Yesterday, the Class 5 and 6 state playoffs began with eight teams in each respective division competing for their quest at a championship trophy. Below is a quick-hitting recap of all the games that took place yesterday. 

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CLASS 5

LUTHERAN SOUTH 2, FESTUS 12

The Tigers’ offense came to play early and often in this game, scoring at least one run in every inning but the third and pounding out 13 total hits. Sophomore Hayden Bates (2024) highlighted the Festus’ offense with four runs, while Bates, Kaleb Kennedy and 1B/LHP Mason Schirmer (2025) all doubled. Cleanup man Connor McDonald homered and brought a pair of runs home, while Jackson Gross racked up three hits. Schirmer started on the mound for Festus, punching out seven while holding Lutheran South to just two hits and zero earned runs across 5 ⅓ innings. INF Logan Slinkard (2023) accounted for half of Lutheran South’s hits, singling twice in the loss. Festus will play Willard next Friday at 4:00 p.m. 

WILLARD 2, HELIAS CATHOLIC 1

In a tight-knit and competitive contest between these two Class 5 titans, it was the Willard Tigers who emerged victorious and advanced to their third consecutive ‘Final Four’. The TIgers drew first blood, pushing a run across in the second inning and holding the lead until the Crusaders evened things up with a solo shot in the bottom half of the third frame. Willard regained the lead quickly, heading to the fifth ahead by one run. That was all the run support that junior Cooper Wilken (2023) would need, as he held Helias Catholic to just two hits across seven complete innings of work and pitched his team to the ‘Final Four’. With their 32nd win of the season, Willard will take on Festus at 4:00 p.m. next Friday in Ozark. 

PARKWAY CENTRAL 4, FORT ZUMWALT EAST 7

Six runs in the first inning gave the Lions a lead they wouldn’t relinquish, fending off Parkway Central’s consistent comeback effort to earn their first trip to the ‘Final Four’ in program history. They scored their first two runs of the game on back-to-back walks with the bases loaded, which set the table for INF Luke Aubuchon’s (2022; McKendree) bases-clearing double shortly afterwards. C Evan Newcorn (2022) brought Aubuchon home with an RBI single, capping off the early six-run explosion for East. The Colts would push two runs across in the third on back-to-back RBI doubles from C Seungmin Song (2024) and C Sean Kang (2023), but the Lions responded to that quickly with a solo shot in the bottom half from C Jackson Penn (2023). Kang plated two more runs in the top half of the seventh, but Aubuchon entered the game and retired the final two outs to secure Fort Zumwalt East’s victory. OF Jackson Carter (2024), Penn, and Newcorn all had two hits, while Aubuchon led the way with three RBIs. Fort Zumwalt East will now square off with Platte County next Friday at 7:00 p.m. 

WEBB CITY 7, PLATTE COUNTY 11 

The Pirates’ offense was simply too much for Webb City to overcome in this game, as Platte County pounded out eight runs in the second inning en route to a state playoff victory. It all started with a two-run double from INF Dayton Doll (2025), who came around to score on an RBI double from INF Dayne Wimberly (2023). Cameron Lewis (2022), Jake Knudsen (2022), and CIF Dylan Robertson (2023) each had RBI singles in the frame, while Nick Baker (2023) brought two runs home with a triple to center field. OF Devin Wassmann (2024; Wichita State) blasted a two-run shot in the third inning to make it 10-0 and later delivered an RBI single in the fifth to bring home the Pirates’ final run of the game. Webb City’s offense came to life as the game went on, as the Cardinals scored one run in the fourth and pushed six across in the fifth. Eric Fitch, MIF Cy Darnell (2023), Cade Wilson, and Kenley Hood all drove runs in for the Cardinals. Platte County’s early lead ultimately proved key, as the Pirates blanked Webb City over the final two frames en route to a spot in the ‘Final Four’. They’ll draw a red-hot Fort Zumwalt East team next Friday at 7:00 p.m.

CLASS 6

MARQUETTE 2, LINDBERGH 10

After allowing two unearned runs to score in the first inning, Lindbergh’s offense turned it up a notch and scored 10 unanswered over the next three frames. OF Zane Roos (2022; Jefferson JC) put the Flyers on the board with an RBI double, coming around to score on a two-run double by C Will Stockmann (2022; Quincy). Nick Bonczkowski hammered a grand slam to left field in the second inning, with C Luke Melton (2022; Eastern Illinois) and Roos pushing across a run each with RBI singles in the third. The Flyers’ outburst at the plate synced up with a dominant outing by LHP Dane Bjorn (2023; Tennessee), who took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and struck out 10 batters in total. Lindbergh appears to have fully put their early season struggles ahead of them and the Flyers are as dangerous as anyone when they’re at full strength. They’ll take the field on Friday morning at 10:00 a.m. in a matchup with Blue Springs South. 

