As the baseball acumen and experience has improved at Liberal High School for baseball in 2024, the schedule has made a similar jump for the Redskins. Liberal returns virtually their entire team from a group which went 10-11 last year with a 3-5 WAC record. Liberal plays at 6A state champ Blue Valley West and on the road at Goddard Eisenhower this season along with a challenging WAC slate. The Redskins only play six home games this season. They have 24 games on the schedule as KSHSAA is allowing a 26 game schedule for the first time. Liberal is looking to add two games to their schedule.
The Skins have improved each of the past three seasons as several seniors have played 2-3 years of varsity. Last year LHS was 10-11. The Redskins were 9-12 in 2022, an improvement from their return to the diamond in 2021 when they went 6-14. The 2020 season would have likely marked a sixth straight winning season, but it was canceled due to covid.
Eric Olmstead has guided the past 18 years and is in his 17th season as Redskin head coach. He is responsible for two of Liberal’s three WAC titles and one of the two state tournament appearances. Olmstead is 183-154 at LHS. Olmstead will be assisted by Rory Arnold, James Shelby, Andrew Potter, Dom Murray, and Trace Ott. The Redskins have 31 out for baseball and will have a varsity and JV team.
The Redskins have 10 pitchers on their varsity roster led by WAC Player of the Year Sr. J. Brooks Kappelmann. He struck out a school record 82 in 2023. Senior Zayden Martinez, Sr. Erek Lira, and Jr. Marco Alonso are right handed arms who bring starting pitching experience to the season. Aidan Schwindt, Xavier Porras, Skyler Hubbard, Aiden Miramontes, Landon Martinez, and Blayden Betts. Behind the dish, Sr. Aidan Schwindt (1st team all WAC as a Jr.) and So. Blayden Betts will handle the pitching staff. Marco Alonso, Blayden Betts, and Erek Lira figure in a first and third. Brooks Kappelmann brings three years of varsity experience to the shortstop position while Adan Mata will play second. Zayden Martinez (2nd team all WAC as Jr.) anchors center-field again. Jr. Landon Martinez will play right and center when Martinez pitches. Xavier Porras plays left. And here comes the versatility. Aidan Schwindt can play infield and outfield. Jr. Skyler Hubbard can play 2nd and outfield. Aiden Miramontes transfers from Satanta and can play short, second, third, and outfield. Junior Alex Schwindt (2nd team all WAC as a So.) is injured to begin the season.
Olmstead will be a guest on Sportsguys Thursday morning. Liberal opens at Hugoton Thursday at 4pm. Their WAC opener is Tuesday at 6pm at Garden City. The WAC and postseason games air on 1270 and 92.3.
Schedule
March 21- at Hugoton 4pm DH
March 26- at Garden City 6pm (1270)
March 29- Hays 4pm DH (1270)
April 2- at Goddard Eisenhower 4pm DH
April 5- at Great Bend 4pm DH (1270)
April 16- Garden City 6pm (1270)
April 19- at Wichita North DH
April 23- Russell 3pm DH
April 25- at Holcomb 4pm DH
April 30- at Dodge City 6:30 (1270)
May 3- at Blue Valley West 4:30 DH
May 7- Dodge City 6pm (1270)
