Sportsink082814

A magazine focusing on all things sports in northwest Kansas

INK. September 2014

Fierce

Force Ryan Kuhn helps usher in new era in Oakley

The Hays Daily News

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Rally time Members of the Hays Larks sport rally caps and cheer from the dugout against the Seattle Studs in the semifinals at the National Baseball Congress World Series on Aug. 8 in Wichita.

Austin Colbert, Sports Ink.

What’s up?

A look inside this issue

5

Who’s that?

Notable

performances from northwest Kansas.

?

11

Time for

change

The MCL has a new look with two new schools joining full time this fall.

6

Fierce force

A dominant defender, Oakley senior Ryan Kuhn helps usher in a new era of Oakley football.

Sports Ink. contributors: Nick McQueen nmcqueen@dailynews.net Austin Colbert acolbert@dailynews.net Everett Royer sportsink@dailynews.net Jolie Green jgreen@dailynews.net Cover photo illustration by: Austin Colbert.

Volume 4, Issue 7 Sports Ink. is published and distributed by The Hays Daily News. Copyright © 2014 Harris Enterprises. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Sports Ink. is a registered trademark of The Hays Daily News, 507 Main, Hays, KS 67601 (785) 628-1081.

A little extra time for Leo

I

n May, the Hays High School baseball ing math at USD 489 and being a HHS team played host to its annual Western coach, father and grandfather, Leo, along Plains Diamond Classic, a three-day with assistant Keith Harper have year in prep tournament at Indian Field. and year out been able to find the time to Often during the three days, teams put together a highly successful summer have some down time. Many players and program. coaches sit in the stands, or make their However, Leo and his wife, Barb, now way around Hays doing various activities are retired from teaching. He was posed a while waiting for their turn on the field. question from someone in the booth.

Longtime Hays High coach and Hays “What will you do with your time?”

Larks manager Frank The jokes flew around For starters Leo had a different about taking up various agenda — much like hobbies. Some seemed it has been every a bit more likely than year well into three others. decades of coaching But it’s easy to imagbaseball. ine that a little extra In between coachtime to spend on the ing his Hays High Indians to a 3-1 finish phone has to bode well for Leo’s Hays in the field, Leo spent much of his “free” Larks. time in the Indian press box, either with Through the years, he has arguably been his phone glued to his ear, or sending out the most organized, and most well-retext messages. spected coaches to work with. Often times, Though it is a year-round process, April information is available before it’s even and May becomes crunch time in recruitasked for, and his knowledge of each of ing the summer’s Larks. his players is beyond comprehension. His Mixed with the full-time job of teachorganizational skills and work ethic are no

nick

McQUEEN

doubt vital to getting the quality players into Hays.

It’s led to not only Hays being the most consistent team in the Jayhawk League the past 15 years (eight titles), but also the Larks becoming a household name at the National Baseball Congress World Series — the only level the Larks have yet to secure the ultimate prize.

After this season’s miraculous run at a third-place finish, the Larks now have 16 top-10 finishes at the NBC with two third-place finishes, and four runner-up showings. Arguably, only teams like Santa Barbara (Calif.) and the Seattle Studs — this year’s champ and runner-up have had more consistency at the NBC. It really has taken the entire Larks’ community, though, to turn the program into the staple it has become, but take away the full-time gig for Leo — put part of that time back into the Larks, and he just might get that NBC title that has been so elusive through the years.

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Who’s That?

Notable performances in northwest Kansas Nick Goza

The Hays larks’ second-year pitcher from Delta State University was one of two Hays pitchers to make 10 starts this summer, appearing in 12 games. Goza finished 6-4 with a 3.77 earned-run average. He collected a team-best 48 strikeouts to just 13 walks in a teamhigh 62 innings. Goza won two games in the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, helping Hays to a third-place finish for the second time in three seasons. The Larks finished the summer 33-15.

Zachary Hopp

Hopp, who will be a sophomore for the Hays High School cross country team, took first place in the 15to 19-year-old age division in the annual Herzogfest 5K earlier this month in Victoria. Hopp finished in 18 minutes, 58.3 seconds to top a field of 12 15 to 19-year-old runners. The mark also placed him fifth out of 136 total runners in the event, ranging in age from 9 to 78.

