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. 

To read our Class 6, District 1 preview, click HERE. To read our Class 6, District 2 preview, click HERE. 

Below you will learn more about one of the deeper groups in Class 6, District 3

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NO. 1 SLUH

The Jr. Billikens spent a majority of the season inside our St. Louis area school rankings, finishing 21-9-1 as the top seed in this District. They’re a young, though talented, group with impact type names throughout the roster.

We’ll start on the mound, where SLUH’s strengths are most evident. They host a deep stable of arms that makes up one of the area’s top pitching staffs. Brady Nolan (2026) led the way with 45 innings and was highly effective in that workload, pitching to a 2.02 ERA with 41 punchouts and just 13 walks. James Baudendistel (2026) was excellent over his 33 innings on the hill, surrendering nine earned runs (1.91 ERA) with 31 punchouts and nine walks. Michael Strong (2026) owns a mid/upper-80s fastball and sharp slider that helped him pitch to a 2.57 ERA in 32 ⅔ innings on the hill. James Unwin (2025; Dennison) is the most experienced arm on this club, as a physical right-handed senior that struck out 30 in 24 ⅔ innings to a 1.99 ERA. Then there’s star sophomore Cole Chambers (2027), an electric arm that worked exclusively out of the ‘pen in a shutdown role, excelling in that regard – 0.30 ERA over 23 ⅔ innings, 28 strikeouts, three walks. 

Turning to the plate, Chambers was also one of this team’s best bats, batting .379 with a .538 on-base percentage, walking four times (20) as much as he struck out (5) and swiping 22 bags as well. Logan Studer (2026) enjoyed a successful junior year, batting .424 with a 1.111 OPS, doubling 10 times and driving in 18 runs. Jack Friedman (2026) led the Jr. Bills with 22 RBI, as he hit .330 with five doubles. Tyler Rasch (2027), Steven Baudendistel (2025), and Robby Cox (2026) are three other names to know in this lineup that had productive regular seasons. 

NO. 2 CBC

CBC’s 15-13 record may not jump out, but the Cadets don’t have a shortage of talent throughout this roster and played a plenty challenging regular season schedule. They’ll start these playoffs with a matchup against Hazelwood Central, the seventh seed. 

Two underclassmen were the most productive bats for CBC this spring in Corde Gage (2027) and Brady Rallo (2028). Cage, who’s also an excellent football player, slashed .339/.438/.532 with seven extra-base hits, 11 RBI, and he went 20-for-23 on stolen base attempts. One of the area’s top freshmen, Rallo is a premium left-handed hitter whose talents were on full display throughout the season. He put together a .362/.493/.534 triple-slash in 58 at-bats, driving in a team-high 20 runs with more walks (11) than strikeouts (7) in his first season of high school ball. GT Taylor (2026; Kansas) is a high-octane bat that’s capable of doing damage in any given at-bat, and Anthony Tocco (2025; Rockhurst) is an impact runner whose speed can impact a game in multiple ways. One name of note is Kale Price (2026), a left-handed hitting junior that hit .371 with a .542 on-base in a limited 35 at-bat sample. 

Michael Sievers (2025) was the ace of this staff last spring and turned in a similarly strong performance in his senior season, posting a 2.24 ERA in 34 ⅓ innings of work. Another senior, Ryker Williams (2026), threw the second most innings for this club, hurling 32 frames with just five walks and a 3.28 ERA. George Shaw (2025) is a 6-foot-4, 195-pound southpaw that makes for a tough look in any at-bat and was effective in nine appearances out of the ‘pen, allowing three runs in 15 ⅔ innings. Daniel Bergner (2026) is another unconventional left-handed arm that works from a tough arm angle, punching out 25 and walking only seven in his 16 innings. Then there’s Grant Mehrhoff (2026; Louisville), a power-armed southpaw with an upper-80s to low-90s fastball that can be a weapon when he’s in the zone. 

NO. 3 FRANCIS HOWELL NORTH

This Knights’ group was rolling at one point in the middle of the season, but they hit a rough patch and finished the season with a sub-.500 record. Still, Francis Howell North is more than deserving of being the third seed in this district, and the one-two punch they have at the top of their pitching staff is going to make them a dangerous opponent in any matchup. 

That aforementioned duo is made up of Mason Stover (2025; Missouri Southern) and Carson Howard (2026). Stover was straight-up dominant throughout this season, striking out 71 while issuing just 11 walks in 41 ⅔ innings to a 1.18 ERA. Howard handled the most innings on this staff, hurling 42 ⅓ innings with a 2.31 ERA and 49 strikeouts. If the Knights are able to pitch off in their first round matchup and save both of those arms for the remainder of District play, they’ll be in pretty good shape. 

Sticking on the mound, Carter Singler () has had a strong year on the hill, tossing to a 3.29 ERA in 27 ⅔ innings of work. Landon Stirrett () allowed just five earned runs – 1.94 ERA – in 18 innings, making one start with six appearances out of the ‘pen. At the plate, Stover and Howard were also the propelling forces of the Knights’ offense. The former hit .301 with a .890 OPS, homering three times with five doubles, while the latter slashed .337/.447/.535 with 11 doubles, two home runs, and 16 RBI. Senior Will Gorski (2025) is another key bat to know, driving in 17 runs while hitting .329 on the year. 

NO. 4 DESMET JESUIT

We tabbed the Spartans as one of the area’s top teams in the preseason and, after stumbling out the game to a 3-11 start, they finished the season with a 10-5 record while playing a challenging schedule. The Spartans enter these playoffs with three straight wins – beating Seckman, Webster Groves, and Rockwood Summit – and are the fifth seed in this district. 

This Spartans’ offense runs through Charlie Wortham (2025; Mississippi State), who’s amongst the area’s most talented right-handed bats. He finished his senior season with a .333 batting average and 1.237 OPS, doubling 12 times with four home runs and a team-high 25 RBI. Another talented senior that hits towards the top of this lineup is Caynen Patterson (2025; SEMO), who’s hitting .315 with seven extra-base hits. Landon Edmonds (2025; Snead State CC) has had a strong season as well, turning in a .317 batting average with eight stolen bases. 

DeSmet has a handful of arms that have thrown the ball well throughout the spring. A sophomore, Brandon Ott (2027), has settled into the role of staff ace, as he pitched to a 2.58 ERA in 35 ⅓ innings, striking out 34 and walking just 11. Noah Cunningham (2025; Missouri S&T) has thrown the ball well in a hybrid starter/reliever role, posting a 1.06 ERA across his 33 innings, striking out 36. Brayden Wakula (2025) has a 2.57 ERA in 32 ⅔ innings and Michael Schmidt (2025) has been excellent out of the ‘pen, issuing just five walks over 30 ⅔ innings with a 1.14 ERA. 

NO. 5 PATTONVILLE

Pattonville finished the regular season with a 14-13 record, earning the fifth seed in this district and a matchup with DeSmet Jesuit in round one. 

The Pirates do have a shutdown type arm in Mason Lee (2025; Bradley). The left-hander struck out 49 and walked just 13 in 33 ⅔ innings, good for a 1.25 ERA. He was also one of this team’s top bats, finishing with a .301 batting average and .469 on-base. Nate Friedrich (2025) also threw the ball well for Pattonville, pitching to a 1.81 ERA in 31 innings on the hill. Jace Robinson (2026) hit .362 with a .989 OPS, while both Bryion Fips (2026) and Adam Reddy (2025) had strong seasons at the plate. 

The final three seeds in this District are Hazelwood West (8-16), Hazelwood Central (11-3), and Ritenour (2-15).