Lutheran South Baseball Ready for State Championship Games

It's been more than a month since the Lutheran South baseball team has lost a game.

The Lancers have won eight games in a row, including the district and sectional championships just last week, and boast 11 wins of their last 12 matchups, dating back to mid-April.

There is little doubt that Lutheran South is one of the best teams in the entire state of Missouri.

But the Lancers will tell you that's not what they are playing for.

This squad of savvy senior veterans like pitcher/outfielder Ryan Strohm and catcher Sam Gieg and talented underclassmen like pitcher/first baseman Brandon Downey and pitcher/outfielder Dirk Otterstein have one goal in mind -- they want to win a state title.

"That's the goal they've set for themselves," head coach Steve Pfund said. "And I don't see any reason why they couldn't reach it. It's all about who's playing better on that day. And we've been playing better here lately."

Pfund said that back on April 26, when .

And that was at a time when the Lancers were just getting hot. South put together its 11 out of 12 streak, including increasingly impressive wins over Affton, Lutheran North, and Kennett, MO, in the district, sectional, and quarterfinal playoffs.

Those victories have now earned the team a trip to the Class 3 State Baseball Championships in Springfield this weekend.

The Lancers will begin play at the state championships, on Friday, with a 10 a.m. semifinal game against Savannah, MO.

The winner of that contest will then advance to the Class 3 state championship game, which is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m.
         
HERE'S OUR SNAPSHOT LOOK AT THE FOUR CLASS 3 BASEBALL SEMI-FINALISTS 

Lutheran South Lancers

Record: 24-5  
Coach: Steve Pfund  

How they got here: Won Class 3 District, then defeated Lutheran North in sectionals and Kennett (MO) in quarterfinals.  

Top hitters: C/DH Sam Gieg, Sr. (.449 batting average, 1 HR, 34 RBIs); 1B Brandon Downey, Soph. (.377 ba, 4 HRs, 26 RBIs); Ryan Strohm, Sr. (.442 ba, 25 RBIs).  

Top pitchers: Ryan Strohm, Sr. (8-3 record, 2.21 ERA); Brandon Downey, Soph. (8-0, 1.49 ERA).  

Semifinal matchup: will play Savannah (MO) in semifinal #1 at Meador Park in Springfield, MO, Friday, June 1, at 10 a.m.

Savannah Savages  

Record: 23-4  
Coach: Erich Bodenhausen  

How they got here: Won Class 3 District 16, then defeated Richmond (MO) in sectionals and Oak Grove in quarterfinals.  

Top hitters: Clayton Holt, Preston Bailey, Tyler West.  

Top pitchers: Blake McFadden, Tyler West.  

Semifinal matchup: will play Lutheran South in semifinal #1 at Meador Park in Springfield, MO, Friday, June 1, at 10 a.m.

Westminster Christian Wildcats  

Record: 27-3  
Coach: Rich Van Gilst  

How they got here: Won Class 3 District 5, then defeated Orchard Farm in sectionals and Mexico (MO) in quarterfinals.  

Top hitters: CF Tate Matheny, Sr. (.624 ba, 11 HRs, 49 RBIs); SS Shane Benes, Soph. (.373 ba, 2 HRs, 48 RBIs); 3B Luke Turner, Sr. (.407 ba, 29 RBIs).  

Top pitchers: Ben Lovell, Jr. (9-0, 0.55 ERA, 64 Ks in 51.0 IP); Davis Vanderslice, Jr. (7-0, 0.91 ERA, 46 Ks in 46.1 IP).  

Semifinal matchup: will play Marshall (MO) in semifinal #2 at Meador Park in Springfield, MO, Friday, June 1, at 1 p.m.

Marshall Owls  

Record: 17-10  
Coach: Ian Verts  

How they got here: Won Class 3 District 9, then defeated Cuba (MO) in sectionals and Logan-Rogersville in quarterfinals.  

Top hitters: Zach Bishop, Jordan Parnell, Aaron Skinner.  

Top pitchers: Jordan Parnell, Aaron Skinner.  

Semifinal matchup: will play Westminster Christian in semifinal #2 at Meador Park in Springfield, MO, Friday, June 1, at 1 p.m.

FINAL FOUR SCHEDULE

Semifinal #1 -- Friday, June 1, Lutheran South vs. Savannah  10 a.m.

Semifinal #2 -- Friday, June 1, Westminster Christian vs. Marshall  1 p.m. 

3rd-Place Game -- Saturday, June 2 -- Meador Park  10 a.m.  

Championship Game -- Saturday, June 2 -- Meador Park  1 p.m.