Wildcats earn 7 spots on all-league team; Kattau named all-state

The Louisburg baseball had an up and down regular season as the Wildcats finished with a 10-10 record, with much of their competition coming tough Frontier League opponents.

The Wildcats were one game away from the state tournament, before falling to Topeka-Hayden in the regional championship. It was a strong finish to the season for Louisburg and the league coaches took notice.

Louisburg earned seven spots on the All-Frontier League Team that was released last weekend, and one player earned both all-league and all-state honors.

Junior Kolby Kattau was named to the all-league first team infield for his production as Louisburg’s first baseman. He was also selected as a Class 4A honorable mention by the Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches.

Senior Matt Madison was named as a second-team all-league catcher, while Brandon Doles earned second-team outfield honors.

Senior Trevin Lohse (outfield), junior Maverick Rockers (infield), sophomore Cade Driskell (utility) and Doles (pitcher) were named all-league honorable mentions.

“I thought we were very well represented on the all-league team this year,” Louisburg coach Kade Larson said.

Kattau finished the year with a .444 average and racked up 32 hits for the Wildcats to go along with a .560 on-base percentage. He finished with five doubles, two triples, 16 RBIs, scored 26 runs and stole nine bases.

“Kolby had a great season for us,” Larson said. “He was great at first base and was a great lead-off hitter. He set the table many times for us to strike early and often. Getting on base over half the time is exactly what you want in the lead-off position and he did better than that.”

Madison provided the Wildcats with a reliable back stop all season as the Louisburg senior caught all 22 games.

He finished the year with a .464 average, a .541 on-base percentage, seven doubles, 15 RBIs and 19 runs scored. Defensively, he threw out 10 runners and had six passed balls.

“Matt was an animal behind the plate for us this season on defense and at the plate on the offensive side,” Larson said. “He swung it really well and came up huge for us at the end of the season. Anytime you can shut down the other team’s running game you’ve done a great job, and he did that from the beginning of every game.”

Doles had a big year all over the diamond, which in turn helped him earn two spots on the all-league team.

At the plate, Doles had a .420 average to go along with a home run, five doubles and 23 RBIs. As a pitcher, he had a 4-3 record in 37.2 innings pitched and had a 3.15 earned run average. He also struck out 21, compared to just 10 walks.

“Doles helped us on both sides of the field,” Larson said. “He was a stud on the mound, in left field, and at the plate. Whenever we had a big game, he got the ball on the mound. You knew he was going to give a solid outing and he always did. At the plate he swung it really well and came up with some clutch hits all season long.”

Lohse, Rockers and Driskell all came up big at times for the Wildcats at the plate this season. Lohse finished the year with a .324 average with 22 hits, two doubles, seven RBIs and 13 runs scored.

As for Rockers, he had a .293 average, but he also had 22 hits with two doubles, two triples, two home runs, 14 RBIs and 23 runs. Driskell, in his first year on varsity, hit .327 with 18 hits, two doubles, 11 RBIs and scored 14 runs.

“Trevin was a great leader for us and had some great at-bats late in the season to really help us,” Larson said. “Maverick was great in the field and started off slow at the plate, but really came on late with some big hits for us. He really played a great shortstop for us and you knew no ball was a for sure hit if it was anywhere near him. 

“Cade always found a way on base. So many times I remember him have nine  and 10 pitch at bats that were great for our team and it seemed like he always ended those with a hit or walk. He always did whatever the team needed to help us.”

As for the team’s future, the Wildcats made huge strides coming off a missed season due to COVID, and Larson is looking forward to seeing what is next for his team.

“This year was huge for us in turning this program around,” he said. “These guys were all great leaders and just like every one else on the team, they all did whatever was asked to help the team. I’m really proud of this group and I’m excited for our future.”

ALL-FRONTIER LEAGUE BASEBALL

First Team

PITCHER — Kobe Scrivner, Spring Hill, senior; Garrett Williams, Paola, senior

CATCHER — James Eaton, Tonganoxie, senior

INFIELD — Kolby Kattau, Louisburg, junior; Chase Bloomer, Ottawa, junior; Austin Nitcher, Ottawa, junior; Gehrig Goldbeck, Tonganoxie, junior

OUTFIELD — Sebastian Lewis, Eudora, senior; Garrett Williams, Paola, senior; Zack Knowlton, Spring Hill, junior

DH/UTILITY — Brett Hadl, Ottawa, junior

Second Team

PITCHER — Sebastian Lewis, Eudora, senior; Lane Attic, Ottawa, senior; Mason Davenport, Tonganoxie, junior

CATCHER — Matt Madison, Louisburg, senior

INFIELD — Liam Prentice, Bonner Springs, sophomore; Dillon Ohlmeier, Paola, junior; Dalton Picek, Paola, junior; Jamon Beck, Spring Hill, sophomore

OUTFIELD — Ben Shively, Bonner Springs, senior; Brandon Doles, Louisburg, junior; Carson Boehm, Paola, junior

DH/UTILITY — Jake Titus, Ottawa, sophomore

Honorable Mention

PITCHER — Brandon Doles, Louisburg, junior; Dalton Picek, Paola, junior; Caden Marcum, Paola, junior; Kyron Fergus, Piper, senior; Owen Welsh, Tonganoxie, junior

CATCHER — Gavin Lang, Baldwin, senior; Cache Crowley, Ottawa, junior

INFIELD — Keaton Herron, Eudora, senior; Zeke Reazin, Eudora, senior; Maverick Rockers, Louisburg, junior; Fletcher Aude, Paola, senior; Nate Golubski, Piper, senior; Cooper Milroy, Spring Hill, junior; Owen Welsh, Tonganoxie, junior

OUTFIELD — Colby Zimmerman, Baldwin, senior; Jayce Smith, Bonner Springs, junior; Trevin Lohse, Louisburg, senior; Brady Beets, Ottawa, senior; Caden Marcum, Paola, junior; Ethan Walker, Piper, junior

DH/UTILITY — Jovany Diaz, Bonner Springs, senior; Brandin Andrew, Bonner Springs, junior; Cade Driskell, Louisburg, sophomore; Ryan Sloan, Paola, senior; Donovan Johnson, Spring Hill, sophomore