New Series: Northern Kansas Stars

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I love a good rivalry!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the next three days, I will be watching one of the greatest sports rivalries up close and personal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm in St. Louis for three Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some people in Prep Dig Nation might not know that I used to be a history teacher. History, geography, and sports have always been my jam. My sports loyalties wander at times, but if someone asked me what's your favorite sports team, the answer will always be the Chicago Cubs,</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm always pondering new ways to organize scouting reports, some are by position, some by class, others by size of school, and you guessed, yes, by geographical location.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I was born in 1977, and ever since I can remember, there has been a rivalry between Eastern and Western Kansas. I have featured reports "Best In The West" and "Beasts In the East," but now I am drawing different lines.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Inspired by a recent rash of Civil War era books that I have been devouring, I decided to split the Jayhawk State in half from North to South.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For this purpose, let's use Highway 56 as the "Mason-Dixon Line."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is the first of two reports today, this one featuring athletes from Northern Kansas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["222087"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6859a0897b656"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Pandjaris is an athlete I have been watching for several years and I am looking forward to seeing how her senior year goes, and what future opportunities lie ahead for her. She is ranked No. 31 overall in the Kansas Class of 2026. When I first saw her play, she was being used as a hitter by her club team, but these days she is playing more as a defensive specialist for her prep team. She has strung together three straight seasons with 100-plus digs for the Jaguars.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["483941"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6859a0897b75b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Damme is an athlete I have not seen for a hot minute. She is a big-time hitter and is ranked No. 24 overall in the Kansas Class of 2027. She is a multi-sport athlete who posted nice numbers this spring on the softball diamond. She hit .351 with four extra base hits and 15 RBI. She has a smooth approach and hits the ball with authority. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["562034"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6859a0897b829"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Miller is ranked No. 14 overall in the Kansas Class of 2028. Her game shone brightly last season as she led the team in kills as a freshman. She racked up 345 kills in 91 sets played. Miller is a six-rotation athlete who filled up her freshman season stat line with 259 digs, 369 serve receptions, 40 aces, and 65 blocks. She is a net monster and will be a player to keep close tabs on moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["782250"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6859a0897b8fe"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Nash is a spunky libero who is playing at 14U Nationals this week with the [program_tooltip program_id='430200' first='KC' last='Power']. She moves well laterally and makes consistent first passes. She is expected to attend St. Thomas Aquinas. She already has an extensive video package, which will benefit her down the road. She is a flexible defender and is willing to lay out to dig tough attacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->