The MSHSAA District playoffs for Class 5 and Class 6 are set to kick off this Wednesday, May 21st. Over the next few days, our staff will be previewing all of the districts from those two classifications that fall within our coverage map. 

Below you will learn more about one of the deeper groups in Class 6, District 1. 

NO. 1 LINDBERGH

The Flyers surprised our staff this season, starting the preseason outside of our rankings, but jumping in almost immediately and asserting themselves as a mainstay. They’re one of the area’s most well-rounded teams and finished the regular season on a six game winning streak, entering these playoffs as the top seed in their District. 

Offensively, Ethan Cantareira (2025; Lindenwood) is the engine for this offense. The physical left-handed hitter slashed .383/.477/.713 with six home runs, 11 doubles, and 21 RBI, chipping in 17 stolen bases as well. Austin Jones (2026) and Luke Seiler (2025) each hit over .350 in regular everyday roles, with the former driving in a team-high 25 runs. Jack Politte (2027) is more known on this club for his efforts on the mound, but the talented sophomore hit .308 with 10 extra-base hits, including a walk-off home run over Festus to cap last week. Adler Crask (2025), Lane Elder (2025), Karsen Stout (2027), and talented freshman Jon Calcaterra (2028) are four other names to know in this lineup. 

Lindbergh’s depth extends to the mound, where the Flyers have five different arms that threw 20+ innings, and all of them have ERAs under the 3.00 mark. Politte (2027) captains the staff, pitching to a 1.84 mark across a team-high 38 innings, walking just eight in that span. Jones and Calcaterra each threw over 30 innings, and were plenty productive in their time on the hill. Crask pitched to a 0.30 ERA – one earned run allowed – in 23 ⅓ innings out of the ‘pen, while Nathan Leist (2028), a freshman, turned in a 2.22 ERA over 28 ⅓ innings. 

NO. 2 KIRKWOOD

The Pioneers earned the second seed in their District in the first year under head coach Max Spitzmiller, who led this Kirkwood club to a 17-6 regular season finish. They’ll draw seventh seeded Mehlville in the first round of these playoffs. 

Leading the charge for Kirkwood is Deven Peterson (2025), who slashed .441/.563/.647 in 68 at-bats, totaling 10 extra-base hits with 15 RBI and more walks than punchouts. Jacob Noland (2026) provided the power, homering five times and driving in a team-high 33 runs to go along with a .356/.420/.644 triple-slash. Two of the area’s top freshmen – Cayden Jackman (2028) and Ryan Caffey (2028) – had strong seasons in their first taste of varsity action. 

Kirkwood does have an ace on the mound with Owen Nesslage (2025; Maryville), as the long, projectable left-hander threw well throughout the year for the Pioneers. He’s logged 39 ⅔ innings thus far, pitching to a 2.47 ERA with 34 strikeouts and 13 walks. Sam Sudekum (2026) and Brady Bagus (2027) have each thrown well in 20+ inning samples, while Drew Timp (2025; Missouri S&T) did not give up a run during the regular season in 15 ⅔ innings. 

NO. 3 OAKVILLE

Another team that was repeatedly inside our St. Louis area rankings, the Tigers finished the regular season with a 18-10 record, earning the third seed in this District. 

The strength of Oakville has always been their pitching staff and this group has talented depth capable of carrying them through these playoffs. Jack Werkowitch (2025; Lindenwood) continues to throw the ball really well, finishing his senior campaign with a 1.94 ERA in 43 ⅓ innings, punching out 45. Adam Kilburn (2025) has turned the corner on his senior year as well, finishing with 55 strikeouts in 42 ⅓ innings with a 3.47 ERA. CJ Lake (2026) is one of the more talented juniors in the area and he showed that throughout the regular season, punching out 35 in 26 ⅔ innings. Two left-handed juniors, Kaleb Owens (2026) and Aiden Zehnle (2026), each had ERAs under 1.60 in 20+ inning workloads. 

