By Mike Rosenbaum 

On Wednesday night, Missouri high school baseball fans received a preview of what might very well be this year's Class 4 state title matchup when No. 1 Francis Howell defeated No. 3 CBC 10-3 in the championship game of the Troy Baseball Classic. 

After rolling through Hillsboro, Ft. Zumwalt West, and DeSmet, the CBC Cadets (4-1) endured their first major challenge of the 2011 season in Francis Howell.  The same could be said for Howell (5-0), who easily defeated Seckman (twice), Duchesne, and Ft. Zumwalt East in route to the championship game.

On the hill for Francis Howell was Prep Baseball Report's No. 6 senior, RHP Brett Graves (right), who, despite having committed to play at the University of Missouri next season, is considered to be a potential draft pick come June. 

Gathered in the bleachers behind home plate was an assortment of scouts, all touting radar guns and video cameras, and keeping a watchful eye on the right-hander.  Suffice it to say: Graves and Francis Howell did not disappoint.

 

Howell jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning after each of their first four hitters reached base safely.  After the game's first run scored on a wild pitch, senior 3B Case Munson (left) delivered a two-run single to make it 3-0.  The next batter, senior C Gordie Gundaker, plated the the team's fourth run of the inning on a groundout to second base.

The Vikings tacked on two more runs in the top of the third to increase their lead to 6-0, thanks in part to two wild pitches that allowed seniors Jared Hagely and Jake Ivory to score.

Things were going swimmingly for Graves until the bottom fourth when he issued a one-out walk to Bobby Lang and two-out single to SS Mike Venturella.  With runners on first and second and two down, Francis Howell coach Tony Perkins lifted Graves and put in left-handed submariner Matt Norton.

After hitting CBC leadoff hitter Derek Cornell with a pitch to load the bases, Callawey gave up a two-run single to 2B Danny Chastain to make it a 6-2 game.  Case Munson was then brought in to face CBC's hottest hitter, 1B Mike Ehrard, who he walked to reload the bases.  In yet another pitching change, RHP Brannon Calloway replaced Munson on the bump, and walked in another run before inducing a ground out to end the Cadets' threat.

In the top of the seventh inning, a pair of costly CBC errors and the inability to throw strikes once again opened the door for Francis Howell, who pushed across four runs to extend their lead to 10-3.  And after recording the final two outs in the previous inning, RHP Kyle Nuetzel pitched a scoreless frame to seal the victory, and more importantly, the Troy Baseball Classic championship.

Graves picked up the win for the Vikings, giving up two runs on three hits in an impressive four-and-two-thirds innings of work.  The right-hander struck out five and walked two, and featured a fastball that sat 88-91 mph and reached as high as 92 mph.  Graves also showcased a tight, 78-79 mph slider, as well as 78-80 mph changeup.

Consolation Game: DeSmet vs Ft. Zumwalt East

No. 17 DeSmet (4-1) rebounded from Tuesday's tough loss to CBC by defeating Ft. Zumwalt East 7-0 to win the Troy tournament consolation bracket.  Powered by senior LHP Kyle Bouman's masterful performance and a pair of timely home runs, the Spartans made the most out of a cold and blustery Spring evening.

Sophomore OF Brandon Gutzler (right) lead off the third inning with a ringing double off the left field fence, and subsequently scored on 2B Killian Knowles' double.  The next batter, SS Zak Larkin, also doubled, but a smooth Ft. Zumwalt East relay cut down the speedy Knowles at the plate.  With Larkin on third base, 3B Brian Graf picked up an RBI on a groundout to first base, thus capping a two-run, DeSmet third inning.

The scoring continued for the Spartans in the sixth when LF Nick Rumpling singled and Jake Unnerstall walked to begin the inning.  With runners on first and second, 1B Chris Arends deposited a fastball over the left field fence for a three-run home run.  The blast, which was the junior's first of the season, gave DeSmet a comfortable 5-0 lead.

The seventh inning turned out to be eerily similar, as senior Zack Caldwell connected for a pinch hit, two-run home run to left.

Leadoff hitter Killian Knowles finished the game 1-for-2 with a double, two walks, and an RBI, while fellow senior Zak Larkin finished 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.  Brandon Gutzler also had nice day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double.

Although the Spartans' offense fired on all cylinders, it was their starting pitcher, left-hander Kyle Bouman, that stole the show.  A Wichita St. signee and Prep Baseball Report's No. 12 senior, Bouman hurled a complete game shutout -- his second complete game in as many starts. 

Pitching well beyond his years, the 6-foot-1, 185-pound senior stifled the Lions' offense, scattering six hits and never allowing a baserunner past second.  Even though he only struck out five batters, Bouman did not issue a single walk, and rarely fell behind in the count.  Furthermore, the southpaw demonstrated impeccable command of all his pitches as he worked both sides of the plate and kept the ball down.

But most importantly, Bouman recorded 11 ground ball outs compared to only one fly out (in the seventh inning nonetheless), allowing each of his infielders to record at least two assists.

"I felt really good today," Bouman said.  "The changeup and curve were working along with the fastball.  My location was really on, and that's something coach (Greg Vitello) always talks about."

Bouman displayed a heavy fastball with sharp arm-side action that sat 82-84 mph, reaching as high as 85 mph on several occasions.  His changeup, which also had downward, arm-side action, came in at 72-75 mph, and his curveball sat 74-76 mph. 

The senior showed exceptional confidence in all of his pitches on Wednesday, as he utilized the inner half of the plate against right-handed hitters despite a howling 20 mph wind blowing out to left field.

"I didn't really think about the wind," Bouman noted.  "I just went out there and focused on where my catcher set up."

Coming off a third-place finish in the Troy tournament, No. 17 DeSmet's next plays at Lafayette on Monday, March 28 at 4:15 pm.

Ft. Zumwalt East (3-2) plays at Howell North on Tuesday, March 29 at 4 pm.