The 2025 MSHSAA season begins on Thursday, March 20th, and with that ScoutConnect is eager to release its inaugural ‘Preseason Rankings’ for the upcoming season.
Several factors were considered when ranking these programs in a top-10 list, such as roster talent, team history, strength of schedule, coaching staff, and much more. This list is not absolute by any means and will be updated on a week-to-week basis, except for at the beginning of the year, where an update may take place after two weeks of play.
Teams taken into consideration are those that fall into our ‘Coverage Map’, which includes all of the St. Louis area. This does not mean that our staff won’t provide coverage to all areas of the state, as well as Illinois, but for team rankings purposes, we will stick to the programs located in St. Louis.
With all of that being said, continue reading below to learn more about the teams that slot inside our initial preseason list.
NO. 1 FRANCIS HOWELL
Francis Howell’s reign over the St. Louis’ area has been well documented for some time now. They’ve won five straight District championships, including three consecutive trips to the Ozark Mountain Sports Complex for the ‘Final Four’. To the surprise of none, the Vikings’ roster in 2025 is supremely talented, and they’re more than capable of making it four straight trips to state.
We’ll start with their senior class, a stellar group that’s been a propeller for the winning they’ve done in the past. Offensively, OF Leo Humbert (2025; Mizzou) and 1B/OF Jackson Vaughn (2025; Wichita State) are two of the area’s top threats at the plate, equalling as middle-of-the-order staples for Head Coach Tony Perkins. INF Matthew Rauser (2025; Maryville) was stellar in the opportunities he received as an everyday regular last season, batting .347 with an on-base percentage of .428 and leading the team with 32 RBI. UTL Collin Lovelady (2025; Heartland CC) can do a little bit of everything – he’s able to play the infield, but also saw time behind the plate for the Vikings in 2024, and his fastball works in the mid-to-upper-80s on the mound with a sharp breaking ball to pair. INF/OF Mason Bogard (2025; Moberly CC) is another versatile piece that can play multiple positions on the diamond and does all of the little things right, like executing a bunt, or taking the extra base. C/INF Shane Ernst (2025), RHP Jack Brettschneider (2025; Moberly CC), RHP Mason Burke (2025; Spoon River JC), OF Aiden Rodell (2025; Moberly CC), and RHP Noah Jones (2025; East Central CC) are all names to watch in their final year for the Vikings.
One other senior, this time on the mound, who’s poised for a huge year is RHP/QB1 Eli Skidmore (2025; St. Louis). Skidmore threw in several big games for Francis Howell last spring, pitching to a 2.83 ERA across 34 ⅔ innings with 37 strikeouts and 16 walks. This winter, Skidmore’s continued to fill out his frame and his raw stuff, from a velocity perspective, has risen as a result. In a bullpen a few weeks ago, Skidmore sat exclusively 93-94 mph with a fastball that lived in the strike zone with big carry at the top, especially. He has always been known for his aptitude to spin the baseball, and his patented low-80s slider continues to impress, matching it with a turbo changeup at 86-88 mph as well. The Vikings do have some innings to fill from last year’s senior group and I’d expect Skidmore is primed for a huge year in his final encore.
You should expect to see several high-impact juniors on the field for Francis Howell in 2025, starting with the two-headed monster perched atop their rotation. RHP Dylan Curtis (2026; Mizzou) owns premium pitchability to pair with a long-limbed 6-foot-6, 180-pound frame. He was nothing short of stellar as a sophomore last spring, hurling 49 ⅓ innings to the tune of a 1.42 ERA with 52 strikeouts and just eight walks. He’s a flat-out ace on the mound, as is RHP Jake Brettschneider (2026; Mizzou), who’s another one of the area’s top arms, regardless of class. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound right-hander also turned in a strong season in nine appearances, posting a 2.12 ERA over 33 frames. These two arms, paired with Skidmore, give the Vikings one of the strongest top-of-the-rotation trios in St. Louis.
INF Brady Tanner (2026) was an everyday regular as a sophomore, returning a .343/.458/.463 triple-slash with eight extra-base hits, 22 RBI, and 19 stolen bases. He is a flat-out grinder on the baseball field that doesn’t give away at-bats, does all of the little things right, and should fit comfortably at the top of this order. OF Chase Cradick (2026) is plenty physical at 6-foot-3, 195-pounds and he’s a name that’s continuously improved over the past 12 or so months by adding bat strength, cleaning up his swing, and boosting his foot speed, making him a left-handed hitter to watch for this club. C Laird Van Sciever (2026) saw time behind the plate in 2024 and is a potential candidate to do so again.
There will be a few underclassmen to watch this spring for Howell, most notably OF/RHP Shake Speckert (2027) and LHP Drew Dierks (2027). Speckert is a toolsy, athletic switch-hitter with polish for his age that should be ready to handle varsity at-bats as a sophomore, while also providing some value on the mound. There’s all sorts of upside with Dierks, who’s a long-limbed, athletic southpaw with a clean arm and polish to a three-pitch mix. Keep an eye out for MIF Jack Bogard (2028), a standout name in the state’s freshman class that could also see time at the varsity level this season.
