By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Centennial League champion and Class 6A state tournament qualifier Washburn Rural and 5A state qualifier Seaman landed four players apiece on the All-Centennial League baseball team, selected by league coaches.
Washburn Rural, 17-6 on the season, is represented on the first team by senior pitcher Cooper Carlgren, junior infielder Brock Howard, senior catcher Brady Patterson and senior utility pick Hunter Vondemkamp while 19-4 Seaman put senior pitcher Kevin Mannell, junior infielder Dagen Brewer and senior outfielders Cole Askew and Kolden Howerton on the all-league team.
Askew was named the Centennial League player of the year while Washburn Rural's Jay Mastin was selected as the league coach of the year.
Topeka High, which put together a breakthrough 15-7 season in 2021, is represented by junior infielder Max Colombo.
Manhattan, which finished fourth in 6A, put junior infielder Braden Dinkel, senior outfielder Dayne Aschenbrenner and junior designated hitter Cade Perkins on the first team while Indian sophomore Ian Luce was named the league newcomer of the year.
Hayden, which advanced to the 4A state tournament, put senior infielder Skyler Specht and senior utility pick Erick Teske on the second team.
Also named to the second team were junior pitcher Carson Rosen, senior infielder Davan Brady and senior outfielder Andre Chavez of Washburn Rural, junior pitcher Dillon Mitchell of Topeka High and sophomore designated hitter Bryson Vawter of Seaman.
ALL-CENTENNIAL LEAGUE BASEBALL
First team
Pitchers -- Cooper Carlgren, sr., Washburn Rural; Kevin Mannell, sr., Seaman. Infielders -- Brock Howard, jr., Washburn Rural; Braden Dinkel, jr., Manhattan; Max Colombo, jr., Topeka High; Dagen Brewer, jr., Seaman. Outfielders -- Cole Askew, sr., Seaman; Kolden Howerton, sr., Seaman; Dayne Aschenbrenner, sr., Manhattan. Catcher -- Brady Patterson, sr., Washburn Rural. Designated hitter -- Cade Perkins, jr., Manhattan. Utility -- Hunter Vondemkamp, sr., Washburn Rural.
Second team
Pitchers -- Dillon Mitchell, jr., Topeka High; Carson Rosen, jr., Washburn Rural. Infielders -- Davan Brady, sr., Washburn Rural; Kadyn Williams, sr., Emporia; Skyler Specht, sr., Hayden; Russell Wilkey, sr., Junction City. Outfielders -- Ian Luce, so., Manhattan; Andre Chavez, sr., Washburn Rural; Andrew Khoury, sr., Junction City. Catcher -- Tylar Pere, jr., Manhattan. Designated hitter -- Bryson Vawter, so., Seaman. Utility -- Erick Teske, sr., Hayden; Trevor Laughlin, sr., Junction City.
Honorable mention
Emporia: Ethan Garate, Camden Kirmer. Highland Park: Vonni Osayandae. Manhattan: Marcus Wallace. Seaman: Maclane Finley, Andrew Kirmer, Aidan Polter. Topeka High: Elijah Kincaid. Topeka West: Triston Speaker. Washburn Rural: Hunter Jones, Tate Schoffleman, Anthony Taggart.
Player of the year -- Cole Askew, sr., Seaman.
Newcomer of the year -- Ian Luce, so., Manhattan.
Coach of the year -- Jay Mastin, Washburn Rural.