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Hazelwood West and Lutheran North Win Baseball Districts Over Top Seeds
By Jim Wieners
There were three things in common with Hazelwood West and Lutheran North in high school baseball when it came to district tournament.
First, Hazelwood West and Lutheran North were district hosts. Second, both were second seeds. Third, both defeated top seeds in the district finals.
However, that is where the similarities end. Hazelwood West was in the State Quarterfinals twice but it has been 40 years (1978) since the Wildcats have been to the State Semifinals. Lutheran North was in the State Quarterfinals six times, the last in 2013, but not to the State Semifinals since moving in 1965 from the St. Louis Central West End, where the Crusaders were State Runner Up in 1954.
HAZELWOOD WEST won Class Five, District Six, their sixth District title in the last seven years and the 14th District or Regional title since 1978. The Wildcats secured their district title with a 4-3 win May 16 over top-seeded McCluer North, a team that previously defeated Hazelwood West twice. Pitcher Josh Inman defeated the Stars with his arm as he struck out six and his bat as he drove in two runs. McCluer North junior Desmond Woods pitched five innings for the Starr and, with his bat, drove in two runs.
On May 14, Hazelwood West defeated visiting Hazelwood Central 3-2, the third time the Wildcats defeated the Hawks. Winning pitcher AJ Steward struck out six Hawks while Dylan Leonard drove in two Wildcats with a fifth-inning single. Hazelwood Central senior Devin Matteoni drove in two runs with a seventh-inning single to cut the Hawk deficit tom one run but Wildcat reliever Jacob Kempfer came in with two out and ended the game on a strikeout.
Hazelwood West hosted DeSmet Jesuit in the Sectional on May 22 for their seventh and last home game. A Wildcat win would send them to Fort Zumwalt North or Troy-Buchanan Thursday, .May 24. DeSmet, with a win, will host Troy-Buchanan or go to Fort Zumwalt North.
LUTHERAN NORTH won Class Three, District Five, their fourth in a row and 19th District/Regional title since 1980. The Crusaders knocked off top-seeded Trinity Catholic 3-0 in a May 15 eight-inning pitcher’s duel of seniors. Trinity pitcher Matt Gantner struck out eight while Lutheran North pitcher Michael Washington struck out nine allowed two hits and drove in three runs on an eight-inning double.
Lutheran North defeated Metro 13-0 May 14 in a four and one-half inning game as sophomore Craig McGee struck out seven, senior Tim Branneky and junior Aaron Fackler each drove in three runs and senior Zack Hohenstein scored three runs.. Lutheran North won by forfeit May 11 over Sumner.
Lutheran North was at Valley Park May 22 and the winner met Hallsville or Clark County May 23.
