Four Wildcats named to all-state baseball team

Winning a league and regional championship brought a lot of recognition to the Louisburg baseball team this past season and it continued at the state level.

After earning their first league title in 22 years and their first state tournament appearance in 15 years, several Wildcats were found on the all-state team.

The Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches released their all-state teams earlier this month, and four Wildcats made the list — including three on the first team.

Louisburg senior Declan Battle (outfield), senior Nathaniel Lamm (DH) and junior Luke Schultz (third base) were all selected to the first team. Sophomore Danny Napier (catcher) was an honorable mention selection.

“We were really well-represented on the all-state team,” Louisburg coach Kade Larson said. “We play in a tough league and had guys play at a high level all year against great competition and teams around the state took notice.”

Battle was atop the Wildcat lineup all season and set the tone in several games. He finished with a .378 average to go along with 34 hits, five doubles, three triples, a home run and had 23 RBIs.

He also led the team 41 runs scored, which is a school record and also had a team-high 15 stolen bases. As the team’s centerfielder, he committed just four errors on the season.

Lamm was one of the team’s best hitters all season. He led the Wildcats with 37 hits, which is the second most in program history.

He also had a team best .411 batting average and he tied for the team high with five home runs and 12 doubles. He also had a team-high 36 RBIs to go along with two triples.

Schultz, the team’s starting third baseman, had a big season with the bat. Along with five home runs, he had a .381 batting average, 32 hits, two doubles and three triples.

He also finished with 26 RBIs on the season in the No. 2 spot and scored 32 runs.

Napier was behind the plate for all 26 games as the Wildcat catcher and was the workhorse behind the Louisburg pitching staff that recorded a program record 172 strikeouts.

He also provided the Wildcats with a big bat in the middle of the lineup. Napier had a .367 average, to go along with 29 hits, 12 doubles and two home runs. He also finished with 26 RBIs.