2018 Team Preview: Fort Zumwalt West Jaguars
March 6, 2018
As we prepare for the upcoming 2018 high school season, we will be taking a
preseason glimpse at programs from around the state.
Team: Fort Zumwalt West HS
Nickname: Jaguars
Class: Class 5
Conference: GAC South
Head Coach: Eric Gough
Years as head coach at school: 8
Twitter Handle: @fzwbaseball
2017 Overall Record: 24-15
2017 Conference Record: 6-4 (T-1st Place)
2017 Post Season Finish: Class 5 Runner-up
Team Website: Fort Zumwalt West Jaguars
Number of Returning Starters/Pitchers: 2
Number of Returning Starters/Position Players: 5
Players with 2017 Post Season Honors
Patrick Connor, SS/RHP, 2018 2nd Team All-State (Central Missouri)
Jake Verschoore, 3B/RHP, 2018, Honorable Mention All-State (Jefferson College)
Players to Watch
Drew Mize, INF/OF, 2019
Connor Stein, INF/OF, 2019
Tyler Kotsis, MIF, RHP, 2020
Drew Strohm, LHP, 2019 (Western Kentucky)
Cole Christman, C, 2019
Zach Krause, 2B, 2018 (Park College)
Blake McPhee, RHP, 2018 (Northwest Missouri)
Caden Diel, 2B/C, 2018 (Northwest Missouri)
Dawson Colombatto, OF, 2018
Nick Suereth, LHP, 2018
Nick Rocco, 1B, 2018
Alex Winscher, MIF, 2018 (Lewis and Clark)
Clay Mandernach, RHP, 2018 (Crowder)
Season Outlook
The Fort Zumwalt West Jaguars finished last season with a 24-15 record and made a post-season run all the way to the Missouri Class 5 Championship Game where they fell to Jefferson City. The Jags are back in 2018 with five returning position players and two pitchers with over fifteen innings in 2017. They will be lead by a pair of all state performing players in SS/RHP Patrick Connor (Central Missouri) and Jake Verschoore (Jefferson CC). Fort Zumwalt West will also enjoy the return of top end starter Drew Strohm (Western Kentucky) who was injured for most of the 2017 season. Watch for Strohm and Connor to one of the top one-two starters in the state this spring. Juniors Drew Mize and Connor Stein will see increased roles this spring, while sophomore Tyler Kotsis could also play a big part in the teams success. Junior Cole Christman will take over duties behind the plate and will lead the pitching staff that will include other college commits besides Connor and Strohm. Seniors Blake McPhee (Northwest Missouri), Nick Suereth and Clay Mandernach (Crowder) will also contribute on the mound. Seniors Zach Krause (Park), Alex Winscher (Lewis and Clark), Nick Rocco and Caden Diel (Northwest Missouri) will round out the solid infield for the Jaguars. Also watch for senior Dawson Colobatto to play important innings in the outfield after being injured for much of last year. The Jaguars roster is loaded with senior experience and talent that carry them a long way in 2018 and will open the season ranked number eight in the Missouri High School Coaches poll.
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High School coaches can request a 2018 Team Survey by email PBR State Director, Shon Plack at, [email protected].