Prep Baseball Report

Become a Member

More +

Missouri 5A/6A State Playoffs Recap

June 6, 2022
By: Diego Solares
Area Scout, Illinois & Missouri

Our staff took in the Class 5 and Class 6 state playoffs this past weekend. Read below for a quick recap of all the action, and who took home their respective state championships.

FRIDAY: SEMIFINALS

FESTUS 4, WILLARD 3

Friday’s first Class 5 game made for a thrilling extra-innings matchup between the red-hot Festus Tigers and Willard, the reigning Class 5 state champions. Both teams pushed runs across in their respective halves of the first inning, as Willard plated a pair on a two-run single by Owen Bushnell (2023). Festus answered with two runs of their own, capitalizing on a dropped third strike to score a run and tying the game on a sacrifice fly by C Tyler Bizzle (2023). 

Both teams scored a run apiece in the third inning as well. Junior Kyden McMain (2023) pushed a ground ball through the six-hole to plate a run for Willard, while Festus scored a run on a sacrifice fly by Nate Moore (2023). 

The 3-3 tie would hold for the next four innings, largely due to the pitching contributions each team received from their respective arms. LHP Kade Bieler (Willard, 2023; Drury) entered the game in relief and escaped a key jam for Willard, while Moore blanked Willard’s offense through 2 ⅔ innings that would ultimately propel Festus to victory. Festus started the bottom half of the eighth inning with a leadoff walk, before Bieler recorded two quick outs and titled momentum into Willard’s favor. Festus would draw two more walks before Connor McDonald stepped to the plate and worked a walk-off win, sending the Tigers to the Class 5 championship. 

NOTABLE PERFORMERS:
+ Hayden Bates (Festus): 3-for-3, BB, 2 RS
+ Mason Schirmer (Festus): 2-for-3, BB, 5 ⅓ IP, 5 K, 3 BB, 3 H, 2 ER
+ Jackson Gross (Festus): 1-for-3, RS, BB
+ Nate Moore (Festus): 2 ⅔, 3 K, 0 ER
+ Owen Bushnell (Willard): 1-for-4, 2 RBI
+ Cooper Wilken (Willard): 4 ⅓ IP, 6 H, ER, 6 K, 2 BB
+ Kade Bieler (Willard): 3 ⅓ IP, 2 H, ER, 7 K, 4 BB

PLATTE COUNTY 5, FORT ZUMWALT East 3 

The second Class 5 semifinal on Friday pitted Platte County, a team that entered state play with 25 wins, and the Fort Zumwalt East Lions, who made their first appearance at Ozark in program history this past weekend. 

Fort Zumwalt East struck first, pushing two runs across in the game’s first frame on two loud base hits by INF Eric Williams (2024) and C Jackson Penn (2023). That lead didn’t hold long, however, as Platte County scored three runs in the bottom half of the second, plating two on a single to left field by C Jacob Knudsen (2022) and taking the lead on a fielder’s choice by INF Dayne Wimberly (2023). 

The Lions tied things up in the third following a leadoff walk by Alex Huebner, who later came around to score on an RBI single from OF Parker Davis (2022; Lewis & Clark CC). Knudsen struck again in the third, plating a pair for the Pirates on an opposite field knock to give Platte County a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. 

Both sides were held quiet for the remainder of the game, which is a testament to the quality of pitching received from both teams. LHP Lukas McGill (Fort Zumwalt East, 2023) settled in nicely for the Lions after a rough start, and RHP Landon Fulk (Platte County, 2022; Johnson County CC) impressed for the Pirates in an eventual win. Fulk punched out six over 4 ⅔ frames, scattering four hits and allowing only one run to cross home with him on the mound. 

Fort Zumwalt East threatened a handful of times throughout the game, but the Pirates escaped unscathed and punched their ticket to the 5A state championship. 

