The Missouri Class 5 quarterfinals begin on Saturday, May 27th, with these eight teams competing for their chance at capturing high school baseball's most coveted prize.

Learn everything about this year's field, including top performers, program history, and standout prospects, below.

CLAYTON

The Greyhounds rattled off three convincing wins to find themselves in these quarterfinals, outscoring their opponents 38-1, with wins over Riverview Gardens, St Mary’s (St. Louis), and McCluer North in the title game. Offensively, Clayton’s seen noteworthy performances from a few names, as Ben Brown (2023), Tommy Filarski (2023), Adam Gallegos (2024), Nathan Sandler (2023), and Adam Turner (2025), all have OPS north of .800 in 80+ at-bats.

Filarski also leads Clayton on the mound with a 5-2 record and 2.78 ERA over 50 ⅓ innings, including two complete games. The Greyhounds will draw Festus on Saturday at 12:00 PM with a ‘Final Four’ appearance on the line.

FESTUS

Festus has now reached the state quarterfinals in three consecutive seasons, including a runner-up finish last year. They blanked their opponents over their final two District games and allowed just two runs in total, while scoring 20, defeating Farmington, North County, and Windsor (Imperial) on their way to a quarterfinal berth.

Junior slugger Hayden Bates (2024) headlined the Tigers’ offense, slashing .440/.557/.769 on the year with six home runs and 37 RBIs. Sophomores Brady Nolen (2025) and Mason Schirmer (2025; Missouri) are each having strong offensive seasons, with Nolen posting a 1.022 OPS on the year, and chipping in 11 stolen bases, too. Schirmer and senior Tyler Bizzle (2023; Missouri S&T) have each been stable run producers for the Tigers, combining for 63 RBIs between the two of them. Schirmer also leads the way on the mound, punching out 71 batters over 45 ⅔ innings of work with a 1.07 ERA and .131 batting average against. Brayden Montgomery (2023) and Nate Moore (2023) have each logged 30+ innings on the mound with ERAs under 1.50.

Festus will play Clayton at 12:00 PM on Saturday.

FORT ZUMWALT SOUTH

The Bulldogs were one of the top teams in Class 5 all season, with three different six-plus game win streaks under their belt and a 26-6-1 record in total. They navigated their way through a tough district, taking down St. Charles, Holt, and St. Dominic en route to their spot in these state quarterfinals. Fort Zumwalt South will play Rockwood Summit at 12:00 PM on Saturday for a spot in the ‘Final Four’.

As a collective, the Bulldogs’ offense is a deep one that’s capable of doing damage across multiple spots in the lineup. Jacob Reynolds (2024), Evan Fulhorst (2024), and Jacksen Tankersley (2024) are all batting over .370 in 100+ plate appearances. Fulhorst’s 31 RBIs lead the Bulldogs, while Reynolds and Tankersley each have 20+ RBIs in their own regard. Carter Cox (2024) is another junior that’s getting it done offensively, batting .345 with an .861 OPS, and Connor Mendell (2024) has four home runs with a .295/.379/.557 slash. Carter Adkins (2024) and Holden Karl (2023) are each having strong seasons, deepening this lineup even moreso.

Connor Henke (2024) is the anchor of this Fort Zumwalt South pitching staff, tossing 48 ⅔ innings with a .58 ERA and 59 strikeouts. He, and the aforementioned Cox, makeup a dynamic one-two punch, with Cox punching out 79 batters over a 47 ⅔ inning workload, posting a 2.20 ERA and 5-0 record. Gavin Reidel (2023) and Fulhorst are two more quality arms with experience that add talent to this rotation.

GLENDALE

Glendale’s path here wasn’t easy, as a late rally to a win over Camdenton put them into their District championship, where they took down Willard, who’s perennially been one of the top teams in Class 5. This Glendale squad is loaded with talent, spending a large chunk of the season inside our ‘Large School’ top 10, and they’ll play Saturday at 2:00 PM with a spot in Ozark on the line.

There isn’t an easy out in this lineup from top to bottom, starting at the top with senior Brooks Kettering (2023; Southeast Missouri State), who’s the spark plug for this offense. DJ Cofield (2023) hits in the two-hole and can really run, while Sebastian Norman (2025; Oklahoma State) and Mark Ross II (2024; Central Arkansas) are two right-handed thumpers capable of doing damage that are nestled directly into the middle of this lineup. Deepening this group are Carter Lewis (2023; Drury), Camren Stratton (2024), Alex Rankin (2024), and Kellen Lindstrom (2024), all of whom can do damage in any given at-bat.

