2016 Northeast Kansas League Legion Baseball Standings - click here

2016 McDonald's "Players of the Game" on KNZA - click here

The 2016 season brought some change to the Northeast Kansas League in legion baseball with the addition of two teams and split into two divisions, while also being quite competitive again. With the season in the books the 2016 Kanzaland American Legion NEKL All-League team honors have been handed out. 

Doniphan County wrapped up their season with a third place finish at the AA State tournament this year notching a 31-4 record on the season, with highlights on the year including winning the East Division in the NEKL, winning their home Doniphan County tournament and winning the Zone title. Leading the way for Doniphan County for All-League honors is Nathan Gaarder who was co-MVP in 2015 and this year earns MVP honors also and is selected to the All-League legion team for the fourth time. Both Reid Greaser and Tucker Morris pick up All-League honors for the second straight year for Doniphan County, while their teammates, Brody Winder, Wyatt Huss and Wil Smith also earn All-League honors this year. 

Seneca finished their year 23-8 and just missed a trip to the AA State tournament, while also winning the West Division in the NEKL this year. Leading the way for All-League honors for Seneca is Cody Rottinghaus who is selected for the All-League team for the third time, while Dalton Hiltibrand earns All-League for the second straight year for Seneca. Four other Seneca players join them with All-League honors this year as Kurtis Niehues, Neil Sudbeck, Tristan Allen and Dylan Schraad all pick up the honors. 

Sabetha and Silver Lake each earned a pair of players on the All-League team this year. For Sabetha both Joe Gruber and Dustin Gruber pick up All-League honors after the team finished 24-15 this year, while Silver Lake posted a 20-16 record and Garrett Huske along with Justin Keller earn All-League honors this year. 

Oskaloosa finished the season 11-25 but made a trip to the AAA State tournament for the second straight year and Dalton VanHoutan picked up All-League honors for the second straight year. 

Atchison who finished 13-16 on the season has Noah Baniewicz getting the All-League nod, while Corning and Leavenworth 5-23 and 6-26 on the season respecitively and have Colton Buessing and Tanner Morris earning All-League honors. 

2016 Kanzaland American Legion NEKL All-League Team

MVP: Nathan Gaarder (Doniphan County)*** 

1B: Kurtis Niehues (Seneca)
2B: Chris Winkel (Doniphan County)
SS: Dalton Hiltibrand (Seneca)*
3B: Wil Smith (Doniphan County)
C: Reid Greaser (Doniphan County)*

OF: Tristan Allen (Seneca)
OF: Garrett Huske (Silver Lake)
OF: Cody Rottinghaus (Seneca)**
OF: Tucker Morris (Doniphan County)*

Utility: Neil Sudbeck (Seneca)
Utility: Joe Gruber (Sabetha)
Utility: Wyatt Huss (Doniphan County)
Utility: Tanner Morris (Leavenworth)
Utility: Justin Keller (Silver Lake)
Utility: Dalton VanHoutan (Oskaloosa)*
Utility: Noah Baniewicz (Atchison)

P: Brody Winder (Doniphan County)
P: Dylan Schraad (Seneca)
P: Dustin Gruber (Sabetha)
P: Colton Buessing (Corning)

*indicates previous years selected

2016 Northeast Kansas League American Legion Baseball Notes:

• Doniphan County – Third place at AA State Tournament
    (eighth trip to State – went 2-2)
• Oskaloosa competed at AAA State Tournament for second straight year (went 0-2)
• Doniphan County won AA Zone title at Sabetha to qualify for State
• Oskaloosa finished runner-up in AAA Zone at Ottawa to qualify for State
• NEKL Divisional winners –
     Seneca won West Division & Doniphan County won East Division
• Doniphan County won home Doniphan County Tournament
• Sabetha took second place at Marysville Classic