NO. 2 FORT ZUMWALT WEST
Fort Zumwalt West has done nothing but win under Head Coach Eric Gough, who’ll be in his final season at the helm of the Jaguars’ program in 2025. They’ve won an abundance of games with rosters that weren’t littered with impact talent, but this one is, and the Jaguars have more than earned their right to be considered one of the top programs in St. Louis.
It’s hard to talk about Fort Zumwalt West without starting with INF Nolan Sissom (2026; Mizzou), who’s been posting for the Jaguars since his freshman year. He’s one of the purest hitters in the area, swinging a highly polished left-handed barrel that produced a .385 batting average and reached base at a .566 clip last season. Sissom led the way with 28 RBI last season, drew four times as many walks (32) as strikeouts (8), and added 29 stolen bases to the mix, too. Though he’s obviously known for his work at the plate, Sissom’s also capable of chipping in on the mound, where he’s a competitive strike-thrower that can provide quality innings in a pinch. Regardless, he’s going to be the engine of this Fort Zumwalt West team yet again and is primed for an even bigger year than before.
Turning to their senior class, the Jaguars have a multitude of veteran names who are back from last year’s club. RHP/INF Carter Perry (2025; Jefferson JC) figures to be one of the mainstays on both sides of the ball. He hit .286 with a .358 OBP, driving in 26 runs, and pitched to a 2.97 ERA in a 35 ⅓ inning workload, walking just 14. INF Brant Deverman (2025; Truman State) is another scrappy, hard-nosed player on this club that does a little bit of everything on the field. He was among the team leaders in on-base percentage last season (.430) with a .291 batting average and he swiped 20 bags too, all while playing quality defense on the infield. C Kyle Feiste (2025; Crowder JC) is an asset behind the plate that should captain this pitching staff, while OF/LHP Brody Signorelli (2025; Crowder JC) has high level athleticism with two-way impact potential, especially on the mound, where he should take an expanded role in 2025.
On the mound, LHP Alex Wheeler (2025) and RHP Ben Bowden (2025) are two returning arms that saw success last season. Wheeler recorded a 1.01 ERA in 27 ⅔ innings of work, while Bowden threw 20 ⅓ innings to the tune of a 2.07 ERA. RHP Blake Keele (2025), RHP Ben Moehl (2025; Jefferson JC), and RHP Luke Rolfes (2025) are three other names to watch.
Fort Zumwalt West does benefit from two new faces that join the program via transfer: INF/RHP Brendan Pyle (2026; Loyola Marymount) and INF/RHP Anden Hyde (2026). Pyle starred on both sides of the ball at Fort Zumwalt East the past two seasons – he started at shortstop, hit towards the top of their lineup, and also served as one of their top arms. He’s an all-around asset that’s a winning player in all facets of the game and should be an integral part of what the Jaguars are trying to accomplish this spring. Hyde swings one of the loudest bats in the area, regardless of class, and has the potential to really be an impact bat in his junior year. Though he’s known for his efforts at the plate, Hyde has also crept into the upper-80s on the mound this winter, adding another potential arm to this staff. OF Dominic Blackstun (2026) is a left-handed hitting junior that could factor into the mix at some point this spring.
OF/RHP Michael Wolff (2027) is another top prospect in the area that was an everyday regular for this club as a freshman last season. He took his lumps in his first year of varsity taste, but Wolff has been a major arrow-up name this winter, impressing our staff at our Winter Showcase on February 15th. Now a year older, Wolff should elevate to be one of this team’s top offensive producers, and he can also contribute on the mound, owning a mid-to-upper-80s fastball with feel for two secondaries.
NO. 3 EUREKA
Head Coach Ken Droege’s club has been one of the area’s best teams in the past few years, amassing 24 or more wins in each of the past three seasons, including a 32-4 finish in 2023. They’ll firmly be one of the more talented clubs in the area this spring and have a club capable of knocking down the door to Ozark when postseason play rolls around.
The unquestioned strength of Eureka’s team this season will be on the mound, where the Wildcats have a blend of proven, established performers and highly talented arms looking to make a name for themselves. Staff ace RHP Ralph Gianino (2025), who’s still uncommitted, is back after posting a 1.29 ERA over 43 ⅓ innings last season, punching out 36 while walking only 12. Our staff recently saw Gianino, where he threw three pitches for strikes, including an 84-86 mph fastball, 75-77 mph slider, and 76-78 mph changeup. RHP Michael Siebels (2025; Jefferson JC), RHP Will Keithley (2025), and RHP Jordan Leonard (2025; St. Louis CC) are three other senior arms that deepen this pitching staff and could see time on the mound this spring.
