KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Three student-athletes from the Fort Hays State baseball team have earned a spot on the 2018 All-MIAA roster, announced Thursday (May 10) by the league office. Seniors Alex Weiss (second team, third base) and Dayton Pomeroy (honorable mention, first base) were joined by junior Addison Kaasch (third team, utility) on this year’s all-conference lineup.

This is the 12th consecutive season the Tigers have had at least one player named to the All-MIAA second team or higher, dating back to 2007 when they joined the league.

Weiss picked up All-MIAA honors for the second time in his career after earning an honorable mention nod as a junior in 2016. The Wellington, Kan. native was the only Tiger to start all 50 games this season, leading the team with 112 total bases. Weiss posted a slash line of .343/.391/.526, leading the team and ranking seventh in the MIAA with 73 hits. He recorded a hit in an astounding 42 games, including 15-straight late in the year. Twenty-three of Weiss’ hits went for extra bases, including eight home runs.

Kaasch earned a spot on the third team after leading the team with a .354 batting average. The utility man started 47 games this season at five different positions (SS 25 games, LF 13, DH 5, 3B 3, 2B 1). He also led the team with a .535 slugging percentage and a .431 on-base percentage thanks to 24 walks. The Parker, Colo. native picked up a team-best 26 extra-base hits, including 19 doubles, four triples and three home runs. He ranked third in the MIAA in triples, fourth in doubles and ninth in hits (70). Kaasch collected just the seventh 5-hit game for a Tiger in the last 10 years when he finished 5-for-5 with three doubles and one triple against Central Oklahoma (3/18/18).

Pomeroy powered his way to a spot on the honorable mention list thanks to a team-best 13 home runs, fourth-most in the league. He reached base in each of the first 23 games of the season, the longest such streak for the Tigers this season. The Topeka, Kan. native added 10 doubles and one triple, allowing nearly half of his 52 hits to go for extra bases (24). He drove in 39 RBI on the year, including multiple RBI in a team-high 12 games.

2018 Postseason Awards
Coach of the Year – Damon Day, Nebraska Kearney
Player of the Year – Alex Achtermann, Nebraska Kearney
Pitcher of the Year – Seth Holman, Emporia State
Freshman of the Year – Tyler Cassmeyer, Lindenwood

All-MIAA First Team
Pitcher- Seth Holman, Emporia State
Pitcher – Joseph Hieptas, Northwest Missouri State
Pitcher – Dalton Morrow, Southwest Baptist
Relief Pitcher – Trevor Dudar, Northwest Missouri State
Catcher – Hudson Bilodeau, Northwest Missouri State
First Base – Collin Nevil, Central Missouri
Second Base – Dallas Reed, Pittsburg State
Shortstop- Colton Pogue, Pittsburg State
Third Base – Drew Quinones, Lindenwood
Outfield – Bryce Fischer, Emporia State
Outfield – Wes Degener. Lindenwood
Outfield – Brandon Hernandez, Nebraska Kearney
Designated Hitter – Reece Garvie, Pittsburg State
Utility – Alex Achtermann, Nebraska Kearney

All-MIAA Second Team
Pitcher- Ryan LeMoine, Central Oklahoma
Pitcher – Josh Cooper, Nebraska Kearney
Pitcher – Tyler Cassmeyer, Lindenwood
Relief Pitcher – Cody White, Pittsburg State
Catcher – Hunter Hisky, Southwest Baptist
First Base – Paul Kropf, Central Oklahoma
Second Base – Kyle Miskovsky, Central Oklahoma
Shortstop – Dusty Stroup, Missouri Western
Third Base – Alex Weiss, Fort Hays State
Outfield – Erik Webb, Central Missouri
Outfield – Brett Young, Nebraska Kearney
Outfield – Mason Janvrin, Central Missouri
Designated Hitter – Travis Able, Central Missouri
Utility – Josh Crosby, Washburn

