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2015 Team Preview: Westminster Wildcats

February 6, 2015

Shon Plack and Jeff Viles
Prep Baseball Report-Missouri

As we prepare for the upcoming 2015 high school season, we will be taking a preseason glimpse at programs from around the state.

Team: Westminster
Nickname: Wildcats
Class: 4A
League: Metro
Head Coach: Rich Van Gilst
Twitter Handle:  NA
2014 Overall Record: 31-5
2014 League Record: 10-0
2014 Post-Season Finish: Missouri Class 4 State Champions
2015 MHSBCA Preseason Rank: 1

Number of Position Players Lost: 7
Number of Pitchers Lost: 3
Number of Returning Starters/Position Players: 1
Number of Returning Starters/Pitchers: 3

TOP RETURNERS (Commit)
Micahael Alldredge, 2B,3B, 2016
Joseph Curtis, OF, 2015
Michael Failoni, RHP/OF, 2015 (Parkland CC)
Nicholas Glanvill, 1B/OF, 2016
Jack Linton, 2B/SS, 2016
Jacob Matheny, C, 2015 (Indiana)
Luke Matheny, RHP, 2015 (Oklahoma State)
Logan McCall, RHP, 2016
Nathan Scott, RHP, 2015
Ben Sems, SS, 2016
Devan (DJ) Stewart, SS, 2017

OUTLOOK
Westminster Christian Academy opens the season as the #1 ranked team in Missouri Class 4, and who could argue.  They have won the state championship the last four seasons, and are looking for an unprecedented fifth straight title in 2015.  Since 2011, Westminster Christian has been recognized as one of the top teams in the state and country.  Coach Van Gilst and the Wildcats have a win-loss record of 120-15-1 over that time span, that is a .882 winning percentage.  However, the Wildcats will have to rely on new cast of players in 2015, losing 10 key players from their past state championship teams.  Westminster will lean on Luke Matheny to lead the way.  Luke showed pitch-ability and command of three pitches at PBR's Super 60, touching 88 with his fastball.  The Oklahoma State commit, was 6-2 as junior with 1.88 ERA, striking out 73 hitters in 48.1 innings pitched.  Younger brother and Indiana recruit will take over the catching role.  Last season, Jacob hit .377 with 19 RBI and a home run.  Behind the plate, he has a pop-time between 1.97 and 2.04 with excellent receiving, blocking and game calling abilities.  Junior 2B/SS Ben Sems will be the lone returning starting position player for the Wildcats.  Sems is a projectable 6-foot 142-pound left-handed hitting middle infielder with a high upside on the infield and at the plate.  Senior RHP Michael Failoni will see increase innings from a year ago.  As a junior, Failoni was 3-1, recording 27 strikeouts in 22.1 innings.  The door is open for players to emerge and help the Wildcats add another banner to their already impressive collection.  Senior OF Joseph Curtis and senior RHP Nathan Scott will help carry on the tradition.  And look for juniors Logan McCall, Nicholas Glanvill and Jack Linton to contribute to the teams success.  The road to a fifth-straight state championship won't be easy.  Missouri Class 4 has talented teams throughout the state.  But those teams know in order to win the state championship, they will have to go through Westminster Christian. 
 

CLICK HERE, to see the MHSBCA Rankings
CLICK HERE, to see the entire list of 2015 Missouri Team Previews

Coaches Preseason Questionnaire

We appreciate all of the help provided by high school coaches across the state assisting with our preseason coverage. If you have not already done so you can fill out our coaches' preseason questionnaire online by CLICKING HERE.

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