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2015 Team Preview: Lawrence Free State

January 19, 2015

By Sean McCann
Prep Baseball Report Kansas

As we prepare for the upcoming 2015 high school season, we will be taking a preseason glimpse at programs from around the state.

Team: Lawrence Free State
Nickname: Firebirds
Class: 6A
League: Sunflower
Head Coach: Mike Hill
Years as Head Coach at School: 18
2014 Overall Record: 13-9
2014 League Record: 6-5
2014 League Finish: 4th
2014 Post-Season Finish: Regional runners-up
2014 Final Top 25 Ranking: Bubble

Returning Starters: 6
Pitchers with 15+ Innings Returning: 2

TOP RETURNERS (College Commitment)
Casey Hearnen, RHP/3B, 2015
Cooper Karlin, SS/2B, 2015 (Pittsburg State)
Joel Spain, OF, 2015 (Cowley County CC)
Jon Saathoff, C, 2015
Jacob Pavlyak, OF, 2017

X-FACTOR
Casey Hearnen. The senior right-hander racked up 6A All-State honors last spring after recording a 4-2 record and notching saves in five of the Firebirds 13 wins.

NEWCOMERS TO WATCH
Three talented players from last year’s junior varsity squad look to advance and contribute on varsity this spring including sophomore infielder Zion Bowlin and two projectable arms in 6-2, 150-pound left-hander Trevor Munsch and 6-foot-5, 190-pound sophomore right-hander Aaron Funk.

KEY PLAYER LOST
Zach Bickling, OF, 2014 (Allen County CC). Second Team All-Sunflower League outfielder

2015 OUTLOOK:  
The Firebirds look to climb the ladder in the highly competitive Sunflower League this spring returning six everyday starters and two pitchers with significant innings from last year’s 13-9 squad. All-State right-hander senior Casey Hearnen will once again be a key factor on the mound and in the infield. Senior left-hand hitting middle infielder and Pittsburg State signee Cooper Karlin is a talented defender and top of the order catalyst in Free State’s line-up. Senior Joel Spain, a Cowley County CC signee, is a plus defender that will once again man centerfield. Hearnen, Karlin, Spain and catcher Jon Saathoff provide the Firebirds with a solid group of experienced senior returners but their hopes this spring could ride on the development of two talented underclassmen arms in junior left-hander Trevor Munsch and sophomore right-hander Aaron Funk.

Lawrence Free State will, once again, co-host one of the top high school tournaments in the Midwest this spring, the River City Festival on April 23-25. Click here to see a printable schedule for this tournament. 

The Sunflower League baseball coaches maintain one of the state's best league websites throughout the spring season with schedules, updated scores and more, click here to be directed to the Sunflower League website.

For Kansas high school baseball news and updates follow us on Twitter @pbrkansas

COACHES PRESEASON QUESTIONNAIRE

We appreciate all of the help provided by high school coaches across the state assisting with our preseason coverage. If you have not already done so you can fill out our coaches' preseason questionnaire online by clicking here.

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