BLUE SPRINGS SOUTH 4, KICKAPOO 3

A dominant outing by RHP Trent Roehler (Blue Springs South, 2023; Missouri) and a run scored in four straight innings helped lead Blue Springs South to a 4-3 win over a tough Kickapoo squad. The Chiefs scored first in this game on an RBI single from INF Cael McCarville (Kickapoo, 2023), getting to Roehler early before he ultimately settled in. Kickapoo would score two more runs in the bottom of the sixth, one of which was unearned, but Roehler held the Jaguars’ lead and finished with 13 strikeouts over his six innings of work. RHP John Chambers (2022; Johnson County CC) retired the side in order to close things out in the seventh, sending Blue Springs South to the state semifinals. The Jaguars managed to scratch a run across in the second, third, fourth, and fifth innings, starting with an RBI single from OF Aiden Doll (Blue Springs South, 2023). RHP/OF Tommy Lapour (Blue Springs South, 2023; Cincinnati) drew a bases-loaded walk in the third and INF Collin Dobson (Blue Springs South, 2024) launched a solo shot to left the following inning. Doll delivered another RBI single in the fifth, adding what would ultimately prove to be a key insurance run for the Jaguars. Blue Springs South continues their quest for the Class 6 title next week and they’ll square off with Lindbergy at 10:00 a.m. 

FRANCIS HOWELL CENTRAL 1, FRANCIS HOWELL 3

This low-scoring affair between the Spartans and Vikings tilted in the latter’s favor, largely in part to a complete game gem by OF/LHP Brysen Nepute (2023). Nepute, who’s one of the state’s top uncommitted juniors, twirled seven innings of three-hit ball, punching out six and walking just one. He settled in nicely after allowing a run in the top of the third inning, an RBI single off the bat of Clayton Ello (2022), and the Vikings picked up their star junior with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the frame. INF Brett Norfleet (2023; Missouri) and OF/LHP Leo Humbert (2025) each delivered RBI hits, with Norfleet coming around to score later in the frame on a steal of home. Ello excelled in relief for the Spartans, keeping this potent Francis Howell lineup off the board through three innings of work. That ultimately proved to not be enough, however, as the Vikings’ fended off Central’s comeback attempts en route to a victory. They’ll square off against Liberty North on Friday at 1:00 p.m. in what should be an excellent matchup between two of Missouri’s top programs. 

RAYMORE-PECULIAR 6, LIBERTY NORTH 7 

Comebacks, and walk-offs for that matter, have propelled Liberty North to back-to-back wins and now a spot in the Class 6 ‘Final Four’. Down 6-2 heading into the seventh inning, Liberty clawed their way back into the game by scoring four runs to push extra-innings. Down to their final out of the season, Landon McGinnis delivered in the most integral moment of the Eagles’ season with a game-tying grand slam. INF/RHP Ty Wisdom (2023; Kansas) blanked the Panthers’ offense in the top of the eighth, setting up a picture-perfect ending for Liberty North. INF Trey Snyder (2024; Tennessee) started the inning off with an RBI single, advancing to second after Wisdom drew a walk. RHP/INF Tate McGuire (2023; Arkansas) pushed a one-out single through the right side to load the bases, followed in the lineup by a strikeout, and sending RHP/3B Jackson Downing (2023; Arkansas State) to the plate with the bases juiced. With two strikes Downing punched a ball back up the middle, bringing home the winning run and walking things off for Liberty North. It was a thrilling contest between two upper-tier programs fighting to continue their seasons. UTL Diesel Purnell (2025) led Ray-Pec with a double and home run, driving in a pair of runs. LHP/OF Bryson Gooding (2022; Michigan) and LHP Kaiden Wilson (2023; Louisiana State) also homered in the Ray-Pec loss, while LHP Carter DeGondea (2022; Missouri State) tallied a pair of hits. Snyder paced Liberty North with three hits, including a double, and INF Frank Palma (2022) doubled twice in the win. The Eagles have a tall task ahead of them, drawing the everso competitive Francis Howell Vikings in the state semifinals. 

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