Parker Krob

A young golfer from Plainville, Krob won the 11-under division of the Kansas Junior Golf Association Section Team Championship at Salina Municipal Golf Course in July.

Krob, who participated in the KJGA and Northwest Kansas Junior Golf, finished the two rounds (nine holes each) 4-over par to finish at the top of 17 11-under golfers.

He was 3-over after the first day and 1-over in the second day. He was the only golfer in the division from the area to qualify for the tournament.

Adell Riedel

Riedel, a 12-year-old from WaKeeney, was named the Knights of Columbus International Free Throw Champion after her 24 of 25 shooting performance in March at the state championships in Salina. Riedel was placed in the top one percentile of thousands of participants across the nation.

Got an idea of someone who you think should be included in Who’s That?

Send it to sportsink@dailynews.net with Who’s that? in the subject line, or call (800) 657-6017.

All you can do is try and stop Oakley and Ryan Kuhn.

Fierce

Force O

AKLEY — The Oakley High School football team recorded as many shutouts as it did touchdowns allowed in 2013, leading to a nickname most of its opponents would find perfectly describes the void often left by the Plainsmen defense.

“Last year, we were called the ‘Black Hole,’ and that was for a reason,” Oakley senior lineman Ryan Kuhn said. “We knew what was going to happen before the ball was snapped. We knew where everyone was going to be. We knew that everyone was going to be accountable for wherever they were.

No one was going to let the ball go past them.”

Kuhn, the reigning Hays Daily News Defensive Player of the Year, was the epicenter of an Oakley defense that allowed Austin only 39 points all season (3.9 points per Colbert game) with six shutouts en route to an 8-2 record.

Twenty six of the points allowed occurred in two games, a 14-6 loss against Phillipsburg High School in Game 3 and a 12-7 loss to La Crosse High School in the second round of the Class 2A state playoffs.

Offensively, the Plainsmen surpassed 42 points six times, meaning the Oakley starters spent a lot of time riding the second-half bench after putting away PAGE 8 most opponents in a matter of two quarters.

story and photos by

Page 6

September 2014

SPORTS INK.

“I know we will be able to run the ball. We got big kids up front. We are probably going to average about 230 across the front.”

- Ty Pfannenstiel, New Oakley coach “Last year’s defense, we had one of the best teams in school history … it gets boring to only play a quarter or two of every game when the leads are that much,” senior linebacker Dylan Gassmann said. “We knew what each person would do in what situation.

Ryan did a lot of helping. He freed up me and other linebackers to do what we wanted.”

Gassmann, a HDN All-Area First Team selection as a junior, and Kuhn, praised by longtime Oakley coach Randall Rath as the “best defensive lineman on this half of the state,” will have a lot of work to do if they hope to repeat the success of last season. The Plainsmen return only two defensive starters and three offensive starters, and will be without Rath for the first time in 24 years (16 spent as the head coach) after he resigned last October.

Rath, who went 125-53 as Oakley’s coach, is now the head coach at Cimarron High School. Taking his spot is 1999 Ness City High School graduate Ty Pfannenstiel, who spent the last eight years as an assistant under Marvin Diener — he won six 5A state titles as Salina Central’s head coach — at Gardner-Edgerton High School, near Kansas City.

“I’m sure there is some pressure that comes following somebody that has been here for so long and has had so much success, but I’m just going to build on what (Rath) already established here,” Pfannenstiel said. “I’ve always had the itch (to be a head coach) and the last couple of years I started looking around and started applying for jobs. Interviewed at four places last year. Was offered a job and ended up turning that job down. I was looking for the right fit. That was the most important thing when I was looking for a job.”

When Rath announced his resignation late in the 2013 season, the 33-year-old Pfannenstiel jumped at the opportunity. He was enticed by the success and high standards Rath had built at Oakley, and eventually was PAGE 10 named the team’s new coach in February.

Everett Royer, Sports Ink. Oakley defenders Dylan Gassmann (58), Ryan Kuhn (78), Gage Hayden (70) and Austin Baalman (82) tackle La Crosse’s Jack Garcia (5) for a loss during the first quarter of last year’s playoff game in Oakley.