NOTABLE PERFORMERS:
+ Dylan Robertson (Platte County): 2-for-3, 2 RS, 2B
+ Nick Baker (Platte County): 1-for-2, BB, 2 RS
+ Jacob Knudsen (Platte County): 2-for-3 4 RBI
+ Landon Fulk (Platte County): 4 ⅔ IP, 4 H, ER, 6 K, 3 BB
+ Jackson Carter (Fort Zumwalt East): 2-for-4, 2B, 2 RS
+ Parker Davis (Fort Zumwalt East): 2-for-3, RBI
+ Jackson Penn (Fort Zumwalt East): 2-for-3, RBI
+ Eric Williams (Fort Zumwalt East): 1-for-3, 2B, RBI, RS, BB

BLUE SPRINGS SOUTH 2, LINDBERGH 0 

Blue Springs South and Lindbergh battled in a tight-knit contest in the 6A semifinals, with the Jaguars scraping their way to victory over a potent Lindbergh squad. It was the Jaguars who broke through on the scoreboard first on a double from INF Diego Rodriguez (2023). 

They scored the game’s only other run in the fifth inning with two outs when OF Jordan Austin (2022; Missouri) squeaked a single into right field to add an insurance run. That was all the offense that Blue Springs South needed, as RHP Trenton Roehler (2023; Missouri) navigated through the Flyers’ lineup precisely. He scattered two hits through 6 ⅔ scoreless innings, punching out seven and walking only two. 

Roehler turned the ball over to senior RHP John Chambers (2022; Johnson County CC) for the final out, inducing a game-ending flyout to push the Jaguars into Saturday’s 6A state championship. Despite the loss, the performance of LHP Dane Bjorn (2023; Tennessee) for Lindbergh shouldn’t go unnoticed. Bjorn went the distance for the Flyers, punching out 11 and allowing only an earned run against Blue Springs South’s potent offense. He continues to assert himself as one of the Midwest’s top 2023 prospects on the mound. 

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
+ Trenton Roehler (Blue Springs South): 6 1/3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 7 K, 2 BB
+ Grant Hollister (Blue Springs South): 2-for-3, 2B
+ Jordan Austin (Blue Springs South): 1-for-2, RBI, RS, BB
+ Diego Rodriguez (Blue Springs South): 1-for-3, 2B, RBI
+ Dane Bjorn (Lindbergh): 7 IP, 6 H, ER, 11 K, BB

LIBERTY NORTH 4, FRANCIS HOWELL 3 

This 6A semifinal matchup featured two absolute powerhouse programs opposing each other and certainly lived up to the hype, going 10 innings deep until Liberty North extended their season of destiny with another walk-off win. 

The Eagles scored first on an RBI double by RHP Tate McGuire (2023; Arkansas) in the first inning. Francis Howell with their only three runs of the game over the next two frames, plating a run on a sacrifice fly by 3B Brady Hultman (2023) and adding two more on a towering blast by INF Jake McCutcheon (2022; Missouri State) in the third. 

Liberty North tied things up in the fourth when CIF Jeffrey Cisneros (2022) came off the bench and delivered a clutch two-run single. A six-inning stalemate would keep the game tied up at 3-3, with both sides getting plenty of work from their run prevention units. RHP Jackson Downing (2023; Arkansas State) provided Liberty North with three excellent innings in relief, limiting Francis Howell to only one hit in that span. LHP Brysen Nepute (2023) tossed a quality start for the Vikings, holding arguably the state’s most dangerous lineup to only three runs across six innings of work. 

Defense was on complete display in extra innings with both sides flashing the leather. INF Tytus Cissell (2024; Missouri) saved the game for Francis Howell by fully extending for a gliding grab in the eighth. INF Trey Snyder (Liberty North, 2024; Tennessee) matched him in the ninth by ranging to his backside and firing an absolute strike to first for an out, only to be outdone by OF Leo Humbert (Francis Howell, 2025) cutting down Liberty North’s game-winning run in the bottom half of the frame. 

INF/RHP Ty Wisdom (2023; Kansas) capped four scoreless innings in relief with three quick outs in the 10th, setting up an eventual walk-off win for Liberty North. The Eagles’ potent offense could only be held off the scoreboard for so long, as Downing and Landon McGinnis (2022) started the inning with back-to-back singles. A walk loaded the bases with nobody out and sent OF Jack LeMasters (2023) to the plate, who worked another free pass and secured Liberty North a spot in the state championship. 