Both LHP Dane Greis (2026) and RHP Jaxson Joggerst (2026; Indiana) enjoyed success in their sophomore seasons at the varsity level. Greis is a 6-foot-6, 205-pound southpaw with all sorts of upside that controls his long levers well down the mound, posting a 2.14 ERA in a 32 ⅔ inning workload where he struck out 28 and walked just 13. The 6-foot-6, 200-pound Joggerst, who’s also a standout basketball player for the Wildcats, has one of the higher ceilings in the area. He’s a highly athletic and easy mover down the mound with a loose, free-flowing arm, pitching in the upper-80s now with plenty more to come. He made eight starts last spring for Eureka and threw 32 innings to a 3.06 ERA with a 5-1 record.
Expect those two arms to be at the front of the Wildcats’ rotation yet again, but RHP John Haberkorn (2026), RHP Ben Lackey (2026), and LHP Cade Gustafson (2026) are three other members of this pitching staff to know. Haberkorn is a highly physical 6-foot-2, 220-pound athlete with an upper-80s fastball that’ll be a fresh face to the varsity level. Lackey saw success in a limited 11 ⅓ inning sample last spring, posting a 1.85 ERA, and he climbed into the low-90s this winter with a feel for two breaking balls, as well as a parachute changeup that may be his best pitch. Gustafson is a low-80s left-handed arm that punched out 11 and didn’t walk anyone in 9 ⅓ innings at the varsity level last season.
A large chunk of the Wildcats’ offense graduated last season, which will be their toughest task this spring. They do have a handful of key returners offensively, starting with INF Kyle Rehg (2025; Central Missouri), who returns as a regular up-the-middle defender that slashed .325/.446/.470 with 13 stolen bases, and walked (16) more times than he struck out (12). INF Craig Ringe (2026) was a regular at third base last season as a sophomore and is a strong, polished right-handed hitter that’s ready to take another jump at the plate this spring. OF Levi Fieser (2026) is another returner that can flat-out go get it in the outfield and will be asked to shoulder more of a workload at the plate than he did last season. INF Cole Rogers (2026) and OF Trae Peterson (2026) are two juniors that could factor into this mix as well.
Transferring into Eureka this season is C/INF Carson Leuthauser (2027), a sophomore that will be a welcomed addition for his efforts on both sides of the ball. Few in the area can impact the running game behind the plate like Leuthauser, who has a huge arm from the chute. He doesn’t get cheated at the plate, showing premium bat speed and bat strength with a chance to be a middle-of-the-lineup bat at some point in his high school career, if not this season. MIF Tyler Sweeney (2027) is another talented sophomore to know, who may not be a member of this varsity club right away, but has the potential to be a quality piece when his time comes. One other underclassmen to know, this time a freshman, is OF/RHP Jackson Leonard (2028). Leonard’s huge tools match his 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame, as he’s already an upper-80s arm that’s also producing triple-digit exit velocities at the plate in BP. It’s unclear if he’ll be called upon to help the varsity club in his first year at the high school level, but Leonard does have star potential and will be one to keep an eye on in the coming years, if not now.
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NO. 4 VIANNEY
Injuries barred this Vianney team from a potentially special season in 2024 with a group that was, when healthy, one of the deepest in the area. Luckily, most of those pieces are back again for a re-run in 2025, where the Griffins enter as one of St. Louis’ deepest clubs yet again.
Vianney’s offense figures to be a deep, experienced group that’s made up of mostly seniors, starting with OF Cole Adair (2025; Missouri Southern), a left-handed hitter that slashed .309/.434/.481 and drew more walks (17) than strikeouts (16). Expect left-handed hitting 1B Nolan Jaworowski (2025; Cincinnati) to be the main power source in this lineup, bringing back with him a .284/.370/.500 triple-slash that included 10 extra-base hits, four of them home runs. 1B Ryker Benz (2025; Augusta University) and CIF/OF Trey Jozwiakowski (2025; Central Missouri) are two veteran right-handed bats that have been a part of this team since their freshman seasons. C Brayden Schafer (2025; Northwest Missouri State) should captain this club from behind the plate, with OF Nick Miller (2025) and OF Kolton Post (2025) being two other senior bats to know.
The senior experience also translates to the mound, where the Griffins will have one of the top arms in the area with RHP JD Dohrmann (2025; Mizzou). Dohrmann missed all of last season with an injury, but he’s back and ready to roll in his senior encore, giving them a chance to win each time he takes the rubber. At his best, Dohrmann’s a highly athletic, easy mover down the mound that’s always thrown strikes with a low-90s fastball and hard two-plane slider with bite. He’ll be the presumed ace of this club, but RHP Nick Steurer (2025; Truman State) is another live-armed senior to know, punching out 49 over 35 ⅓ innings of work last season. Steurer’s another mid-to-upper-80s arm with a big top-to-bottom breaking ball and, when he’s in the zone, can be another impact arm for this club. The aforementioned Benz pitched to a 2.63 ERA in 21 ⅓ innings last season, with LHP Andrew Anderson (2025) and RHP Sam Fisher (2025; East Central CC) adding more depth to this pitching staff.