All-MIAA Third Team
Pitcher- Brad Roberts, Northwest Missouri State
Pitcher – Tanner Cairns, Emporia State
Pitcher – Jacob Miller, Missouri Western
Relief Pitcher* – Luke Mercer, Central Missouri
Relief Pitcher* – Cooper Gardner, Pittsburg State
Catcher – Mason Brown, Emporia State
First Base – Ty Roseberry, Nebraska Kearney
Second Base – Scott Platt, Nebraska Kearney
Shortstop – Justin Brown, Central Oklahoma
Third Base – Cody White, Pittsburg State
Outfield – Jovan Afenir, Pittsburg State
Outfield – Jake Dyer, Central Oklahoma
Outfield – Cory Canterbury, Missouri Southern
Designated Hitter – Luke Hassman, Northwest Missouri State
Utility – Addison Kaasch, Fort Hays State
*-Denotes Tie in Voting

2018 MIAA Gold Glove Team
Pitcher – Levi Abrahamson, Missouri Western
Catcher – Mason Brown, Emporia State
First Base – Kaden Shaffer, Emporia State
Second Base – Brooks Day, Missouri Western
Shortstop – Justin Brown, Central Oklahoma
Third Base – Cody White, Pittsburg State
Outfield – Mason Janvrin, Central Missouri
Outfield – Bryce Fischer, Emporia State
Outfield* – Jovan Afenir, Pittsburg State
Outfield* – Johnny Balsamo, Missouri Southern
Outfield* – Clint Jack, Southwest Baptist
Outfield* – Carl Schwettman, Southwest Baptist
*-Denotes Tie in Voting

2018 MIAA Honorable Mentions
Central Missouri – Luke Lucas-Starting Pitcher, Zak Whalin-Catcher, Harrison Schnurbusch-Shortstop, John Fairchild-Third Base

Central Oklahoma – Tyler Culver-Starting Pitcher, Josh Rutland-Relief Pitcher, Ben Wusterbarth-Relief Pitcher, Dayne Sommer-Catcher, Xavier Freeman-Outfield

Emporia State – Kaden Shaffer-First Base, Brian Grove-Second Base, Mack Gowing-Outfield

Fort Hays State – Dayton Pomeroy-First Base

Lindenwood – Kyle Hentis-Starting Pitcher, Brett Anderson-Second Base, Dominic Revetta-Designated Hitter

Missouri Southern – Zac Shoemaker-Starting Pitcher, Corbin Osburn-Starting Pitcher, Logan VanWey-Relief Pitcher, Alex Phillips-First Base, Denver Coffee-Shortstop, Johnny Balsamo-Outfield, Mike Million-Outfield, Alec Alvarez-Utility

Missouri Western – Nate Hunter-Starting Pitcher, Preston Bailey-Relief Pitcher, Kellan Richards-Relief Pitcher, Brooks Day-Second Base, Casey Danley-Third Base, Levi Schreiner-Utility

Nebraska Kearney – Alex Achtermann-Starting Pitcher, Eric Sandoz-Relief Pitcher, Dallas Schramm-Catcher,

Northeastern State – Ben Strahm-Starting Pitcher, Dustin Berrong-Starting Pitcher, Tristian Ridenour-Catcher, Jaxon Phipps-Second Base, Erick Espinosa-Shortstop, Michael Rhea-Outfield, Zach Henderson-Designated Hitter

Northwest Missouri State – Jacob Wagner-Relief Pitcher, Kevin Handzlik-First Base, Mondesi Gutierrez-Second Base, Aaron Rycraft-Shortstop, Landon Figg-Third Base, Aaron Barratt

Pittsburg State – Brendan Stanek-Starting Pitcher, Josh Whisler-Catcher, Hunter Clanin-Outfield, Andrew Vogelbaugh-Outfield

Southwest Baptist – Tyler Mathys-Shortstop, Andrew Meier-Outfield, Clint Jack-Outfield, Carl Schwettman-Outfield,

Washburn – Josh Ramirez-Starting Pitcher, Darian Abram-Outfield, Javis Larson-Outfield

ST. CHARLES, Mo. – Fort Hays State women’s golfer Hannah Perkins wrapped up her junior campaign at the 2018 NCAA Division II Super Region 3 Championship this week. Perkins finished the tournament in a tie for 30th individually. The junior fired a final round 8-over (80) on Wednesday (May 9) to finish at 14-over (230) for the week.

