Around the Horn presented by Salina Ortho

Special to Kansas Pregame 

SALINA - Hollywood’s best directors and producers couldn’t have written a much better script for Kansas high school baseball’s version of Hoosiers or Little Giants.

“We showed that no matter what seed you are, you can beat any team that stands in front of you,” Salina Central senior Brody Farthing said.

Central’s Mustangs entered Class 5A regionals two weeks ago with a 7-18 record and the 16th seed in 5A’s West bracket. 

They had the indubitable distinction of facing #1 seed Maize South in the first round of regional play. Few, if any, gave Central a chance to win.

Except those clad in the Mustang Maroon.

“After finally qualifying to be in the playoffs and being ranked 16th in the west, I think the players relaxed and played that way,” coach Dee Kolzow said. “We talked from day one if we could put everything together we could play with anyone. When we went to regionals we started out really well against Maize South who was ranked number 1 in the west. I think those first two innings gave us the confidence we needed.”

The Mustangs, behind solid pitching and a pitcher’s best friend of sound defense and timely hitting, went on to upset Maize South 12-8.

“Definitely the win against Maize South. The confidence for the team was pretty low, but our pitchers executed and we batted good and from then on we thought we could beat anyone and that momentum carried on into state,” sophomore Grayton Gross said.

“Once we won against them it gave us a new confidence going into the regional final versus Hutch,” senior Gunnar Gross said. “They (Hutch) threw a pitcher against us that had shut us out earlier in the season, but we were able to get a couple hits and get some runs and win 3-2.”

Farthing pitched a complete game for the Mustangs in their revenge game against Hutchinson. 

“My fastball was working really good that game with also my slider working really good when I was ahead in the count,” Farthing said.

Grayton Gross went yard for Central against Hutch. 

“I was seeing the ball well that day and he gave me a good pitch to hit,” he said. “I ended up catching all of it and it went over.”

Central’s next test came against the state tournament’s #1 seed, 22-5 Bishop Carroll.

“Going into the state tournament with a 9-18 record, we knew that we had nothing to lose,” sophomore Keaton Smith said. “Not only did we play for each other, we played for coach Kolzow knowing that this was his last ride.”

And what a fitting end to a Kolzow's 17-year career leading the Mustang baseball program.

“Our players went in with confidence, got good pitching, really solid defense and timely hitting,” Kolzow said of the 7-2 victory that propelled the Mustangs to the state semifinals.

“We all knew we were the underdogs going into this weekend and nobody was expecting us to win,” sophomore Chance Hogan said. “We were riding on our momentum and had all the confidence in each other.”

Central lost to Spring Hill to set up a rematch against rival Salina South for third place.

“After losing, our energy was down. But when we found out we would get a chance to play Salina South who had swept us earlier in the season it brought the energy and focus right back to our team,” Gunnar Gross said. “We were able to go out and shut them out to beat them with Chance Hogan on the mound, who did not start a single game at pitcher all year.”

The Mustangs played clean baseball and didn't make errors, Gunnar noted. 

“Seth Rogers had an amazing diving play on a pop up in-between first base and right field that saved the shutout and helped us close the deal to win 2-0 against them,” Gunnar continued. “It was a great moment to be able to beat them and finish on top of them in the rankings after hearing trash talk from their side of town for the past month.”

“I’d say what we accomplished was what I knew our team was cabable of from the start,” Grayton Gross said. “We had tons of talent, but we didn’t play great to start off the season as a team. At the end of the season we started playing as a team.”

“It was one for the books and we came together as a team to put together a few upsets,” junior Jack Gordon said.

On April 12, after losing 12-0 to Andover Central, the Mustangs were 1-8 and losers of eight straight. But they never gave up hope in each other.

“At the beginning of the season things weren't going our way, but once it came to regionals we all came together,” Smith said. “After beating Maize South we realized what we were capable of and that changed our mentality as a team. Although we came up short we now know what we are capable of. With a young team we have a lot of potential and look forward to continuing our success next season.”

A bulk of their roster returns with just three seniors in Gunnar Gross, Farthing and Kyler Brecheisen.

“Gunnar had a great year and is just a leader,” Kolzow said of the older Gross brother, who broke his ankle in the football season opener in several places that required surgery. “I was surprised after his football injury to even have him back and to play the way he did both on offense and defense was remarkable. He was so valuable to the team not only hitting around .400 all year but also the way he handled pitchers.”

“As soon as I knew that I wouldn't be able to be back for any of the football season, my focus immediately shifted to being back and ready for baseball,” Gross said. “The timeline the doctors gave me said that I wouldn't be able to run/jog until the end of February (start of baseball season), but when my doctor saw how my recovery was going at the post-surgery exams he cleared me to start running and doing everything six weeks ahead of schedule. I was able to be back for the whole baseball season and did not miss a game.”

“He is just a tough kid that spent many hours working to be able to get back for baseball,” Kolzow, who announced after the regular season he was retiring as coach, said. “I know it (ankle) bothered him early especially running the bases making the turns but never would say anything. We didn’t let him run too often.”

Gross is now focused on trying out in a football camp at Kansas State on Thursday. 

“I wasn't able to play more than seven snaps before getting hurt this year,” the Central quarterback said. “I am trying out at quarterback but I would be open to any position change. I hope to earn a spot by showing out at the camp, but if I do not then I will attend K-State as just a student in the fall.”