What to watch for in Boone County baseball district tournaments
This upcoming week, the seasons are on the line for baseball teams in Columbia and around Boone County.
District tournaments begin May 16 for most teams, with some earning a first-round bye into May 17.
Father Tolton, Southern Boone and Rock Bridge earned top seeds in their upcoming district tournaments.
Here's what to watch for in key teams as districts begin:
Southern Boone Eagles
The Eagles' 8-6 loss to Tolton on Friday may have come at the best time.
Southern Boone had only one loss on the year and had a chance to beat Tolton. Errors and baserunning mistakes sank the Eagles.
The last few games of the regular season, Southern Boone made some mistakes but still came away with a win. That wasn't the case last Friday.
"Those are just mistakes they've got to learn from," Southern Boone coach Brian Ash said. "It's not something you sit there and practice a lot on, because they know what to do. They just didn't do it that time."
It's better to have that kind of game in the regular season as opposed to districts when it matters most. Luckily for the Eagles, they'll have a bye on May 16 and face the winner of Mexico-Fulton on May 17.
That's an extra day of preparation for a Southern Boone team that has shown it can be consistently good as the season wore on.
"The goal is to win it, that's the expectation," Ash said. "You got to be at your sharpest."
Battle Spartans
The Spartans have a young lineup. That lineup has taken some bumps and bruises against a difficult schedule.
Still, entering the final stretch of the season, Battle uncovered a part of the team getting hot at the right time: its pitching.
In four of Battle's last five games, the Spartans have allowed three runs or less. Now, the team just needs to get the ball rolling on the offensive end.
Battle has the pieces to do so in Seth Raye, Raye Kennon and Noah Fuller. The coaching staff is confident that one good game can open the floodgates for more. The first chance the Spartans have is against Blue Springs South.
"They have a good approach, they have good mental attitudes," Assistant coach Bobby Baker said. "We just need the outcomes."
Father Tolton Trailblazers
There may not be a hotter team entering the week than Tolton, which has won eight-straight games and is coming off a resounding win over Southern Boone.
Tolton has a mix of seniors and underclass stars who are coming together at a perfect time.
Lucas Wietholder is a freshman but plays like a senior. His game against Southern Boone has become the norm. However, what makes the team special is how it uses momentum.
Defensive gems from Jacob Hoernschemeyer, Cameron Lee and Wietholder saved runs against the Eagles, and the players used those plays to parlay into the offensive end.
"That electrocutes me," Wietholder said. "It puts me on my high point."
Tolton's first test is North Callaway, a team the 'Blazers beat 17-7 on April 25.
Rock Bridge Bruins
The Bruins were ranked atop Class 6 prior to a game against Hickman and were a stellar 26-4.
That record and standing has been marred by a five-game skid that dropped the Bruins to 27-9.
There's no question Rock Bridge carries some of the most talent in the county, let alone Columbia. The Bruins have multiple seniors who will play college baseball and underclassmen who are earning offers.
It's all about righting the Rock Bridge ship, which the Bruins took a step towards with a 18-3 blowout of a 28-win Willard team.
The Bruins have the tools and the talent. It comes down to putting it together for a run where it matters most.
Hickman Kewpies
The experience behind Hickman was never more evident against Rock Bridge. It allowed the Kewpies to stay centered when the offense wasn't coming consistently against Battle.
That experience, with multiple seniors in its pitching rotation and more upperclassmen in its lineup, is what makes Hickman a dangerous team come districts.
The Kewpies are the No. 2 seed in the Class 6 District 5 tournament, opening against Fort Osage. But, there's an argument they could be the top seed.
Rock Bridge earned that top seed, and it sets the two Columbia rivals up for a potential No. 1 vs. No. 2 rematch on May 19, should the two make it that far.
A reason why Hickman is confident is the experience it carries.
"It's hard to win districts," Kewpies coach Mason Mershon said. "But I think we got ourselves a good chance."
Chris Kwiecinski is the sports editor for the Columbia Daily Tribune, overseeing University of Missouri and Boone County sports coverage. Follow him on Twitter @OchoK_ and contact him at CKwiecinsk@gannett.com or 573-815-1857.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Boone County baseball district tournaments start next week
