Lincoln senior Riley Sanders is playing baseball for the Sedalia Travelers again this summer. They recently played in Branson, Missouri. Sanders attends the summer football weights and workouts and open basketball gyms and shootouts also, so he'll be busy.
Sanders will be the quarterback for the last Lincoln 11-man football team for awhile as they'll make the move to 8-man beginning in 2026. Sanders has a good arm and if his main receiver Dawson Parrot is healthy, they could have a remarkable upcoming season.
Also, if Anthony 'Bug" Srader is healthy and good-to-go at running back, new head coach Lane Johnson will be smiling all season long.
Sanders is also the leader on the basketball team that went to the Final Four last season. If he can harness his energy on the court, and make good decisions, look for a breakout season and a possible return trip.
He was moved to second in the batting order for Lincoln baseball this past season. While he is not your typical Punch-and-Judy number two hitter, which baseball has seemingly moved away from, he likes to swing away and hit the ball in the gaps where he can run like the wind. He made several uncommon errors at shortstop this season but with a good summer, he could right that ship. He pitched well at times but not as well as he is capable of, that's for sure.
He has battled injuries over the course of his high school career. One happened while dunking a basketball in gym class and the other was being bitten on the hand by a donkey while feeding his horse a carrot. Yeah, go ask his mother Susan.
While not playing baseball and the rest, he has been playing golf this summer.
Connor Lynde, one of the greatest athletes to come out of Lincoln in recent years, handed Sanders the baton. This is his year to shine. He wanted the pressure and gladly accepted the challenge. Enjoy the summer my friend. We are pulling for you in school, in sports and most certainly in life.