Vianney’s junior class is deep, though it’s especially so on the mound. While it’s unclear how long LHP Zach Van Hook (2026; Mizzou) will be sidelined with an injury, the 6-foot-4, 185-pound southpaw is one of the top junior arms in the area. A standout at our ‘Pro Day’ a few weeks ago, Van Hook’s ceiling is sky high with a premium frame and fast arm. His fastball plays in the low-90s and he spins an upper-70s slider with depth, while also showing an upper-70s to low-80s changeup. When healthy, Van Hook gives Vianney another frontline arm to trot out to the mound, and he could easily be the ‘X-Factor’ in how far this team goes come postseason play.
One huge riser to keep an eye on is RHP Ben Thierauf (2026), an uncommitted 6-foot-3, 200-pound junior that’s been trending up this winter. We saw Thierauf at one of our fall tournaments in September, where he was pitching at 82-84, touching 85 mph on his fastball, but he’s taken a jump now, sitting comfortably in the upper-80s while creeping into the low-90s at times. If he’s in the strike zone, Thierauf is going to be another impactful arm for Vianney in 2025. RHP/INF Drew Keller (2026) and OF/RHP Sam Smith (2026) are two juniors that are capable of contributing both on the mound, as well as at the plate.
Positionally, INF Logan DeClue (2026) and OF Logan Baumann (2026) are two juniors to keep an eye on as potential everyday regulars for this club. DeClue made 97 trips to the plate last season and is a quality defender that can move around the diamond. Baumann is a real athlete that has shown bat speed and bat strength at times, providing more talented depth to this team.
NO. 5 DESMET JESUIT
Head Coach Tim Canavan has the Spartans as a year-to-year contender in one of the area’s toughest conferences while also, perennially, playing one of the more challenging schedules in St. Louis.
This group has a multitude of impact returners from last season and it all starts with C Charlie Wortham (2025; Mississippi State), who’s firmly in the mix as one of the area’s top all-around players. Wortham doubled 15 times last season, homered six, and drove in 23 runs with a .423/.552/.763 triple-slash that included 20 walks to 11 punchouts. He’s been on an upward trajectory dating back to the fall and has even added quality muscle mass to his frame this winter, suggesting there may be an uptick in power production this season. Wortham’s one of the top catchers in the area, though he’s able to move around the infield as well, and will provide DeSmet with quality defensive value regardless of where he’s playing. Certainly on the shortlist of our ‘Player of the Year’ candidates, Wortham should be the engine that drives a potent DeSmet offense in 2025.
C/INF Caynen Patterson (2025; SEMO) is another physical, dynamic senior that’ll be a huge part of DeSmet’s offense. Like Wortham, Patterson enjoyed plenty of success as a junior last spring, slashing .356/.529/.621 with five home runs and 26 RBI, tied for the team high. Additionally, Patterson has a huge arm behind the plate that’s a true asset in cutting down the running game, but he can also move around the infield if need be. Another senior that is primed for a strong final encore is INF/RHP Sylvester Tournier (2025; Heartland CC). In 69 at-bats last spring, Tournier drove in 26 runs and tallied eight extra-base hits to go along with a .435/.530/.623 triple-slash. He didn’t see time on the mound last spring due to an injury, but he’s shown a mid-to-upper-80s fastball in the past and can be a real contributor in that aspect this season. OF Landon Edmonds (2025; Snead St. CC) is a high motor, athletic left-handed hitter that will look to take a step up in production his senior year and consistently plays the game hard, whether it be at the plate or in the outfield. Edmonds can impact the game in multiple ways; he can run, puts together tough at-bats on the regular, does the little things right, and doesn’t take plays off.
Two senior arms that will be integral to what DeSmet aims to accomplish this season are RHP Noah Cunningham (2025; Missouri S&T) and RHP Brayden Wakula (2025). Cunningham has a mid-80s fastball, that’ll climb into the upper-80s, wth a big top-to-bottom breaking ball in the low-70s. Wakula worked in the zone with a mid-80s fastball at one of our fall events and also showed feel for a curveball at 72-74 mph. The return to form of these two arms can really deepen DeSmet’s pitching staff this spring.
RHP Brandon Ott (2027) may be the ultimate ‘X-Factor’ for this group as the presumed ace of DeSmet’s pitching staff. As a freshman, Ott recorded a 2.66 ERA over 29 innings on the hill, and he’ll be asked to build on that workload more this upcoming season. He’s certainly talented enough to do so, featuring a mid-to-upper-80s fastball with two secondaries – a slider and changeup – that he has shown consistent feel for. C Luke McAtee (2027) is a physical right-handed hitting sophomore that saw brief time on varsity as a freshman last year and could be in for more regular at-bats in 2025.
NO. 6 ROCKWOOD SUMMIT
The Falcons rolled through their District last spring, outscoring their opposition 33-3 before falling to a highly talented Fort Zumwalt South team in a close quarterfinal matchup. Almost all of Summit’s main pieces from a year ago have returned and this team is more than primed for a return trip to Ozark, their first since 2021.
