The three state-qualifying CNC League baseball teams combined for 20 overall all-league selections when they were released last week after the completion of the state tournament.

League champion Frontenac and Class 2-1A state champion St. Mary’s Colgan both earned seven and 3A state champion Girard received six.

Colgan led the way with four players on the first team: Gabe Brown, Carston Simmons, unanimous selection Brady Badart and Jayden Brown.

Brady Crossland and Brock Radell earned second team and Lane Stultz honorable mention.

Colgan finished the season 20-7 overall and the Panthers earned their 19th state title under head coach Mike Watt and their 23rd overall since winning their first in 1964.

The Panthers repeated as state champs and earned their third title in four seasons. They defeated Thomas More Prep 7-3 in the championship game with four runs in the top of the seventh and Badart pitching three scoreless innings in relief.

Colgan defeated all three of the top seeds at state (No. 1 Thomas More Prep, No. 2 Spearville and No. 3 Frankfort), showcasing the fast the Panthers’ rigorous regular-season schedule prepares them for postseason success.

Frontenac received two first team in unanimous selection Brock Wiemers and Grant Nickle, four second team in Kale Coomes, Kane Mjelde, Jake Murphy and Gunner Horyna and one honorable mention in Gage James. Raider head coach Kaleb Terlip also won coach of the year honors.

The Raiders finished their season 17-5 overall and 11-1 CNC with 11 straight wins in league play after falling in their opening game against Colgan. Frontenac’s season ended with a 5-3 loss in the state quarterfinals against No. 3 seed and eventual third-place winner Burlington.

Girard earned three unanimous first-team selections in Kam Smith, Bryor Schultz and Aiden Ashbacher, two second team in Robbie Bruning and Briggs Buckingham and one honorable mention in Blake Brokob.

The Trojans finished their season 24-5 and earned their first state championship in the history of the high school baseball program with an 8-0 victory over eighth-seeded Silver Lake in the 3A title game.

Girard also defeated No. 2 Jefferson West and No. 3 Burlington at state.

The Trojans bumped up nine wins during college coaching legend Bob Fornelli’s first-ever season as a high school head coach.

The league accounted for 40% of the state baseball champions and Girard and Colgan joined 6A Topeka Washburn Rural (Centennial League), 5A St. Thomas Aquinas (Eastern Kansas League) and 4A Mulvane (Arkansas Valley Chisholm Trail). The CNC was the only league with more than one baseball state champion this season.

Colgan was also the only school in the state this season to win both softball and baseball titles.

ALL-CNC LEAGUE BASEBALL

FIRST TEAM

Baxter Springs: Logan Abbott, Brooks Walker;

Frontenac: Brock Wiemers, Grant Nickle;

Girard: Kam Smith, Bryor Schultz, Aiden Ashbacher;

St. Mary’s Colgan: Gabe Brown, Carston Simmons, Brady Badart, Jayden Brown

SECOND TEAM

Baxter Springs: Riley Daniel;

Columbus: Ben Major, Jayden Rodriguez;

Frontenac: Kale Coomes, Kane Mjelde, Jake Murphy, Gunner Horyna;

Girard: Robbie Bruning, Briggs Buckingham;

St. Mary’s Colgan: Brady Crossland, Brock Radell

HONORABLE MENTION

Baxter Springs: Braydon Wade;

Columbus: Jett Tanner;

Frontenac: Gage James;

Galena: C.J. Pielach;

Girard: Blake Brokob;

Riverton: Levi Mann;

St. Mary’s Colgan: Lane Stultz

Coach of the Year: Kaleb Terlip, Frontenac

This sports reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/fund/support-local-journalism-project-fund