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Hazelwood West Repeat District Titles in Baseball And Girls Soccer
By Jim Wieners
Hazelwood West successfully defended district titles in Baseball and Girls Soccer and the Wildcats hope to do something they have not achieved since Wrestling won in 1985 and Girls Softball won in the fall of 1977, a state title.
BASEBALL — Hazelwood West took advantage of playing at home in winning the Class Five, District Six title. It was more than a repeat but the Wildcats fifth title in a row, the last four in Class Five, and their 13th District or Regional title since 1978, their fourth year of existence. The Wildcats advanced to the 1978 Semifinals but lost and had to share third place with St. Mary’s since there was no third place game and since then Hazelwood West got to the quarterfinals only once but not after 2002.
Hazelwood West scored four runs in the second inning May 19 in a 7-1 win over McCluer North. Michael Ward hit two doubles and drove in four runs while Kyle VerMehren struck out five Stars. The next day, the second-seeded ‘Cats got three strikeouts from Christian Shelton as he shut out top-seeded Hazelwood Central, 2-0, dealing the Hawks their fifth loss in the last six game after winning the first 19.
Weather permitting Hazelwood West hosted Parkway Central May 24 and had the Wildcats won they would play at Francis Howell or Fort Zumwalt North Thursday (May 26) time determined after May 24. The State Tournament is at CarSheild Field (formerly T.R.Hughes Ballpark), O’Fallon on June 2, semifinal at 7 p.m., and June 3, third place at 10:30 a.m. and championship game at 1:30.
GIRLS SOCCER — Hazelwood West won their second straight district title in the second year of a four class sport and their 11th since 1985. the Wildcats have been to the quarterfinals three times, most recently in 2005.The Wildcats have not made it to the state semifinals.
In Class Four, District Four at McCluer North Hazelwood West played only one half of a May 18 semifinal, a 10-0 shutout of Hazelwood East, called due to a 10-goal margin mercy rule. West won the May 19 distrrict final game over Hazelwood Central, 2-1, as the Wildcats were unbeaten against Suburban XII Conference North Division competition.
Hazelwood West played Eureka in the battle of Wildcats May 24 at the Florissant (James Eagan) Civic Center Park had West won they would host St. Joseph’s Academy or travel to Cedar Hill to play Northwest Saturday (May 28) time determined after May 24. Saturday’s winner goes to Kansas City and Swope Soccer Village June 3, semifinal at 4 p.m. and June 4, third place at 12 noon or in the 4 p.m. championship game.
TRINITY CATHOLIC GIRLS SOCCER — In the second year of four-class soccer Trinity won their second straight Class One District Three Girls Soccer, their ninth overall since the school opened in 2003 as a result of the St. Thomas Aquinas-Mercy-Rosary merger. Trinity was state runner up in 2009 and 2010 and is coming off a third-place finish in 2015 the final game in 48 years of coaching soccer by Vince Drake.
Playing at home Trinity opened Class One, District Three play May 16 with a 10-0 shutout of Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience, a St. Louis Public School and the game played the full 80 minutes. Casey Clark and Hannah Dietiker each scored three times while Shelby Warden had two assist .Three days later, May 29 Trinity won the title game 6-1 over Crossroads College Prep as six Titans scored, four in the second half.
Trinity played at Whitfield May 25 and the winner plays (Lee’s) Summit Christian or Barstow June 1, 12 noon at Swope Soccer Village. The Class One Tournament closes June 2 with a 10 am. third place game or a 2 p.m. game for the state championship.