We’ll start with their senior class, particularly on the mound, with three arms that are back after accumulating more than 90 innings between them last season. LHP Zach Halim (2025; Wallace-Dothan CC) is a twitchy, athletic southpaw with a low-to-mid-80s fastball and two above-average secondaries (CB/CH) that posted a 2.36 ERA with just seven walks in 35 ⅔ innings. RHP Gabriel Sieve (2025; Missouri Southern) started the aforementioned quarterfinal game last spring and is a mid-to-upper-80s arm that can really spin a breaking ball, striking out 38 with just 13 walks in 32 innings on the hill. LHP Cameron Mosier (2025; Evansville) has the potential to really break out, taking a jump up in stuff on the mound this winter after punching out 37 with a 3.16 ERA in a 24 ⅓ inning sample last season.
Sticking with their senior class, the Falcons have a loud left-handed bat in the middle of their lineup with C/1B Jackson Miller (2025; Quincy). Miller led the team last season with 33 RBI and had 12 extra-base hits, three of them home runs, with a .323/.417/.515 triple-slash. Behind the dish for this club is C Blaine Branscum (2025; Rockhurst), who won their conference ‘Gold Glove’ award last season and gives Summit a true asset behind the plate defensively. INF Teagan Thomason (2025; McKendree) and CIF Blake Bell (2025) are two other seniors capable of positively impacting this club.
It doesn’t end there for Summit, as their junior class is talented too, starting with 3B/RHP Wyatt Schneider (2026) and INF/OF Kaden Dinges (2026), two names that have been with this varsity club since their freshman year. Schneider was an all-around star last season, hitting .366 with a .984 OPS, 28 RBI, and 21 stolen bases. He made nine appearances on the mound, seven of them starts, with a 2.00 ERA across 35 innings, striking out 40. Dinges can be a regular at either shortstop or center field with a top-of-the-lineup bat that had a .431 on-base percentage and swiped 18 bags. C Oren Miller (2026), LHP Carter Nagel (2026), and RHP Evan Wade (2026) are three other juniors that will impact this club.
NO. 7 OAKVILLE
Oakville has one of the deepest pitching staffs in the state and, on a game to game basis, will roll out a power arm that’s going to cause any opposition fits. A team that made a run to their District championship last season has the makings of a group capable of doubling down on that, if not going further.
A large majority of the Tigers’ innings return from last season, starting with a power senior duo in RHP Adam Kilburn (2025; Tennessee) and LHP Jack Werkowitch (2025; Lindenwood). Kilburn made nine starts with a 5-1 record, pitching to a 1.64 ERA and striking out 64 over 38 ⅓ innings. He’s a competitive upper-80s to low-90s arm that spins a sharp slider and has the stuff to be a frontline arm. Werkowitch is a free-flowing, upside left-handed arm that led Oakville from a workload standpoint, amassing 45 ⅓ innings with a 2.32 ERA and 64 punchouts. He’s reportedly taken a jump up from a stuff standpoint this winter, upping his ceiling from a prospect and production standpoint.
Oakville also has one of the top juniors in the area with RHP/1B CJ Lake (2026). The uncommitted 6-foot-3, 180-pound right-hander was up to 95 mph this winter, regularly pitching in the low-90s, while making improvements with his breaking ball – a pitch that now has sharper, more lateral spin conducive to grabbing more swing-and-miss. Even before his velocity jump, Lake turned in a really impressive sophomore season on both sides of the ball, posting a 1.37 ERA in a 35 ⅔ inning sample, striking out 44. He’ll be a middle-of-the-order bat this spring too, slashing .333/.394/.650 in 60 at-bats last season with five home runs. 1B/LHP Aiden Zehnle (2026) is another physical junior that’ll contribute on both sides of the ball. He’s a mid-80s arm on the mound that throws both of his secondaries (BB/CH) for strikes, logging a 1.48 ERA in 23 ⅔ innings as a sophomore, striking out 26. His strong, physical left-handed bat should fit nicely in this lineup as a possible middle-of-the-order thumper.
Offensively, OF Gabe Huelsing (2025) returns as their top offensive performer from last season, bringing back a .337/.457/.570 triple-slash over 86 at-bats with 13 extra-base hits, three of them home runs, and 19 RBI. C Owen Mundy (2025; East Central College) will captain one of the area’s most talented pitching staffs behind the plate, with two juniors – OF Matthew Herrin (2026) and OF Brennan Stegall (2026) – being two other names to know.
NO. 8 CBC
The Cadets navigated through a challenging 2024 season – they consistently play a highly competitive schedule – and won a tough District before falling to Francis Howell in the quarterfinals. Head Coach Mason Horne’s group is rich with talent, per usual, and they’ll enter this spring with high expectations, as is the norm at CBC.
Replacing production from a multitude of graduated seniors won’t be easy, but there are some noteworthy returners, like INF Bryce Edmiston (2025) and OF Anthony Tocco (2025). Edmiston hit .315 in 108 at-bats last spring and is a key piece of the Cadets’ infield. Tocco will make the move to the outfield for his senior season, where his advanced run tool can freely roam around and cover ground. He’s no slouch at the plate either, slashing .355/.434/.527 with 10 extra-base hits and 25 RBI in 2024. INF Reed Hunter (2025) is another senior to keep an eye on this spring that saw success in a brief sample last year, hitting .325 in 40 at-bats.
