The Kansas high school baseball season kicks off on March 19, opening day for regular season action under KSHSAA regulations. Leading up to opening day, we’ll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2024 spring season, touching on programs spanning all state classifications, counting down through the official Prep Baseball Kansas Preseason Power 25 Rankings.

Perennially, we’ve submitted a preseason questionnaire to high school head coaches across the entire state. Their responses have been flooding in and we’re using the detailed insight they’ve provided in our team-by-team preseason analysis.

Our 2024 preseason coverage continues today.

High School: Abilene
Head Coach: Travis Bartley (10 years experience)
Classification: 4A
League: North Central Kansas League (NCKL)
2023 Record: 15-8, lost first round of the state tournament against Fort Scott 3-2

 

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2024 SEASON OUTLOOK

No. of Returning Starters:

9

Top Returning Players:

Heath Hoekman, SS/3B, 10, R/R, .452, 7 2B, 5 3B, 4 HR. Heath is a big strong athletic kid with a lot of pop in his bat.

Zach Miller, C/OF, 12, R/R, .442, 4 2B, 2 3B. Zach is very strong and athletic, he can cover the ground with the best of them in the outfield.

Thomas Keener, UTL, 11, L/R, .406, 6 2B, 29 BB, .592 OBP. Thomas can literally play anywhere. Middle infield is probably his best position but he plays a really good outfield as well. Smart, athletic and knows the strike zone.

Tyler Holloway, C/1B, 11, R/R, .397, 5 2B. Big strong kid, does a pretty good job behind the plate when it comes to blocking and receiving.

Stocton Timbrook, SS/3B, 12, R/R, .387, 8 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR. Strong and athletic with gap to gap power. Stocton is also one of our SP's, very strong arm with a very good split to go with it.

Drew Hansen, 2B/3B, 12, R/R, .357 3 2B, .506 OBP. Drew has an outstanding eye at the plate and pretty good glove in the field. Drew is the ultimate team guy and he is the kind of player that you wish you had a whole team of him.

Kyson Becker, OF, 12, R/R, .329, 4 2B, 1 HR. Kyson also one of our SPs, loves to compete on the mound. Fastball has a ton of run with a plus breaking ball.

Lane Hoekman, OF/C, 10, R/R, .324, 7 2B. He is athletic and quick and is going to be a lot of fun to watch grow in this game.

Levi Evans, OF/2B/SS, 10, R/R, .276, 4 2B. He is athletic and a smart baseball player, the middle infield is probably his best position but did a great job filling a hole in our outfield last year. Levi also has been a fun one to watch grow in our program.

Top Newcomers:

Jake Bartley, 1B/OF, 9, L/L. Loves the game of baseball, he is strong and getting stronger. Pretty good chance Jake will see time in the lineup as well as logging quite a few innings on the mound for us.

Ethan Evans, UTL, 9, R/R. Very strong for his age, still working on what position will be best for him but as a lot of pop in his bat. Ethan shows a lot of potential for the future.

Coach’s Insight:

We are a physically strong and athletic group. We have played together now for a couple of years, some longer. I think most importantly this year we have a lot of big game experience together that should help us succeed as the season goes along. ” – Travis Bartley, head coach

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Find more information on the 2024 Abilene High School program below:

+ Follow them on X: @high_cowboy
+ Visit Prep Baseball Kansas’ 2024 KHSHAA Season Preview page to learn more.

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