Shon Plack
Missouri Scouting Director

The number three most read article in 2016 was the 2016 Midwest Classic Preview.  The Preview was running coverage of the Classic that updated each day and turned into a re-cap.  Scores and top performers for the days games were added to the Preview. Rockwood Summit took home the championship.

Here is a look back at the article that ran on April 3.

#3 2016 Midwest Classic Recap

Sun April 3, 2016

Shon Plack
Missouri Scouting Director

The 20th Annual Midwest Classic will get underway on Monday, March 28.  The last three winners of the Midwest Class have appeared in the Class 5 state championship game with Christian Brothers winning both last season.  Francis Howell has won three of the last five Midwest Classic Tournaments.

The 2016 edition of the Midwest Classic will feature six teams ranked in the MSHBCA Rankings and have key early season match-ups against some top teams in Missouri.  The championship game is schedule for Saturday, April 2 at 4 pm at Francis Howell in St. Charles, MO.

Here is a look at the 2016 Midwest Classic

CLICK HERE, for the Official Midwest Classic website.

Midwest Classic All Tournament Team
Offensive MVP: Connor Quick, Rockwood Summit, 2016
Defensive MVP: Dakota Solomon, Hickman, 2016

All Tournament Players
Coltyn Kessler, Rockwood Summit, 2017
Alex Strickland, Rockwood Summit, 2017
Reid Wilson, Hickman, 2017
Luke Mann, Vianney, 2018
Tommy Kraus, Vianney, 2017
Dusty Stroup, Lee's Summit West, 2016
Ben McClain, Lee's Summit West, 2017
Danny Wright, Fort Zumwalt West, 2016
Luke Kahle, Francis Howell, 2016
Dennis Yingling, Lindbergh, 2017

Monday, March 28
Francis Howell 14, Jackson 4
Francis Howell scored seven runs in the first inning and cruised to a 14-4 win over Jackson to improve to 4-1 on season. Howell's Luke Kahle (2016) and Zack Hunsicker were each 3-for-3 on the day. Kahle drove in three runs an Hunsicker drove in two and scored three.  Justin Perkins (2016) earned the win, working five-plus innings, fanning seven hitters.  He allowed five walks and four runs on three hits.  Tyler Knight (2017) doubled and drove in three runs during a second inning rally for Jackson to make the score 7-4.  But that is as close as the Indians would get as they fall to 6-2 on the season.

Francis Howell Central 4, Christian Brothers 3
Francis Howell Central got a pair of hits from Jackson Berck (2018), Josh Miller (2016) and Brenden Bratsch (2016) to earn a 4-3 win over Christian Brothers.  Berck was 2-for-2 with a double, RBI and a run scored to lead the Spartans. Lorenzo DeBrecht drove in two runs for CBC.  Kaleb Cissell earned the win for the Spartans, while Tim Ewald (2018) picked up five strikeouts in two innings of work for FH Central. Drew Hanson (2016) was tagged with the loss for the Cadets. Francis Howell Central moves to 4-0 on the season, and CBC falls to 3-3. 

Francis Howell North 3, DeSmet 2 
Francis Howell North remains unbeaten on the season with a 3-2 win over DeSmet in nine innings. Jake Kalusniak went 3-for-5 for the Knights in the win.

Jackson 4, Fort Zumwalt South 2 
The Indians bounced back in game two, to earn a 4-2 win over Fort Zumwalt South.  Gavon Turner (2016) went the distance for the Indians.  He struck out nine and allowed one walk.  He surrendered just two runs on eight hits.  Turner also doubled and drove in a run for the Indians. 

Tuesday, March 29
Vianney 6, Farmington 3
Andrew Keck (2017) led the charge for Vianney going 2-for-3 with an RBI to give Vianney a 6-3 win over Farmington.  Chris Cornelius (2016), Austin Tapella (2016) and Luke Mann (2018) all doubled in the win, as Jack Eppy (2016)  went 2 1/3 innings for the win on the mound. Brayden Krause and Brayden Moon each collected two hits for Farmington. 

