Sports in Kansas

06/19/2026

2026 Sports in Kansas 4A All-State 🥎

06/18/2026

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Photo collection by Sports in Kansas

06/18/2026

From rewriting the Kansas 🥎record book to becoming one of the top power hitters in college softball, Kendall Yarnell continues to shine on the biggest stages.

The former Olathe Northwest standout, who was the 2024 Sports in Kansas 6A POY, is headed to Arkansas and the SEC after two outstanding seasons at UCF. A multi-sport star in high school, Yarnell helped lead Olathe Northwest to state championships in both softball and track and field during the same spring, playing a major role in both title runs. She graduated holding the Kansas state record for career home runs while also ranking among the state’s top throwers in track and field.

After serving primarily as a pinch-hitting weapon as a freshman in 2025, Yarnell emerged as one of the nation’s most dangerous hitters in 2026. She earned NFCA All-Gulf Region Second Team honors after hitting .344 with 15 home runs, 46 RBI, nine doubles, four triples and a .747 slugging percentage. Her slugging percentage ranked third-best in a single season in UCF program history, while her 15 home runs tied for fifth most in a season.

Yarnell delivered clutch performances all season, including two grand slams on Opening Weekend, a walk-off three-run home run against Kansas, four home runs in a series sweep of Houston, and key contributions during UCF’s NCAA Tournament run to the Super Regionals.

In two seasons with the Knights, Yarnell appeared in 111 games and hit .343 while developing into one of the top power hitters in the country. Now she heads to Arkansas, where she’ll test her game in the SEC after already proving she can excel at the Power Four level.

From state-record home run hitter and championship-winning athlete at Olathe Northwest to All-Region performer in college softball, Kendall Yarnell’s career continues to reach new heights.

06/18/2026

What an incredible senior year for Drew Moore of Washburn Rural.

A First Team Sports in Kansas 6A All-State infielder in baseball, Moore was part of not one, but two state championship teams during the 2025-26 school year. In the fall, he helped lead the Washburn Rural boys soccer team to a 19-1-1 record and a state championship while serving as a captain and starting in the midfield.

He then capped his senior year by helping the Washburn Rural baseball team win the 6A state championship, anchoring first base.

What makes Moore’s accomplishment even more impressive? He was the only athlete who played on both championship teams.

Two sports. Two state titles. One unforgettable senior season.

06/18/2026

2026 Sports in Kansas 3A Softball Player of the Year: Kailyn Hanni, Silver Lake, Sr. OF

Kailyn Hanni capped one of the greatest all-around athletic careers in Kansas 3A history by leading Silver Lake to another state softball championship and earning Sports in Kansas 3A Player of the Year honors.

Hanni hit over .500 this season at the lead off spot, scored 50 runs and finished with 28 stolen bases as well as patrolled center field at an elite level. On the biggest stage, she helped lead a dominant Silver Lake squad that outscored opponents 26-6 in three state tournament victories. The Eagles defeated Colby 10-0, Haven 12-6 and Southeast of Saline 4-0 to claim the title.

This is nothing new for the Silver Lake powerhouse. The Eagles (29-4) also defeated two 6A programs this season and have a history of taking down the state’s biggest schools, including wins over eventual 6A and 4A state champions in previous years. Silver Lake also regularly captured titles in the old 5-1A classification while competing as a 3A school.

Hanni’s senior year across all sports was remarkable. She placed fifth at the state golf tournament in the fall, led Silver Lake to the 3A girls basketball state championship while earning Sports in Kansas 3A Player of the Year and S*K Top 5 All Classes honors, finished third in the state javelin in track and field, and now adds 3A Softball Player of the Year after helping bring home another state championship.

A four-sport all-state athlete, Kailyn Hanni will be remembered as one of the best multi-sport competitors in Kansas 3A history. She will play point guard at Fort Hays State at the next level. An athlete who likely could have earned scholarship opportunities in all four sports at the NCAA Division II level, Hanni chose to focus on basketball. That speaks to just how elite of a competitor she is across every sport she played. Very few athletes can make that claim.

