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: Onaga
Head Coach: Adam Kufahl (3 years experience)
Classification: 1A
League: Twin Valley
2023 Record: 19-5 overall, 5-1 league, TVL Champions (3rd year in a row), Regional Champions, 4th Place State finish

 

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2024 SEASON OUTLOOK

No. of Returning Starters:

5

Top Returning Players:

Jackson Kolterman, SS/P, JR, 6'0", 170lbs, R/R
- HM All-State as FR, 2nd Team All-State as SO. Best defensive SS in 2A/1A in many peoples opinion. Hit game-winning 3-run homerun in regional championship game. Closed opening round state game to get the win on the mound. Great leadoff hitter. With last year's seniors gone, he will be our leader the next two years.
- 2023 HITTING: .405 avg, .515 obp, 1.161 ops, 32 hits, 13 K, 15 BB, 43 runs, 21 rbi, 4 doubles, 5 homeruns, 14 stolen bases, 0 caught stealing
- 2023 PITCHING: 2-1, 2.14ERA, 16.1IP, 25K, 11BB, 1.286WHIP

Hunter Lamond, OF/C/P, SR, 5'10", 170lbs, R/R
- Great outfielder with plus range and above average arm. Will be one of two top pitchers along with Kolterman. Phenomenal in consolation game at state tournament against #2 seeded Elkhart.
- 2023 PITCHING: 1-1, 2.94ERA, 16.2 IP, 34K, 20BB, 1.980WHIP

L.J. Koelzer, OF/C, JR, 5'10", 195lbs, R/R
- HM All-League as a sophomore. 8th in the lineup to start the season as a first-time starter, was hitting cleanup by our third double-header and stayed there through the end of the season. Clutch hitter, limited range defensively but makes every play he can get to. Smart player.
- 2023 HITTING: .333 avg, .783 ops, 26 hits, 13 K, 9 BB, 19 runs, 26 rbi, 4 doubles, 8 stolen bases, 1 caught stealing

Rayce Fisher, 1B, SR, 6'2", 235lbs, R/R
- Huge jump from sophomore to junior season defensively. 0 errors in 24 games started at 1B in 2023. Power, line-drive hitter. 6-hole hitter in 2023 that will move into cleanup spot in 2024.
- 2023 HITTING: .261 avg, .879 ops, 18 hits, 15 K, 10 BB, 18 runs, 23 rbi, 4 doubles, 4 homeruns, 7 stolen bases, 0 caught stealing

Top Newcomers:

Dylan Magnett, OF/DH, JR, 6'3", 210lbs, R/R
- Great athlete for his size. Possesses natural power and speed. He struggled to hold down left field spot as a sophomore, ended up being our designated hitter for most of the season. Showed flashes in the first half of the season, but struggled in the second half. Will compete for playing time as a DH, potentially an OF.

Keagan Venneberg, OF, SO, 6'0", 145lbs, L/L
- Good defensive outfielder. Started in left field for most of 2023, but never had an at-bat until the state tournament. Struck out in first at-bat, then got hits in back-to-back at-bats, the final one a game-winning double in the 10th inning. Will start in the outfield in 2024, but needs polish on hitting to be an every-game hitter.

Josh Daniels, OF, SO, 5'9", 183lbs, R/R
- Tremendous athlete, will pitch as well, suffered head injury at beginning of baseball season or would have been a starter in 2023

Casen Hutfles, IF/C, FR, 6'0", 160lbs, R/R
- Good athlete, can play multiple positions, and will pitch some. Has played a lot of high-level travel baseball through the years, making him polished for his age. He will start from day one and will help fill the holes left by 2023 graduates.

Maddex Honas, SS/2B, FR, 5'5", 120lbs, R/R
- Starter in football and basketball as a freshman, quick athlete that will be a middle infielder and possibly pitch. Should compete for starting position from day one.

Coach’s Insight:

“-Two starting pitchers as good as anybody's in 2A/1A, top four hitters are all returning starters, three of which have started since they were freshmen.
- Kolterman is one of the best returning players in 2A/1A and should be 1st Team All-State as a junior and senior. He will be a game changer on the mound, at shortstop, and at the plate. He is a stud by anyone's measure.
- Talented athletes in underclassmen that give options to fill vacancies left by 4 senior starters graduating. - Bullpen will be an issue, at least starting out. We had two All-State pitchers starting for us in 2023, and two phenomenal arms to go to in the bullpen. Those two now become our starters, with questions behind that.
- We also lost our All-State catcher, who changed games being behind the plate. We have other good catchers, but will need to find someone who can be that wall behind the plate.
- There is talent throughout the roster, but anytime you are relying on underclassmen there will be bumps in the road. How quickly those young guys can get up to speed will determine how far we go in the postseason.” – Adam Kufahl, head coach

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Find more information on the 2024 Onaga program below:

+ Visit Prep Baseball Kansas’ 2024 KHSHAA Season Preview page to learn more.

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