Hickman 9 at Francis Howell Central 7
Francis Howell Central got three RBI and a double out of Mitch Hantack (2017) but it wasn't enough as Francis Howell Central fell to Hickman 9-7. Hickman jumped out to an early 3-0 lead and never looked back, improving to 4-1 on the season. 
 
Francis Howell 16,  Westminster 6
The Vikings rallied for seven runs in the fourth inning to claim a 16-6 win over Westminster.  Kyle Grantham (2017) had a big day for Howell, going 4-for-4 with a double three RBI and three runs scored.  Chase Beiter (2016), Luke Kahle (2016) and Justin Perkins each had multiple hit games.  Braydon Cook (2016) went four innings to earn the win. 

Lindbergh 6, Francis Howell North 0
In a battle of undefeated teams, Linbergh eaned the 6-0 victory on the back of LHP Dennis Yingling (2017) who tossed a no-hitter with seven strikeouts and two walks. The Flyers pouned out 13 hits, led by Jon Halstead and Danny Dobbs who each turned in a three-hit performance. 

Fort Zumwalt West 9,  Farmington 1
Fort Zumwalt West scored five runs in the second inning to claim a 9-1 win over Farmington.  Tyler Eckman (2017) went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored.  Parker Boelling (2016) and Michael Cessna (2017) each drove in two runs and Jake Verschoore when five innings on the mound to earn the win.  Verschoore struck out six, walked three and allowed just one hit. Brandt Busenbark doubled for Farmington's only hit. 

Rockwood Summit 8, Hickman 5
Gio Toscano (2016) allowed two hits, struck out eight and walked three in no runs in 3.2 inning for Rockwood Summit.  Connor Quick (2016) went 3-for-5 to lead the offensive charge for the Falcons. Alec Strickland (2017) and Andrew Bujnak (2016) each had multiple hits, while Jaxon Passino (2017) went 1-for-3 with a pair of walks and two runs scored in the 8-5 win over Hickman.

Wednesday, March 30
Westminster 8, Fort Zumwalt South 2
Westminster cranked out 12 hits in an 8-2 win over Fort Zumwalt South.  Logan Sells (2017) hit a pair of doubles and Jacob Matheny (2016) went 3-for-5 on the day.  Ben Sems (2016) drove in three runs and went six innings on the mound to earn the win.  Justin Lockwood (2016) went 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI for Fort Zumwalt South.

Rockwood Summit 1, Christian Brothers 0
Adnrew Bujnak (2016) doubled in the seventh inning and scored on a Conor Dryer (2017) sacrifice fly to beat CBC in walk off fashion.  Both starting pitchers went the distance. Drake Salsman (2016) struck out four, walked one and allowed one run on four hits for CBC, while Alec Strickland (2017) gave up just two hits with no walks and four strikes to earn the win. 

Thursday, March 31
Vianney 4,  Blue Springs South 1
Luke Mann (2018) went six innings allowing just one run on seven hits to give Vianney the 4-1 win over Blue Springs South.  Jack Eppy (2016), Austin Tapella (2016) and Mann each had to hits for the Griffins. Tyler Pittman (2016) doubled and singled in the loss for the Jaguars. 

Lee's Summit West 6, DeSmet 5

Fort Zumwalt West 9,  Blue Springs South 4
Joseph Boyle (2017) struck out eight, walked three and allowed three earned runs on four hits to earn the win for Fort Zumwalt West.  Parker Boelling (2016), Ben Dobson (2016) and Tyler Eckman (2017) each had two hits in the win. 

Lee's Summit West 9 vs. Lindbergh 8
The Titans won in comeback fashion over Lindbergh taking the lead with a three-run sixth inning.  Tyler James (2016) singled, doubled and drove in three, while Jacob Katzfey (2016) went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs and two RBI to lead Lee's Summit West. Zeb Roos (2017) was 3-for-3 with a triple and three RBI for the Flyers.  Sam Breshears earned the win for the Titans, stranding the tying run at third base in the seventh inning. 