Another senior, RHP Michael Sievers (2025), returns after a stellar junior season, pitching to a 2.15 ERA over 39 innings on the hill. He’ll slot right back into his spot at the top of the rotation, but three other seniors to watch are RHP Sam Wright (2025), LHP George Shaw (2025), and RHP Hudson Terando (2025).
The Cadets’ junior class is especially talented, and it all starts with star OF GT Taylor (2026; Kansas). As a sophomore last season, Taylor homered seven times, driving in 21 runs and finishing with a 1.049 OPS. He has all the physical tools to be one of the area’s best players and should be a force right in the middle of this lineup yet again. Two more talented juniors of note are LHP Grant Mehrhoff (2026; Louisville) and RHP Cameron Fuqua (2026). Mehrhoff is a dynamic left-handed arm with some of the loudest raw stuff in St. Louis, bumping his fastball into the low-90s with a swing-and-miss slider and tumbling splitter. When he’s in the zone, Mehrhoff is a nightmare at-bat for opposing hitters, and he has a chance to really impact this club should he consistently hone in his stuff. Fuqua should be a huge piece of this rotation as a mid-to-upper-80s arm that throws all three of his pitches, including a slider and changeup, for strikes.
CBC’s talented junior group extends past that trio, however. LHP Daniel Bergner (2026) has routinely impressed our staff as a 6-foot-4, 210-pound southpaw that throws from a ¾ slot and features a hard-running low-80s fastball to pair with a true sweeping slider that splits the plate. INF Ryan Horne (2026) swings a physical right-handed bat whose advanced actions are the infield are expected to be a key piece of this Cadets’ defense. INF Patrick Effer (2026), OF Kale Price (2026), and OF JD Adelman (2026) are three other talented position players that should impact this club, with RHP Noah Merrifield (2026) being one to watch on the mound.
Two talented youngsters that have the potential to impact this year’s varsity club are OF Corde Gage (2027) and OF Brady Rallo (2028). Gage is a standout football player for CBC’s highly touted football program and he’s an extremely athletic right-handed hitter that can flat-out go get it in the outfield, while also showing easy juice at the plate. Rallo has all the makings of a truly special left-handed hitter that offers a blend of premium raw power with feel to hit. It’s not easy to be an impact bat at the varsity level as a freshman, especially in CBC’s conference, but Rallo certainly falls on that short list of 2028 graduates that look capable of doing so.
NO. 9 LAFAYETTE
Last year was a special one for Head Coach Cole Dupont and Lafayette, as the Lancers made a run to the Class 6 state championship game before falling 11-10 to Blue Springs. Several seniors from last year are gone, but there are some key returners and new names ready to impact this club in 2025.
It all starts with OF Michael Callahan (2025; Missouri State), who should once again be one of the top all-around performers in the St. Louis area. A premium athlete, Callahan can flat-out run, impacting the game in essentially every way with his speed. He stole 37 bases, and is closing in on the school record, and can basically run anything down in center field, serving as a major asset on the defensive end. At the plate, the Missouri State recruit hit .368 and reached base at a .514 clip, scoring 39 runs as the table-setter atop the Lancers’ lineup.
Two other seniors that can be looked at as potential contributors are INF CJ Campbell (2025; Jefferson JC) and C Wyatt Wathen (2025). Campbell recorded a .309 batting average in 97 at-bats last spring and should slot near the top of this year’s Lafayette lineup. Wathen should operate as the Lancers primary catcher as a veteran defensive presence behind the plate that’ll be needed with the relative newness on this pitching staff.
A pair of left-handed senior arms that’ll see time on the mound this spring are LHP Renn Fiss (2025; St. Louis CC) and LHP Landon Martin (2025; Drury). Fiss made eight starts for last year’s runner-up team, pitching to a 2.92 ERA over 36 innings of work. Martin has a mid-80s fastball and bendy breaking ball that has the arm talent to be a quality arm that deepens the Lancers’ pitching staff.
RHP/INF Landon Matthews (2026) and LHP Drew Pickering (2026) are back after impressive junior seasons on the mound with the intentions of continuing to be frontline arms for Lafayette. Matthews can flat-out pitch, mixing and matching a true four-pitch mix in any count and he’s supremely confident in what he’s able to do on the mound. His fastball took a jump up this winter, now sitting in the mid-to-upper-80s, and he’s throwing a harder, more impactful slider, too. As a sophomore, Matthews led Lafayette with 57 ⅓ innings with an 8-2 record, a 1.59 ERA, and 1.14 WHIP. Pickering had a 2.00 ERA over a 42 inning sample, fanning 42 and walking just 16 as a physical left-handed arm that’s in the zone often.
Both OF Chase Roeder (2026) and INF Zach Toben (2026) are two juniors that were a part of last year’s team but, with at-bats graduating, will now be asked to shoulder a heavy workload on the offensive end.