“I wasn’t hitting the ball good and wasn’t able to get up and down from off the green,” said Perkins.

Perkins finished the season with a 78.5 scoring average over the course of 22 rounds played. The Wichita, Kan. native posted her lowest score of the season in the first round of the Central Regional (May 7) when she fired an even-par (72) round. Perkins picked up 38 pars and three birdies throughout the week.

“We didn’t hit as many greens in regulation today,” said Rich Guffey. “We need to work on reading greens better and making putts.”

Augustana took home the team title with an aggregate score of 890. Lindenwood claimed a runner-up finish with a 900, while Arkansas Tech (902) finished third. Kali Trautman of Augustana captured the individual title with a 1-under par (215) finish for the week.

“I just plan on practicing more and hope to play good enough next season to get back [to Regionals],” said Perkins.

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State head baseball coach Steve Johnson announced his resignation Tuesday effective at the conclusion of his current contract this summer.

After concluding his eighth year as the skipper at FHSU last week, Johnson now ranks fifth in coaching victories all-time at FHSU (162-228). The Salisbury, Mo. native led the team to three MIAA Tournament appearances, including a trip to the championship game in 2012.

Steve Johnson discusses his resignation as FHSU baseball coach

Curtis Hammeke discusses the FHSU baseball program and search for a new head coach

Johnson coached 37 All-MIAA performers in his first seven seasons in Hays, including 10 All-Region selections and one All-America honoree. Heading into this season, 105 student-athletes had been listed on the MIAA Academic Honor Roll under his tutelage.

Johnson came to FHSU from Butler (Kan.) Community College, where he was head coach for seven years. While at Butler, Johnson compiled a record of 235-155. He led the program to at least 30 wins in his last six seasons and an NJCAA World Series appearance in 2006. The Grizzlies were co-champions of the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Western Division three times in Johnson’s tenure. He was twice named the Jayhawk Western Division Coach of the Year (2005 and 2007) and was the NJCAA Central District and ABCA Regional Coach of the Year in 2006.

In seven years at Butler, Johnson coached five all-region selections and 34 all-conference selections. Four of his players were selected in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. Six former players went on to play professional baseball. He also had six players earn NJCAA Academic All-American honors.

Prior to becoming the head coach at Butler Community College, Johnson spent eight years as an assistant with three different successful programs. His last two years (2002 and 2003) as an assistant were at the University of Louisiana-Monroe, where he was the pitching coach and chief recruiter. He helped the Indians to the 2002 Southland Conference Championship. He was assistant coach at Barton (Kan.) Community College for four years (1998-2001), helping the Cougars average 30 wins per season in his time with the program. Johnson started his collegiate coaching career as an assistant at Fort Hays State for two years (1996 and 1997). He helped the Tigers to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championship and finish runner-up in the school’s first ever NCAA Division II West Regional appearance. In his eight years as an assistant, he coached 10 pitchers that went on to play professional baseball, with two making it to the Major League level. Combining the three institutions together, Johnson had a record of 262-190 as an assistant coach.

Johnson played collegiate baseball for three years. He played two years at Barton (Kan.) Community College from 1989 to 1990, earning All-KJCCC and All-Region 6 honors. He went on to play one year at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, where he was named MVP of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. That year, UAB made their first of two NCAA regional appearances in school history. In 1992, Johnson signed with the St. Louis Cardinals organization and played five seasons in professional baseball.

In 2000, Johnson was inducted into the El Dorado (Kan.) Baseball Hall of Fame for his performance with the El Dorado Broncos summer collegiate team during the 1990 and 1991 campaigns.

A nationwide search for the 15th head baseball coach in program history will begin immediately.