Mulvane baseball shatters 71-year-old Kansas high school state record
On a team with several pitchers who could be considered the ace of a staff, there are no egos that get in the way on the Mulvane baseball team.
The stable of talented pitchers have at times sacrificed their own individual acclaim to prioritize the team’s needs, which has helped the Wildcats (21-4) earn their first bid to the Class 4A state tournament in four years. Mulvane, the No. 4 seed, will face Rock Creek at 5:45 p.m. Thursday in Salina.
Not only that, but Mulvane’s pitching staff has shattered a 71-year-old state record for most strikeouts in a season, previously held by Silver Lake with 260 strikeouts in 1954, as the Wildcats have 298 and counting entering this week.
“What is really special about this group is that we have some really special arm talent, but they all understand if we were going to have success, it was going to be as a team,” Mulvane coach Steve Nelson said. “They’ve all bought into, ‘It’s all about the team.’ They’re not worried about individual stats, they want to do whatever it takes to let Mulvane get the win.”
All seven pitchers who have appeared in a game this season for Mulvane have recorded a strikeout, while the bulk of the pitching this season has been handled by junior Grey Sanders (95 strikeouts), junior Parker Clubb (84), senior Nolan Fevurly (62) and junior Manny Myers (36).
Sanders, Clubb (a Louisville commit) or Feverly could be No. 1 starters for almost any team at the 4A level, but they’ve had to split time on the mound this season at Mulvane. The trio has a combined 17-2 record and 1.10 earned run average with 241 strikeouts in 127 innings pitched.
“I’ve just tried to stay out of their way and not screw it up,” Nelson said. “It’s pretty easy as a coach when you’re getting a lot of strikeouts. You’re not having to worry about kicking the ball around. They all just have a special command of the zone and have really good off-speed pitchers. I’m very lucky to have a staff like this.”
After losing the first two games of the season, Mulvane has rattled off 21 wins in its last 23 games. But the state berth didn’t come easy, as the Wildcats had to erase two deficits in their opening-round game in the regional tournament to come back and win 10-9 over Andale-Garden Plain.
Clubb (.362 average, 21 RBIs, 18 runs) and Myers (.316 average, 13 RBIs, 22 runs) are also productive pieces for Mulvane’s offense, which also includes standouts like Hays Ensley (.354 average, 14 RBIs, 24 runs, 14 stolen bases), Braxton Madrigal (.303 average, 18 RBIs, five home runs, 15 runs), Brody Clasen (.297 average, 13 RBIs, 14 runs), Reed Hackleman (.281 average, 12 RBIs), Brady Nelson (.264 average, 10 runs) and Grady Myers (.222 average, 10 stolen bases, 12 runs).
For most teams, winning three games in two days at the state tournament is a daunting task for a pitching staff. Mulvane feels like it is perfectly equipped for a title run in Salina.
“In doubleheaders, you don’t really see the depth stand out as much as it might benefit us in a tournament,” Nelson said. “Having three or four really special guys is going to help us big time when you have to play three games in two days, that is if we’re fortunate enough to win our first game. It just makes my job that much easier to know the kids are ready to go.”
KSHSAA state baseball tournament schedule
Class 6A (Lawrence)
11 a.m.—No. 1 Lawrence Free State (25-2) vs. No. 8 Washburn Rural (15-11)
1:15 p.m.—No. 4 Manhattan (20-6) vs. No. 5 Maize (20-8)
3:30—No. 2 Olathe West (25-2) vs. No. 7 Shawnee Mission West (17-11)
5:45—No. 3 Mill Valley (22-5) vs. No. 6 Blue Valley (19-9)
Class 5A (Wichita)
11 a.m.—No. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas (24-4) vs. No. 8 Valley Center (17-11)
1:15 p.m.—No. 4 Shawnee Heights (21-7) vs. No. 5 Hays (18-8)
3:30—No. 2 Great Bend (23-5) vs. No. 7 Kansas City Piper (17-10)
5:45—No. 3 Blue Valley Southwest (21-6) vs. No. 6 Goddard Eisenhower (18-10)
Class 4A (Salina)
11 a.m.—No. 2 Fort Scott (25-3) vs. No. 7 Abilene (16-10)
1:15 p.m.—No. 3 Paola (25-3) vs. No. 6 Clay Center (19-6)
3:30—No. 1 McPherson (25-3) vs. No. 8 Tonganoxie (16-11)
5:45—No. 4 Mulvane (21-4) vs. No. 5 Rock Creek (21-6)
Class 3A (Manhattan)
11 a.m.—No. 1 Jefferson West (26-2) vs. No. 8 Sabetha (16-12)
1:15 p.m.—No. 4 Silver Lake (21-7) vs. No. 5 Hesston (16-6)
3:30—No. 2 Humboldt (23-4) vs. No. 7 Russell (18-11)
5:45—No. 3 Wichita Trinity (24-5) vs. No. 6 Columbus (17-10)
Class 2-1A (Great Bend)
11 a.m.—No. 1 Valley Falls (22-4) vs. No. 8 Medicine Lodge (11-10)
1:15 p.m.—No. 4 Rossville (18-7) vs. No. 5 Remington (16-8)
3:30—No. 2 Central Heights (21-4) vs. No. 7 Douglass (14-10)
5:45—No. 3 Thomas More Prep (24-5) vs. No. 6 St. Mary’s Colgan (16-9)
This story was originally published May 28, 2025 at 6:02 AM.
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