Shon Plack
Kansas Scouting Director

As the 2016 calendar year winds down, we will countdown the top twenty stories read in Kansas in 2016.  The 2016 Team Preview of the Blue Valley Northwest comes in number fourteen on our countdown. 

The Huskies placed senior pitcher Cole Duensing, senior 1B Jack Duke, and junior outfielder Mitchell Bloss on the All-State team. Blue Valley Northwest finished 15-8 with a loss in the regional final. 

Here is a re-post of the article than ran on January 25.

 

#14 2016 Team Preview: Blue Valley Northwest Huskies

Mon January 25, 2016

Shon Plack
Kansas Scouting Director

Follow @PBRKansas

As we prepare for the upcoming 2016 high school season, we will be taking a preseason glimpse at programs from around the state.

Team: Blue Valley Northwest
Nickname: Huskies
Class: 6A
Conference: East Kansas League
Head Coach: Corby Lange
Years as head coach at school: 12 
2015 Overall Record: 14-8
2015 Conference Finish: 8-6
2015 Post-Season Finish: Regional Runner-up

Number of Returning Starters/Pitchers: 5
Number of Returning Starters/Position Players: 7

Players with 2015 Post Season Honors
Cole Duensing, RHP, 2016, 2nd-Team All State (Kansas State)
Jack Duke, 1B, 2016, 1st Team All-EKL (Cowley County)
Connor Ellefson, C, 2017, Honorable Mention All-EKL
Jack Knutson, OF/RHP/INF, 2016, Honorable Metnion All-EKL
Nick Mehlin, SS, 2016, 1st Team All-State (Saint Louis)
Johnny Sprinkle, RHP, 2017, 2nd Team All-EKL
Nathaniel Vossman, OF, 2016, Honorable Mention All-EKL (Neosho County)

Season Outlook
The Huskies return a large part of their line from a season ago, including all of their pitchers.  Team chemistry will not be a problem either.  The Huskies have a very cohesive senior class that have grown up together and now look to compete for an EKL and state championship in 2016.   The senior class has plenty of varsity experience that will be valuable in competing in the tough Eastern Kansas League.  The pitching staff will be lead by senior Cole Duensing, a Kansas State recruit.  Duensing has a big arm and has the experience to lead the Huskies in a deep playoff run.   Saint Louis commit, senior Nick Mehlin, will be a potent bat in the middle of the line-up surrounded by three power hitters in senior Jack Knutson, senior Nate Vossman and senior Jack Duke. Knutson, Vossman and Duke will be a physical trio in the middle of the Huskie line-up, all standing at-least 6-foot 200-pounds.  Blue Valley Northwest will also look for the support of a pair of All-EKL juniors, RHP Jonathan Sprinkle and C Connor Ellefson.  Both will play a major role in Huskies success in 2016 as they did last season. The EKL is one of the toughest conferences in the region, but Blue Valley Northwest is experienced and have a good combination of team chemistry and talent that should make them a solid contender in the league and in all of Kansas 6A.

CLICK HERE, for a complete list of 2016 Team Previews

For More Top Stories of 2016