Kinsley/Macksville baseball has experience

KINSLEY — The Kinsley/Macksville baseball program recorded an 8-10 record, losing a hard-fought 12-9 game to Elkhart in regional action. The Coyotes swept Ellis and Sylvan/Lucas and won single games against Sublette, Skyline, Satanta and Spearville.

Macksville was well represented with Parker Burr, SS Diego Esparza, 1B Kendall Grippin, LF Ty Clawson, DH Devin Murrow and Nolan Adams competing last year. Also Kinsley starters returning are 2B Trenton Anderson, RF Gavin Wilkenson and C Woodrow Lancaster.

Grippin and Lancaster headline the pitching staff.

"Grippin and Lancaster are our projected No. 1 and 2 starters, but it's a group with strong balance," said coach Zac Stuckey. "Their strength is their baseball IQ, approach to pitching and trusting their defense. I expect consistency and a relentless competitiveness."

A small-class school must have players switch to various defensive spots.

"Thankfully, we players who are incredibly versatile, including three seniors and a freshman," Stuckey said. "Each of them will contribute in the infield and outfield. Our starting catcher Woodrow Lancaster is positioned to have a breakout year. Our corner outfield players are athletic. I foresee our team taking a giant step defensively."

The Coyotes should feature a competitive top of the lineup.

"We have speed, balance and a ton of high-level competitive baseball experience," he said. "Our projected 1 through 4  will set the tone offensively."

The Coyotes plan to compete for a regional baseball championship with the goal to play May 29 at Great Bend for the state tournament.

"We have the talent to get to the regional championship, and compete to win it," said Stuckey. "We want to  finish above .500 and represent Kinsley/Macksville in the regional final."

Last year's senior class at Kinsley encouraged the school board to add baseball in 2022. During our second season, we struggled to field a team consistently, which forced us to forfeit six games and had to fill in with part-time players. Many of the teams had established co-op programs and found it's a critical element to sustainability. Macksville was a perfect fit. Their administration and students were eager to offer baseball. The rest is history."

Stuckey enjoys how baseball is a valuable sport to learn life's lessons.

"They get to play a game they love while establishing relationships on the diamond that will last a lifetime. Our guys haven't played baseball since before junior high. I love the challenge and joy that baseball brings. We focus on how the fundamentals of the game transcend  the outcome of the game, but also in life. From day , they realize we are one team, one family and not two different schools. They work hard and don't take anything for granted. That is the best part, the guys.

Stuckey is assisted by Bryce Herrmann and Valis McLean.

KINSLEY ROSTER

SENIORS—1—Diego Esparza; 3—Parker Burr; 4—Kendall Grippin; 7—Trenton Anderson; 8—Hector Gomez; 22—Devin Murrow

JUNIORS—15—Gavin Wilkenson; 19—Shain Granger; 23—Ty Clawson 

SOPHOMORES—9—Anthony Meza;  10—Woodrow Lancaster; 24—Nolan Adams

NINTH-GRADER—2—Joshua Stuckey; 11—Joey Preito; 12—Kaleb Granger; 16—Gabriel Mullen

KINSLEY SCHEDULE—3-27—Bucklin; 3-31—Plainville; 4-3—Sublette; 4-10—at Pratt Skyline; 4-17—at Ellis; 4-24—Sylvan-Lucas; 4-28—at Spearville; 4-29—at Satanta; 5-1—at Ellinwood; 5-9—Minneola;  5-19/22—at 1A regional

Mustangs' girls trio lead the way 

MACKSVILLE — Macksville's state cross country qualifier Kennedy Butler headlines a young Mustang track team.

"Our strength will be in the girls throws with Morgan Sebes and sprints/hurdles/jumps with Diana Ibarra," said Macksville coach Jennifer Gillespie. 

Dual-sport Kendall Grippin and Hector Gomez are high-level athletes who will compete in track and play co-op baseball with Kinsley.

"On the boys side, sprinter Hector Gomez and jumper Kendall Grippin will lead the way," she said. "We have young boys who will have to step up."

At the Central Prairie League, Joseph Marquez placed third in the 110-meter hurdles (19.13).

Several Mustang potential returning state qualifiers elected to not compete in track.

MUSTANG ROSTER

SENIORS—Kendall Grippin (jumps), Hector Gomez (sprints), Angelo Castaneda Devin Murrow, Morgan Sebes (throws), Alexandra Lopez, Diana Ibarra (jumps, sprints, hurdles)

JUNIORS—Abby Foster, Alycia Fulls, Ava Chadd, Raymond Saaveda, Darey Holguin

SOPHOMORES—Kinze Grinnell, Ashtyn Foster, Joseph Marquez, Jesus Llanas, Aiden Gandara

NINTH-GRADERS—Kennedy Butler, Daniela Reyes-Holguin, Grace Chadd, Heidy Ortiz, Nick Seward, Aiden Alvarado, Omar Cardoza

MUSTANG SCHEDULE—4-1—at La Crosse JV; 4-2—at Meade; 4-10— at Lyons; 4-18—at Spearville; 4-22—at Sterling JV; 4-25—at St. John; 4-29—at Lewis JV; 5-1—at Kiowa; 5-5—at Jetmore; 5-15—Central Prairie at St. John; 5-22/23—at 1A regional