On the mound, Kaleb Julian (2024), Drew Wedgeworth (2024), and Spencer Pottebaum (2023; East Central College) are the main three arms that’ll toe the rubber for Glendale. Kettering, Ross II, and Lindstrom have all seen innings this spring, too.

KEARNEY

Kearney’s offense is red hot, as the Bulldogs swatted their way to a District Championship, scoring 38 total runs while allowing only two. They haven’t lost in the month of May yet, entering a quarterfinal matchup against Webb City on Saturday with a 24-9 record.

This Kearney lineup is capable of doing damage from top to bottom, with names like Jackson Helberg (2024), Manny Linthacum (2024), and Chase Porter (2025; Louisville) producing plenty of offense from the top. Kale Conway (2023; State Fair CC) has accounted for a large chunk of this team’s RBIs, and Carson Shear (2024), Casey Rooney (2024), and Carter Prather (2023) have all contributed to Kearney’s run production throughout the spring.

Elijah Helberg (2025) has really elevated his status on the mound this spring, anchoring this Kearney pitching staff in his sophomore campaign. Cameron Webster (2024), Braxton Page (2023), Bryson Morrison (2024), and Linthacum are all names that have seen success on the hill this spring as well.

ROCKWOOD SUMMIT

The Falcons battled their way to the District 3 championship, taking down top-seeded Parkway Central 3-2 with some late game heroics. They’re 17-14 on the season and will square up against Fort Zumwalt South in Saturday’s quarterfinal matchup at 12:00 PM.

Luke Tanner (2023) leads the Falcons’ offense with a .386/.534/.602 triple-slash, doubling 11 times and driving in a team-high 23 runs. Logan Darnell (2024) is another name that’s having a productive year, batting .366 and reaching base at a .480 clip, while Jackson Miller (2025), Wyatt Schneider (2026), and Jayson Shorb (2023; Missouri Western) are all batting over .300 in 100+ plate appearances.

Darnell has been the anchor for the Falcons on the mound, logging a 2.32 ERA over 48 ⅓ innings of work with 48 strikeouts to pair. Shorb and Schneider have both pitched over 38 innings with ERAs under the 2.50 mark, respectively.

ST. FRANCIS BORGIA

A late rally in their District championship game against Washington put the Knights in these quarterfinals, continuing yet another successful season by this Borgia program. Aside from that win, the Knights took down Union and Capital City en route to these quarterfinals, and will enter Saturday’s game against Glendale at 23-5 overall.

Leading Borgia is Jack Nobe (2024; Xavier), as the Knights’ two-way star has paced them on both sides of the ball all spring. Offensively, he’s slashing .394/.459/.667 with six home runs and 27 RBIs, while also punching out 86 over 52 ⅔ innings on the hill with a 1.33 ERA. Tanner McPherson (2023) is another physical middle of the order bat for Borgia, batting .402 on the year with a 1.005 OPS and 19 RBIs. Reagan Kandlbinder (2024), Drew Eckhoff (2025), Justin Mort (2024), and Kabren Koelling (2023; East Central College) are all key contributors to this offense.

Aside from Nobe, Kandlbinder and Caden Carroll (2024) have each seen plenty of success on the hill for the Knights. In 34 ⅔ innings, Kandlbinder has pitched to a 1.01 ERA, striking out 38 with a 1.18 WHIP to boot. Carroll’s tossed 49 ⅔ frames and he’s held opponents to a .143 batting average against, pitching to a 1.27 ERA and a perfect 8-0 record.

WEBB CITY

Back to back appearances in the state quarterfinals for the Cardinals, who grinded their way to consecutive District titles. This year, they walked Belton off in the semi-final and blanked top-seeded McDonald County 2-0 in the title game to secure their crown.

Leading the Cardinals on both ends of the ball are MIF Cy Darnell (2023; Missouri Southern) and RHP Kaylor Darnell (2023; Missouri Southern), who were also key contributors to last year’s squad. Sam Weller (2024), Shaun Hunt (2024), and Drew Vonder Haar (2024) are all top of the lineup names for this squad, while others like Christian Brock (2024), Kenley Hood (2023), and William Hayes (2023) all deepen this lineup.

On Saturday, Webb City will draw Kearney in a 2:00 PM matchup.

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