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
+ Tate McGuire (Liberty North): 3-for-4, 2 2B, RBI, BB
+ Jackson Downing (Liberty North): 2-for-5, 2 RS, 2B; 3 IP, H, 0 R, K, BB
+ Landon McGinnis (Liberty North): 2-for-5, RS,
+ Ty Wisdom (Liberty North): 2-for-4, BB; 4 IP, 4 H, 0 R, K, BB, W
+ Bo Jonas (Liberty North): 1-for-3, 2B, 2 BB
+ Jake McCutcheon (Francis Howell): 3-for-5, HR, 2B, 2 RBI, RS
+ Leo Humbert (Francis Howell): 2-for-5 3B, RS
+ Brysen Nepute (Francis Howell): 6 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, K, 3 BB; 2-for-5

SATURDAY: CHAMPIONSHIPS

PLATTE COUNTY 6, FESTUS 1 

The season’s final game pitted Platte County and Festus against each other, with the Pirates up-ending the Tigers en route to the Class 5 state title. 

Senior Jacob Knudsen (2022) carried momentum from Friday into this championship contest, getting Platte County on the board by driving the game’s first run in the fourth inning. Things held at 1-0 until the sixth, when Jordan Hedrick came off the bench and delivered a two-run knock to add to the Pirates’ lead. 

A sacrifice fly by Nick Baker (2023) and an error scored three more runs for Platte County in the top of the seventh inning. The Tigers did score a run in the bottom of the seventh, but Aiden Norris rallied through to secure the Platte County program a championship win. 

 

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
+ Sawyer Allen (Platte County): 4 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 9 K
+ Aiden Norris (Platte County): 3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 K
+ Nick Baker (Platte County): 1-for-4, 3B, 2 RS, RBI
+ Mason Schirmer (Festus): 2-for-3, RS
+ Nate Moore (Festus): 5 ⅓ IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 6 K

LIBERTY NORTH 11, BLUE SPRINGS SOUTH 5 

The Class 6 state championship featured plenty of offense, with both teams combining for 16 runs on 19 hits. It was Liberty North who ultimately came out on top, as the Eagles concluded a magical season by taking home the program’s first ever state championship. 

It was a loud start for Liberty North as they scored 10 runs in the first four innings. Landon McGinnis started a five-run second inning with an RBI double to right field, and Liberty North added two more runs on back-to-back bases-loaded free passes. INF Ty Wisdom (2023; Kansas) pushed a two-run single through the infield, giving the Eagles’ an early 5-0 lead. 

INF Diego Rodriguez (2023) added a run for Blue Springs South in the third, but the Eagles responded with three runs in their half of the inning, aided by back-to-back RBI doubles by RHP Jackson Downing (2023; Arkansas State) and Landon McGinnis. INF Collin Dobson (2024) added a run for Blue Springs South in the fourth, but Liberty North answered again with two more runs in the inning’s bottom half. 

The Jaguars didn’t go down without a fight, starting the fifth inning out with a two-run triple by 3B Grant Hollister (Blue Springs South, 2024), who came around to score later in the inning on a wild pitch. Liberty North’s early offensive outburst was too much for Blue Springs South to overcome, however. Zach DeFreece threw two scoreless innings in relief for the Eagles, as Liberty North held on to win 11-5 and, as a result, secured their first ever Class 6 state championship. 

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
+ Landon McGinnis (Liberty North): 2-for-3, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 RS
+ Jackson Downing (Liberty North): 3-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 RS
+ Frankie Palma (Liberty North): 2-for-4, 2B, RBI, RS
+ Ty Wisdom (Liberty North): 2-for-4, 2 RBI, RS
+ Trey Snyder (Liberty North): 1-for-4, RS, RBI
+ Zach DeFreece (Liberty North): 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB
+ Grant Hollister (Blue Springs South): 1-for-4, 3B, 2 RBI
+ Diego Rodriguez (Blue Springs South): 1-for-1, RBI, 2 BB

RELATED CONTENT