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Pfannenstiel played under Dave Foster, the current Dodge City High School football coach, while at Ness City. He later spent time at Garden City Community College before graduating from the University of Kansas. While at Gardner-Edgerton, he served as the team’s quarterbacks coach, where he mentored multi-sport star Bubba Starling, who is currently playing baseball for Class A Wilmington (Del.) as part of the Kansas City Royals organization.

“It is very exciting to have a new coach. We are going to miss coach Rath this year, but it will be good having a new coach in, with new stuff,” Kuhn said.

“I really don’t feel like I’m starting over at all. I feel like I’m carrying a lot of what coach Rath taught me in my three years.”

While Kuhn might not be starting over, there is still plenty that will make his senior season different from his first three years. Having spent the last few seasons playing predominantly center, Kuhn will move to left tackle this season while still retaining his role as the team’s nose guard on the defensive side.

And with Pfannenstiel comes a new offensive system. Under Rath, Oakley was well-known for its power running attack, but Pfannenstiel hopes to incorporate more of a spread approach, taking a page out of his days at Gardner-Edgerton.

Pfannenstiel admits the skill position players — which were not a focal point under Rath — aren’t quite where he would like them at this point, but is excited about what he has on the line, including Kuhn and Gassmann, who will play guard while on offense.

“I know we will be able to run the ball. We got big kids up front. We are probably going to average about 230 across the front,” Pfannenstiel said.

“So I’m confident we are going to be able to run the football. And that will be our mindset going into every game.

But I think we are going to surprise some teams by how well we can throw the football, too. And just because we spread teams out won’t necessarily mean that you are going to throw it a bunch.”

Adding to the changes is Oakley’s entry into the Mid-Continent League,

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meaning a much tougher schedule.

Instead of facing teams like Syracuse, Sublette, St. Francis and Decatur, Oakley will see Thomas More Prep-Marian, Smith Center, Norton, Plainville and La Crosse on its regular-season schedule this year.

But for a team hungry for meaningful competition and a new coach with a desire to win and win early, the Plainsmen still plan on success as usual amid a season full of changes.

“After every practice or weight room session, we say ’88,’ which means it is 88 miles to Hays for the state championship game,” Kuhn said. “I’m excited for this year with a lot more competition and a lot harder teams. There will be close, very good games … the cards will fall where they fall throughout the season, but I believe we will be pretty good this year.”

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New Look Mid-Continent League banners hang in Al Billinger Fieldhouse at Thomas More Prep-Marian High School. The Monarchs enter their first full year of competition in the MCL. Jolie Green, Sports Ink.

for the MCL

M

uch the case with many rural communities in the past 10 years, declining numbers in schools have led to several changes.

Schools have bobbed up and down in terms of classification, and several have made switches from playing 11-man to eight-man football.

Time will tell, but recent changes might end up being a positive one for the MidContinent League, which now boasts seven of the 12 11-man football schools in the Hays Daily News coverage area.

With the disbanding of the MidCentral Activities Association at the end of last year, Thomas More Prep-Marian High School enters its first full year this fall as a member of the MCL. Sports Ink.

And Oakley, which would have been the only remaining 11-man football school in the Northwest Kansas League, now enters its first year as a member of the MCL in all sports.

“I’m excited about the opportunity,” said TMP football coach John Montgomery, who enters his third season at the helm of the Monarchs. “Specifically, I love the football tradition the conference has.

“It’s a football dominant conference.”

TMP and Oakley joining this fall means the MCL now is back to seven schools playing 11-man football. Just 12 years ago, the league had 10.

For the next two seasons, at least, Phillipsburg, Oakley, Smith Center, Plainville, Norton, TMP and Ellis all will September 2014

play 11-man, and WaKeeney-Trego, Hill City and Stockton will be in eight-man.

“From the football side of it, it makes us that much better — two good quality teams coming in that will provide good competition year in and year out,” said J.B. Covington, who enters his 12th season as the head coach at Phillipsburg, the defending MCL champion.

“We’re looking forward to having them in the league.”

The move builds up a league that has 22 state football titles (playoff era) in its history, including a trio of titles in one season.

In 1985, then-member Victoria won Class 2A, Plainville won Class 3A, and Norton PAGE 14 was the 4A champ.

