star has continued to establish herself as arguably the most dominant pitcher in college softball as a sophomore this spring. Canady is currenty 10-2 on the season for the No. 9-ranked Cardinal (25-5) while compiling an 0.59 earned run average with 152 strikeouts in 95.1 innings pitched. In 18 appearances Canady has thrown eight complete games while also earning three saves and holding opponents to a .126 batting average. As a freshman Canady helped lead Stanford to the College World Series with a 17-3 record and led the nation with an 0.57 ERA and 11.3 strikeouts for every seven innings pitched.
Adisyn Caryl
ADISYN CARYL, Topeka High/Illinois -- A former three-sport standout for Topeka High, Caryl has made an immediate impact for the Illinois softball team as a freshman third baseman. Caryl is hitting .341 with 28 hits and 12 runs batted in with six doubles while making 26 starts for the 12-15 Illini. Caryl has compiled a .415 slugging percentage and a .398 on-base percentage. Caryl's older sister, Zoe, is also on the Illinois roster but is sidelined with a back injury.
Alexis Dial
ALEXIS DIAL, Shawnee Heights/Emporia State -- Dial, a senior outfielder, is hitting a team-high .434 for the 22-13 Hornets softball team with a .736 slugging percentage and a .475 on-base percentage. The former Shawnee Heights state champion has 46 hits on the year with 13 doubles, five home runs and 42 runs batted in. Dial leads the team in hits, doubles and RBIs and is tied for the team lead in homers. Dial has been a multi-time MIAA hitter of the week.
Jaycee Ginter
JAYCEE GINTER, Shawnee Heights/Washburn -- A former first-team All-American and the MIAA softball player of the year, the former Shawnee Heights star is hitting a team-high .459 for the No. 24-ranked Ichabods (26-10) while also posting an 11-5 record in the pitching circle to give her a 79-26 career record. At the plate Ginter has 45 hits with nine doubles, two triples, four homers and 29 runs batted in while compiling a .714 slugging percentage and a .562 on-base percentage. Ginter has compiled a 2.55 earned run average with 103 strikeouts in 93.1 innings pitched.
Kasey Hamilton
KASEY HAMILTON, Washburn Rural/Kansas -- Hamilton, a senior left-handed pitcher, has helped Kansas softball earn a No. 18 national ranking while starting the 2024 season with a 22-8-1 record. The former Rural multi-sport standout has posted a 9-5 pitching record while recording a pair of saves for the Jayhawks with a 2.28 earned run average. Hamilton has posted a team-high 19 appearances and 15 starts while pitching 13 complete games. Hamilton has struck out 71 batters in 101.1 innings. As a junior Hamilton was 9-10 with a 3.96 ERA and a team-high 130.2 innings pitched and 96 strikeouts.
Ty Henry
TY HENRY, Seaman/Baker -- Henry, who helped Seaman win the Class 5A state basketball championship as a senior, helped Baker post its first-ever win in the NAIA National Tournament on the way to a 23-11 season. The 6-foot-5 sophomore earned All-Heart of America second-team recognition while averaging 10.3 points and shooting 55.6 percent from the field and 48.1 percent from 3-point range while canning 39 of 81 3-point attempts. Henry hit 32 of 37 free throws on the season (86.5 percent) for Baker, which was eliminated in the second round of the national tournament.
Raigan Kramer
RAIGAN KRAMER, Seaman/Arkansas -- Kramer, a junior outfielder, is hitting .290 for the 24-8 Razorbacks while appearing in all 32 games with 31 starts. Kramer has compiled a .435 slugging percentage and a .462 on-base percentage with two doubles, a triple, two home runs and 13 runs batted in while drawing 21 walks and stealing six bases in six attempts. The former Seaman softball and basketball standout hit .301 as a sophomore with seven homers and 34 RBI.
Kiki Smith
KIKI SMITH, Topeka High/Hutchinson CC -- The former Topeka High basketball star was named the Jayhawk Conference Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year after helping lead Hutchinson Community College to the top seed in the NJCAA Division I National Tournament with a perfect 33-0 record. Smith leads the Blue Dragons in scoring with 17.7 points per game on 55.4 percent shooting from the field and 44.4 percent from 3-point range with 88 made 3-pointers. Smith also averages 3.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game. The Blue Dragons received an opening-round bye in the national tournament and will play the winner of the Cochise/Chattanooga State winner at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Ford Wyoming Center in Casper, Wyoming.
