Outlook

Maddox Burkitt had a story book career at Free State and kept it rolling last fall … One of the top arms on every level and will be a big part of the staff this spring … Will be used in several roles but he will be very important to winning games this season.

Freshman Year 2023

Earned All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference second-team as a relief pitcher … Appeared in 17 games, third most on the staff …. Was 1-0 with four saves, 39 strikeouts in 24.2 innings pitched with an earned run average of 3.65 … Holding opposing batters to an average of .245 … His four saves tie for seventh in the conference and 14^th on JCCC’s season chart … Earned his first save in JCCC’s season opening 9-7 win over North Arkansas, striking out the only batter he faced (2-5-23) … Allowed hit, two walks with three strikeouts over an inning to earn the save in a 3-0 win over No. 5 Crowder (2-11-23) … Allowed a walk with five strikeouts over 2.0 innings in a 14-4 win against Southwestern (2-18-23) … Allowed just two hits over 2.2 innings and struck out five in a 6-4 win at Kansas City Kansas (3-25-23) … Scattered three hits and struck out four batters over 2.1 innings in a 17-5 at Highland for his first victory (4-8-23) … Logged a season high 4.0 innings, allowing a hit, two walks with three strikeouts for a successful save opportunity in a 12-4 win over Neosho County (4-16-23) … Hurled 2.0 innings of perfect relief with four strikeouts in a 10-2 win at Labette (5-3-23).

High School

Was a two-year starter for coach Mike Hill at Free State High School, Lawrence, Kan. … Graduated 2022 … Rated the No. 33 overall recruit in the State of Kansas by Prep Baseball Report … Rated the 39^th best player in the state of Kansas by MaxPreps.com as a senior … Named the 2022 Kansas Class 6A and Sunflower League Pitcher of the Year … Also selected Player of the Year by the Lawrence Journal-World … Was a first-team All-Sunflower League and Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches first-team 6A All-State selection at both pitcher and outfielder … Also selected All-Class All-State by Sports in Kansas and was named the Sports in Kansas Pitcher of the Year … Was the anchor for the Firebirds throughout the 2022 season … Finished 8-2 on the mound with a 1.39 earned run average and struck out 92 batters while walking 31 in 60.2 innings pitched … Hit .486 with six doubles, one triple, 13 driven in and 20 runs scored …Selected to play in the KABC All-Star Game at both pitcher and outfielder as a senior … Played travel ball for Next Level Baseball … Helped Free State qualify for the 6A State Tournament all both years.

Personal

Born Maddox Langston Burkitt on September 10, 2003, in Lawrence, Kan. … Nickname is Lunchbox … Son of Andrew Burkitt and Erica Dorn … Has a brother, Caleb … Major is undecided … Also recruited by Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, Barton Community College and Hutchinson Community College … Favorite foods are sushi and Korean … Favorite fast food restaurant is Five Guys … Favorite restaurants are Limestone Pizza Kitchen Bar and Nagoya … Favorite TV shows are Game of Thrones and F is for Family … Favorite movies are Grand Budapest Hotel and Django … Favorite sports movies are Moneyball and 42 … Favorite actor is Brad Pitt, and actress is Natalie Portman … Favorite book is Game of Thrones … Favorite music entertainer is Mac Miller … Favorite cartoon character is Frank Murphy of F is for Family … Favorite athletes are Bobby Witt, Jr., Jacob DeGrom and LeBron James … Favorite sports team is the Kansas City Royals … Greatest sports moment was hitting a grand slam and pitching a complete game on the same day … Best player he has played against is Lawrence High’s Truman Juelsgaard … Notable alumnus from his school is former NFL defensive end Christian Ballard.