Through all the ups and downs this season, No. 1 SLUH has re-emerged as a contender in Class 4, winning the District 10 championship over Ladue 3-2. SLUH has dominated this class over the past two decades, and has a new energy entering sectional play. 

SLUH RHP Brian Howard (No. 2 in the Class of 2012) had his best outing of the season, scattering five hits and striking out nine in the complete game effort.

DH Mitch Klug and CF Michael Potter led the SLUH offense, each with two hits and an RBI.

Game Notes:

• Brian Howard sat 85-88 throughout the game, topping out at 89 mph, with some late arm side run. This is the best Howard has looked all season, and should carry over through the rest of the post season and into the summer. His breaking ball was sharp, with hard late movement (65-67) and thrown in all counts. Howard effectively used his change up (72-74) to set up hitters, a pitch he has developed into a legitimate out pitch.

 

• Juniors scored all three runs for SLUH. Pinch runner Joey Fisher led the scoring off, crossing the plate on a squeeze bunt by CF Michael Potter, just under the tag of Ladue C Turner Miller. SS Matt Binz would come around to score after reaching on a fielder’s choice groundout, and scoring on a squeeze bunt by 2B LJ Hernandez. CF Potter was driven in on a double by Mitch Klug, giving SLUH all the offense they would need. All three runs were scored in the second inning.

 

• SLUH won the Class 4, District 10 championship for the twenty-third consecutive year.

 

• In the losing effort, RHP Rob Ewald was effective in relief, striking out six and allowing one hit in four innings. He threw a heavy 83-85 mph fastball and a hard slider that was nearly unhittable, an effective out pitch.