Second place may sound nice, but at the end of the day, it means you lost your last game.

“Coming off of the second place last year,” senior Thomas Gevock said, “just kind of a disappointing way to end the season, and I think guys are really motivated to get back to the state championship and win it this year.”

Manhattan High baseball ended last season with a 12-8 loss to Blue Valley in the state championship game. Like every team, the Indians want to get there again but know it’s not going to be a walk in the park.

“Expectations after a great season like that are to achieve the same things,” senior Talon Claussen said, “but can’t just go straight to wanting the state championship, you got to go practice by practice and game by game and keep getting better so we can get to the same spot again.”

MHS’ biggest issue is the lack of returning Varsity players. Last year’s graduating seniors accounted for over 50 percent of the runs scored and runs batted in from last year.
“It’s always hard losing a bunch of seniors like that,” Claussen said, “especially seniors with the talent they had, so we’re going to have to put even more work in practice and take everything serious, don’t take anything off so we can make up for who we lost.”

Manhattan also graduated its ace pitcher, Nick Wohler, leaving Claussen and senior Carson Marsh to take over the top spot.

“I enjoy pitching,” Claussen said, “so I want to have fun while I’m doing it, but I also want to help the team in any way possible, so make sure I’m throwing strikes and making sure everybody else is doing what they’re supposed to do.”

With nearly every position being replaced, those with Varsity experience will have to lead the team.

“[We need to] just keep everybody motivated,” Claussen said, “don’t let them slack off [and] make sure everybody’s having fun. That’s the important thing, nobody wants to work hard when they’re not having fun, so make sure everybody’s having fun too.”

This year, the baseball team will be heading down to Arizona over spring break, giving the team valuable time together with nice weather.

“This is a great opportunity for us to bond as a team and just kind of go somewhere nice,” Gevock said, “get away from Kansas and play in some really nice weather. It’s a great opportunity to go and scrimmage and get some game-like situations in. It’s definitely going to be the high point of this preseason for all of us.”

MHS will open its season right after their Arizona trip, hosting Topeka West on March 30, looking to start the season off right.

“Our goal is just to set the standard high for next year,” Gevock said.