1B Payne Kent (2027) swings a highly physical left-handed bat that has the bat strength to impact this club at some point this spring should his name get called upon. Another youngster, LHP Micahel Sinn (2027), has all sorts of upside in a long, loose-levered 6-foot-5, 195-pound frame with a fast, clean arm and a true three-pitch mix, including a mid-80s fastball, that’ll see time on the mound.
NO. 10 FESTUS
Festus has earned the right to be recognized with some of the top teams in St. Louis given the success they’ve had over the past few seasons. They’ve won their District in each of the past four seasons, finished as state runner-ups in Class 5 in 2022, and took home the state championship comfortably in 2023, allowing just three earned runs in the six playoff games they played that season.
Starting with their senior class, the Tigers have two names that have etched themselves as program staples in OF Brady Nolen (2025; Crowder JC) and LHP/1B Mason Schirmer (2025; Mizzou). Nolen was slowed by an injury to start last season, but was on a tear when he came back, batting .343 with a .962 OPS while also going a perfect 27-for-27 on the basepaths. He’ll serve as a top-of-the-lineup bat and give Festus an impact defender in center field. Schirmer has been a part of every big game, and moment, the Tigers have had in each of the past four seasons. He’s integral on both sides of the ball, but especially on the mound, where he pitched to a 0.69 ERA and struck out 107 batters over 61 innings, walking only 18. Schirmer gives Festus a true advantage each time he’s on the rubber, and he’s also one of their top left-handed hitters, driving in 26 runs with a .313 batting average in 99 at-bats last spring.
Teaming up with Schirmer at the top of this rotation are two junior left-handed arms that gives Festus one of the area’s top pitching rotations: LHP Jackson Smith (2026) and LHP Cale Schaumburg (2026). Smith was nothing short of stellar as a sophomore in 2024, pitching to a perfect 7-0 record with a 0.70 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 49 ⅔ innings and leading the Tigers with 33 RBI. He’s one of the higher pitchability arms in the area with a physical 6-foot-4 frame that sits in the mid-80s with his fastball, though there’s more left to come. Schaumburg transfers in from Crystal City, where he was a first team all-conference selection, and is another physical, projectable left-handed arm, standing at 6-foot-5, 190-pounds with a fastball that also plays in the mid-80s.
Sticking with the upperclassmen, the Tigers have a few names coming back that were regulars on last year’s team. C Layton Wenstrom (2025) is back to captain this pitching staff behind the plate and INF/RHP Brayden Beers (2026) had 55 plate appearances as a sophomore last season. RHP Charlie Drinen (2025) saw 23 ⅔ innings on the mound with a 3.85 ERA in that span.
Festus will turn to a few underclassmen to fill key roles, but it won’t be anything new to this group, as they all saw time on varsity last season as freshmen. LHP Jackson Ijames (2027) is another dynamic left-handed arm that’s a part of this pitching staff, tossing 20 innings with a 1.05 ERA last spring. C/INF Cole Malusky (2027) and INF Brayden Good (2027) both received a quantity of at-bats last season, and CIF Henry Brown (2027) is a physical right-handed hitter to keep an eye on as well.
NEXT UP…
SECKMAN
Seckman has been one of the top teams in the area in each of the past few seasons, rolling through their District last season before falling to Lafayette in the quarterfinals. Several of the names that have been a part of the Jaguars’ success have graduated, but this Seckman club is plenty capable of making some noise in 2025.
Everything starts with OF Ryan Bradford (2025; Johnson County CC), who is unquestionably one of the top all-around offensive threats in the area. In 118 plate appearances last season, Bradford slashed .489/.603/.900 with 18 total extra-base hits, including eight home runs, with 24 RBI, 19 stolen bases, and nearly four times as many walks (24) as strikeouts (7). He’ll absolutely be the engine of this offense, but C Brady Vessells (2025; Jefferson JC) is another truly dynamic right-handed hitter that’ll slot right in the middle of this order, while also providing plenty of value behind the plate. Vessells totaled 20 extra-base hits in 2024 – 13 doubles, two triples, five home runs – and drove in 28 runs to match with a .412/.500/.742 triple slash in 97 at-bats. Seckman will get another impact right-handed bat back when C/3B Connor Day (2025; SWIC) returns from injury, as the Blue Storm commit slashed .337/.415/.446 as a regular last season.
Ultimately, the defining factor for Seckman in 2025 will be what they’re able to accomplish on the mound. They lost more than 100 high quality innings on the mound when their 2024 class graduated and making up that production won’t be easy. It’ll start with RHP/1B Max Jones (2027), a long, loose-levered athlete that’s amongst the area’s most talented sophomores. In five starts last season, and eight total appearances, Jones pitched to a 1.98 ERA in 28 ⅓ innings of work, fanning 35 with 19 walks. If he can continue to grow and elevate off that already impressive performance, Jones can blossom into a true frontline arm, something that’ll go a long way for this Seckman club.