Friday, April 1
Lee's Summit West 6,  Francis Howell 0
Dusty Stroup (2016) tossed a complete game shut-out to earn the win for Lee's Summit West.  He struck out six, walked one and allowed just one hit, while going 2-for-4 at the plate with a pair of RBI.  Ben McClain (2017) was 2-for-3 with a double and scored two runs.  Harrison Schnurbusch was 1-for-3 and scored a pair of runs.

Rockwood Summit 9, Jackson 1
Rockwood Summit broke open a 2-1 lead in the fifth with seven runs to earn a 9-1 win over Jackson. Jimmy Schork (2018) allowed just one run on one hit while striking out 11 and walking two to earn the victory.  Connor Quick (2016) drove in three runs and Alec Strickland (2017) went 3-for-3 for the Falcons.  Coltyn Kessler added a 2-for-3 performance for Summit.  Ryan Mize doubled  and Tyler Knight scored the only run for Jackson. 

Hickman 8, Fort Zumwalt West 7
Nick Monson scored on a balk in the bottom of the seventh to give Hickman an 8-7 win.  Reid Wilson (2017) and Zach Harris each had a pair of hits, while Cameron Chick (2018) drove in two runs for the Kewpies. Ethan Staskewicz (2016) went 2-for-3 with a runs scored Jake Verschoore added a two hits and two RBI in the loss for Fort Zumwalt West.  

Vianney 5, Lindbergh 1
Ryan Knernschield (2016) was 2-for-2 with a double, a home run and two RBI to lead the Griffins.  Chris Cornelius (2016) doubled, scored and drove in a run, while Jack Eppy (2016) scattered five hits and allowed one run on one hit in five innings on the mound for Vianney.  Roland Ounanian (2017) was 2-for-4 to lead Lindbergh. 

Farmington 10, Fort Zumwalt South 5
Brayden Krause and Brandt Busenbark each homered for Farmington in the 10-5 win over Fort Zumwalt South.  The Black Knights answered the Bulldogs five run fifth inning with four runs in the bottom half of the inning to take the lead.  Farmington would add four runs in the sixth to secure the win. 

Francis Howell North 9, Christian Brothers 4
Justin Thorgmorton (2016) went 4-for-4 with a double and four RBI at the plate for Francis Howell North.  He also went the distance on the mound surrendering four runs on three hits to lead the Knights to a 9-4 win over CBC. Jack Kalusniak (2016) collected three hits and Jake Viehman (2016) drove in two and scored two for Howell North.  The Knights improve to 7-1 on the season. 

Francis Howell Central 6,   Westminster 2
Collin Herdt (2016) earned the win for Howell Central tossing six innings allowing two runs on six hits with three strikeouts and two walks.  Even Mooney (2016) went 2-for-2 at the plate with a pair of RBI and Mitch Hantack (2017) singled, scored and drove in a run in the win for the Spartans. 

Blue Springs South 6, DeSmet 3

Saturday, April 2

CHAMPIONSHIP
Francis Howell 11, Jackson 6
Fort Zumwalt West 11 vs. Lindbergh 1
Rockwood Summit 4, Lee's Summit 2
Vianney 4, Lee's Summit West 0
Rockwood Summit 6, Hickman 1
Hickman 3, Vianney  11
Fort Zumwalt West 10, Francis Howell 9
Lindbergh 9, Jackson 4

CONSOLATION
Francis Howell North 10, Farmington 1
Westminster 8, Blue Springs South 4
Francis Howell North 13, Westminster 7
Blue Springs South 9, Farmington 7
Christian Brothers 6, Fort Zumwalt South 5
DeSmet 13, Francis Howell Central 12
Christian Brothers 10, DeSmet 9

RECORDS
Rockwood Summit 5-0
Vianney 4-1
Francis Howell North 4-1
Fort Zumwalt West 4-1
Hickman 3-2
Lee's Summit West 3-2
Francis Howell 3-2
Westminster 2-3
Christian Brothers 2-3
Blue Springs South 2-3
Christian Brothers 2-3
Jackson 1-4
Farmington 1-4
Francis Howell Central 2-2
DeSmet 1-4
Fort Zumwalt South 0-4

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