Iola native Cal Leonard has lived and breathed baseball since he was a little kid.
An Iola High School baseball state champion from the 2018 season, Leonard has taken on an even bigger role as a relief pitcher on the Washburn University baseball team.
Leonard made an impact for the Ichabods this spring, putting Iola on the map as a sound baseball area. The right-handed pitcher finished the season making 12 appearances, striking out 15 and allowing a 5.84 ERA.
“Coming into this year I worked on my changeup with our new pitching coach so that was a big key,” Leonard said. “I was happy with my innings and strikeouts even though I made only 12 appearances, I felt like I was warming up almost every night.”
He won his first college game against Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla., on Feb. 13, throwing two shutout innings and striking out three while allowing just one hit and one walk.
Another solid outing for Leonard came at Pittsburg State, where he struck out three and didn’t allow a hit in 1.1 frames. Leonard was also named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll in 2021, 2022 and 2023. He redshirted his freshman season but is now a junior.
“I think what was so shocking about college baseball was finding out that all my teammates were standouts at their own high schools,” said Leonard. “It hit me pretty hard, and I ended up redshirting which has taught me a lot.”
The hurler helped Iola win the KSHSAA 4A state baseball championship his sophomore year in the spring of 2018. While he was at Iola, Leonard pitched and also played shortstop and third base.
Iola’s state championship team that year won 23 of their final 24 games.
“We were on a winning train. Whenever we’d lose a game here or there, we knew we couldn’t win all of them,” Leonard said. “I think it was just important that all of us were good friends. At practice, we’d get our work in, but we were also there to have fun. If you’re not enjoying it and having fun with friends, it’s not going to be a good season.”
Leonard collected a 4-0 record and a 1.41 ERA on the mound and mashed a team-high two home runs at the plate for Iola that spring. He also had a .318 batting average, knocked 27 hits and drove in 22 runs.
He graduated from Iola in 2020 after playing three years as a Mustang. His senior season of playing ball was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Head coach Mark Percy began the Iola High baseball program when Leonard was a kid.
“He (Percy) was one of those coaches that was always on the positive side of things,” said Leonard. “He was one of the best coaches for us and I think we all saw that. We were able to buy into what he wanted to do. I think that’s what led us to winning a state title.”
Cal’s younger brother, Mac, is heading into his senior year at Iola High as a part of the football, basketball and baseball teams. Cal said he’s his younger brother’s biggest fan.
“He’s (Mac) always going to be my little brother so I want the best for him,” said Leonard. “If there’s any tips or tricks I can give to help him be better I like to do that. He’ll usually ask me about something. There are some siblings that don’t do that but I try to talk to him every day and go to his games.”