There’s a litany of other arms that deepen this pitching staff. Seniors RHP Jack Schlechte (2025), RHP Alex Fieseler (2025), and RHP Jake Dean (2025) will be called upon to log innings this spring, and it’s likely they’re formidable pieces of the lineup, too. LHP Cooper Hoog (2026) and LHP Carter Bingel (2026) are a pair of strike-throwing junior southpaws that should see time on the mound. Two freshmen, LHP Cory Hilzinger (2028) and RHP Porter Sattley (2028), are two highly talented youngsters that may make an impact at the varsity level this spring as well.
A talented sophomore that could impact this year’s varsity club is INF/RHP Brody Kube, who was also the Jaguars’ starting quarterback as a sophomore this past fall, is a rangy, athletic defender on the infield with strong hands at the plate that should see time on the dirt this spring. He’s also a low-80s strike-thrower on the mound, adding more quality depth to this pitching staff.
TIMBERLAND
Timberland returns nearly everyone from last year’s group with a big senior class that’ll be supplemented with talented pieces in their junior and sophomore groups. It’s unclear whether they’ll play in class five or six this spring, but the Wolves have a roster ready to make some noise in the GAC and come district play.
RHP Richie Swain (2025; Mississippi State) is one of the area’s most talented arms, featuring a low-to-mid-90s fastball and sharp slider that helped him rack up 64 punchouts over 40 ⅔ innings last season. Swain’s a truly dynamic talent that has wipeout stuff capable of neutralizing any lineup on any given day and if he’s consistently dominant, like he’s proven in spurts, the Wolves will have one of the best arms in all of St. Louis.
Looking deeper at the rest of this senior group, INF Ethan Chiodini (2025; St. Charles CC) was Timberland’s top offensive threat in 2024, leading the club in nearly every offensive category, including a .404/.482/.586 triple-slash with 10 extra-base hits and 31 RBI. C Carson Ramos (2025; Northern Illinois) is one of the area’s top all-around defensive catchers and also swings a physical right-handed bat capable of leaving the yard in any given at-bat. INF Hayden Post (2025; William Jewell) hit .316 and drew 29 walks, good for a .530 on-base percentage, and scored a team-high 27 runs. OF Isaiah Ogbe (2025; East Central CC) has a big arm from the outfield and drove in 24 runs, while SS/RHP Brady Schuler (2025) and Cash Burks (2025; Hannibal LaGrange) are two other seniors to know.
Two juniors that could see time are C/INF Jamison Shrum (2026) and OF Collin Porter (2026). A catcher by trade, and a really quality one behind the plate, Shrum will pair up with Ramos to form a strong one-two punch, but he’s able to move around the corner infield as well. Porter has a heavy, physical barrel with easy juice that adds a potential impact left-handed bat to this lineup.
RHP Parker Sansone (2027) figures to be one of the top arms for Timberland in his sophomore year. He’s a physical upper-80s arm with a fastball that really carries and matches it with a sharp mid-70s breaking ball and firm, tight mid-80s cutter. He’s talented enough to slot into one of Timberland’s top rotation spots and if he can perform at that level the Wolves will have an impactful one-two punch. Another sophomore to know is OF Parker Runge (2027), who’s a physical, high-impact right-handed hitter with big bat speed that has a chance to be a mainstay for this club over the next three seasons.
SLUH
The Jr. Billikens fell just short of winning their District title last spring, falling to CBC in a tightly contested 5-4 match in the championship game. They enter this spring with a dynamic pitching staff full of arms that are capable of swaying any given game and should yet again be a formidable foe in Class 6.
RHP James Unwin (2025; Denison) and RHP Michael Strong (2026) are two physical upperclassmen with power stuff on this staff. Unwin features a mid-to-upper-80s fastball and big top-to-bottom breaking ball that helped him log a 1.27 ERA and punch out 30 over 27 ⅔ innings last spring. Strong, who’s also a mid-to-upper-80s arm, has a true sweeper with sharp swing-and-miss horizontal action and should be one of the tougher at-bats in SLUH’s conference. He threw 35 innings last season with 38 strikeouts to 18 walks, as well as a 3.00 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. RHP Brady Nolan (2026) led the team with 36 ⅔ innings pitched last spring, posting a 2.48 ERA with 33 punchouts and just eight walks.
SLUH also has one of the top sophomores in the area in SS/RHP Cole Chambers (2027). Chambers has added noticeable physicality over the last calendar year or so, now standing at 6-foot-2, 190-pounds with loud tools on both sides of the ball. He should be a staple in the middle of this lineup, see time at shortstop, and can pump in a mid-to-upper-80s fastball on the mound, too. The Jr. Billikens’ sophomore star is primed for a breakout year at the varsity level, one that could elevate this club even further.
Offensively, INF Steven Baudendistel (2025) was an everyday regular for this club that returns a .439 on-base percentage. C Clark Davis (2025) and C/INF Logan Studer (2026) are two backstops that could each see time behind the dish. OF Robby Cox (2026) is a strong, compact left-handed hitter that’s shown well in front of our staff. INF Liam Linhares (2026) and OF/RHP Connar Lucas (2027) are two more talented pieces on this roster.