Page 11

Picture this Focused on the Hays Larks’ run in the NBC World Series in Wichita.

Nate Olinger uses a popcorn bucket as a rally cap during their game against the NJCAA National Team.

Larks starter Jake Fromson pitches against the Seattle Studs in the teams’ first meeting at L-D Stadium.

Larks second baseman Zair Koeiman makes a throw toward first base in an attempt to pull the double play against Santa Barbara.

Larks left fielder Aaron Cornell gets a good lead off first base against Haysville.

Reliever Ian Bentley pitches during the seventh inning of the game against Haysville.

Photos by Austin Colbert

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Larks center fielder Michael Burns is congratulated by teammates after scoring a run against Santa Barbara.

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From page 11 Victoria, since leaving the MCL in 2004, has won two state championships in eight-man, and Osborne, after leaving the league in 2013, won last year’s Eight-Man Division I state title.

“With Osborne, certainly hated to see them leave the league, but they’ve gone from a league where they were one of the smaller schools here, now they’re one of the bigger schools,” said Brad Taylor, who has served as the MCL’s commissioner the last 25 years. “That’s why Victoria pulled out of it. When Victoria left, there were nine schools playing 11-man football, and Victoria was playing eight.”

That speaks to the fact of football being a driving force. While schools are pretty even across the board in most sports, football is more a numbers game, at times.

Two schools — TMP and Norton — will compete in 3A this fall. The rest of the 11-man teams, including Phillipsburg for the first time, will compete for two seasons in Class 2-1A. With the exception of Ellis not facing Smith Center or Phillipsburg because of a six-team district schedule, all seven will face each other. Ellis sees just TMP, Oakley, Norton and Plainville.

Many might downplay league play as nothing more than an easy way to get things scheduled, but there is still a pride factor involved.

“That’s been one of our primary goals for quite a few years,” said Covington. “We were finally able to get an outright win last year.

“It was really important to our kids and to our program — with the tradition of the league.”

Oakley, which begins its first season under Ty Pfannenstiel, would have been the only 11-man team left in the Northwest Kansas League. Fellow league members St. Francis and Oberlin-Decatur Community enter their first season of eight-man.

The schools become the 13th and 14th schools to have ever competed in the league since its formation in 1946.

“From what I’ve seen they’ve been good partners,” said Taylor. “I think it’s a good fit. I would really like to see the league expand a little more.”

More changes While Oakley and TMP gives the MCL seven 11-man football playing schools, it also pushes the league back up to 10 schools competing across the board in all other activities.

It made things better for events such as

History of the MCL Formed in 1946 with charter members Downs, Hill City, Osborne, Palco, Plainville and Stockton.

1951 — Ellis and WaKeeneyTrego join league.

1953 — Downs leaves.

1955 — Phillipsburg joins.

1959 — Osborne leaves.

the MCL volleyball tournament — this year in Smith Center — and for the MCL basketball tournament, which for the first time will not be played at Fort Hays State University’s Gross Memorial Coliseum.

That further illustrates the changes in the league this year.

The MCL volleyball tourney, while in the past has featured play-in games, now will be played in pools, guaranteeing more games for all teams involved. In the past, several volleyball teams were one-anddone in a bracket style.

“Now it will just be a two-day tournament,” Taylor said. “It’s not a one-anddone for those bottom four teams. That’s good. Kids get to play.”

The MCL basketball tournament, a mid-

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1971 — Palco leaves 1974 — Victoria joins.

1976 — Osborne rejoins.

1978 — Norton and Smith Center join.

2004 — Victoria leaves.

2013 — Osborne, Trego leave.

2014 — TMP-Marian, Oakley join; Trego rejoins.

season bracket, still will hold the same format. There will be four play-in games to eliminate two boys’ and two girls’ teams to make an eight-team bracket. However, the losers of the play-in games now will come back on the Thursday of the tournament and get one more game.

Oakley competed in the tournament last season, but this will be TMP’s first year as the Monarchs were still under contract with the Hillsboro Trojan Invitational last year.

“It really is excellent for us travel-wise,” TMP basketball coach Joe Hertel said after the announcement was made in 2012 of TMP joining. “I’m not sure how to act only having to go an hour for a game.”

Nick McQueen, Sports Ink.

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