How much the Tigers produce at the plate will ultimately be the determining factor of their season. Lake and Kilburn were the two most productive bats on this club – Lake slashed .389/.426/.621 with three home runs, and 11 doubles, while Kilburn led the way with 22 RBI and a .338/.469/.506 triple-slash. Max Simokaitis (2027) is a talented sophomore that hit .370 as an everyday regular and reached base at a .469 clip. 

NO. 4 JACKSON

The Indians have been one of the more consistent programs in the state over the past few seasons, turning themselves into a perennial winner. They finished the regular season 21-13, winning 12 of their last 13, and are the fourth seed in this District. 

Jackson may be the toughest fourth seed in the state. Cooper Rhodes (2025; Evansville) is a scrappy left-handed hitter that consistently finds the barrel and never makes for an easy out. Peyton Kight (2025; Bradley) has all sorts of upside at the dish with an impact-type right-handed swing. Adler Flinn (2026) and Drew Parsons (2026; SEMO) are two juniors that impact the lineup, and Parsons is also amongst their top arms, with a mid-to-upper-80s fastball that is matched with premium feel to spin. Keegan Brueggeman (2027) and Grant Brown (2027) are a pair of talented sophomores to keep an eye on as well. 

NO. 5 FOX

Fox made a run to this District championship game last season and returned a large majority of that group for an encore in 2025. They finished the regular season with a 15-8 record, earning the fifth seed in this bracket. 

As he’s been for some time now, Ethan Mazzola (2025; Jefferson JC) is the staple of this team on both sides of the ball. The highly physical senior slashed .424/.525/.576 on the year and had a 2.10 ERA in 36 ⅔ innings on the hill, striking out 37 while walking only 10. Lucas Urschler (2025) and Brayden Pizzo (2025) are two seniors that each saw success at the plate as well. Urschler hit .356 and reached base at a .472 clip, walking twice as much (12) as he struck out (5). Pizzo batted .344 with a .500 on-base, driving in 13 runs, and he was a huge contributor on the hill as well, posting a 0.64 ERA in 32 ⅔ innings, striking out 43. Andrew Bendler (2025) is another senior that threw the ball well, pitching to a 1.46 ERA over his 33 ⅔ innings with 48 strikeouts. 

NO. 6 SECKMAN

Seckman won this District last year, but a large chunk of that group was seniors, and this Jaguars’ club enters these playoffs with a 15-14 mark as the sixth seed. Brady Vessells (2025; Jefferson JC) has had a ridiculous offensive season, slashing .471/.574/.828 in 87 at-bats this season with 12 doubles, five home runs, and 28 RBI. Freshman Cory Hilzinger (2028) has been the ace of this staff, handling 52 ⅔ innings with a 1.74 ERA and just 14 walks. Cooper Hoog (2026) has thrown the ball well, hurling 30 ⅓ innings and posting a 2.54 ERA. 

NO. 7 MEHLVILLE

After starting the season 6-6, Mehlville won 12 of their last 13 games to finish the regular season 18-7 as the seventh seed in this District. Jase Mayberry (2026) and Paxson Schnieders (2026) are two juniors that have gotten it done on both sides of the ball all spring for this club. Mayberry is slashing .414/.539/.571 with 11 doubles and 18 RBI while also posting a 3.59 ERA in 25 ⅓ innings. Schnieders led the team with a .424 batting average and drove in a team-high 28 runs with a 1.134 OPS. He also threw the most innings on the team, striking out 46 in his 37 ⅔ innings with a 3.35 ERA. Sam Dollens (2026) and Ryan Maloney (2028) each threw the ball well in 20+ innings for this club, while Culton Thompson (2027) slashed .343/.482/.552 in 67 at-bats. 

NO. 8 CEDAR HILL

The Lions are 6-18 on the season and are the eighth seed in this District. Aidan Amsden (2025) was the top performer for this club with a 1.54 ERA in 27 ⅓ innings on the mound.