06/18/2026

Sharp Performance has been elevating recruiting opportunities for Kansas high school football players for more than a decade. Founder and owner Jake Sharp shares the same passion we do at Sports in Kansas when it comes to helping student-athletes achieve their goals.

A former Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year and Sports in Kansas Top 11 selection, Sharp starred at Salina Central where he still holds the Kansas state record for touchdowns scored in a season, set in 2005. He went on to become an All-Big 12 running back at the University of Kansas and was part of the Jayhawks’ historic Orange Bowl championship team.

Through camps, combines and other events, Sharp Performance has helped produce countless college opportunities at every level. We appreciate our partnership with SP, which allows us to identify many of the up-and-coming players to watch across Kansas each season.

Sharp Performance partners with both Sports in Kansas and Kansas Pregame to help promote athletes throughout the Sunflower State. It’s a great combination of three Kansas companies working together with one goal, creating opportunities and exposure for Kansas athletes.

Jason Lamb of Sports in Kansas caught up with Jake a few weeks ago to talk recruiting, football and the future of Kansas athletes.

Thank you, Jake, for all you do for student-athletes across Kansas.

06/18/2026

2026 Sports in Kansas 3A 🥎Pitcher of the Year: Lily Pullen, Oskaloosa, Jr.

Pullen earned Sports in Kansas 2-1A Pitcher of the Year honors as a sophomore last year after helping lead Oskaloosa to a state championship. Her junior season may not have ended with another trip to state, but it produced one of the most dominant pitching performances in Kansas this spring.

The NC State commit finished with a remarkable 0.61 ERA while holding opposing hitters to just a .096 batting average. She struck out 247 batters in 115.1 innings, reaching the 500-career strikeout milestone along the way. She had 13 games in double digit strikeouts. The regional (3A Regional 1) pod Oskaloosa played in felt like there were a hand full of state championship caliber teams (Silver Lake, Jefferson West, Riverside, Oskaloosa) with only two moving on.

One of her most memorable performances came in a heartbreaking 2-1 regional loss to Jefferson West when she recorded 18 strikeouts. She also struck out nine batters against eventual 3A state champion Silver Lake, the only team to hit above .200 against her all season.

Pullen has already established herself as one of the state’s premier pitchers, and the scary part for opponents is she still has her entire senior season ahead. Now the question becomes whether Oskaloosa will compete in 3A or move back to 2-1A following the fall enrollment count.

Either way, one thing is certain: Lily Pullen will enter 2027 as one of the top softball players in Kansas.

06/18/2026

Former Frontenac standout and multiple-time Sports in Kansas All-State selection Logan Myers continues to shine at the next level.

The Emporia State junior was named to the ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division II Gold Glove Team on June 17, 2026, after one of the top defensive seasons in the country. Myers converted all 272 fielding chances at second base without committing a single error while helping turn 36 double plays. Earlier this spring, he was also named to the MIAA Gold Glove Team.

Myers added to an already decorated junior season by earning All-American honors from both the ABCA and D2CCA, along with First Team All-Region recognition from the ABCA, D2CCA and NCBWA.

He was just as dominant at the plate, hitting .408 with a 1.150 OPS, 80 hits, 21 doubles, five home runs, 39 RBIs, 70 runs scored and a .548 on-base percentage in 53 games.

Myers helped lead Emporia State to a 37-16 record, the program’s highest win total since 2017, while establishing himself as one of the premier players in Division II baseball.

photo: ESU Athletics

06/18/2026

Russell

Who would you pick as the:

🏆 Greatest Athlete in school history
🏆 Greatest Coach in school history
🏆 Greatest Team in school history

Tell us your selections and why.

06/18/2026

Wellington

Who would you pick as the:

🏆 Greatest Athlete in school history
🏆 Greatest Coach in school history
🏆 Greatest Team in school history

Tell us your selections and why.