Missouri's best high school baseball players: Meet the state's top left-handed pitchers

Feature photo of Blair Oaks pitcher Wil Libbert by Greg Jackson/News Tribune

By Cody Thorn 

With about a month left in the baseball season in Missouri, we have been looking at some of the top players throughout the state. 

After publishing lists on catchers and right-handed pitchers, here is a list of the top left-handed pitchers. Much like the right-handed pitchers, the group of southpaws is also dotted with future Big 12 and Southeastern Conference pitchers.

There are hundreds of outstanding hurlers in the Show-Me State, and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive. Tag us on Twitter @SBLiveMiz and let us know about other athletes worthy of fans’ attention.

Jack Potteiger, Sr., Rockwood Summit

He was voted a team captain his freshman year and is now an Eastern Illinois signee. Potteiger stands at 6-foot-6 and that tall frame drew the attention and then add in a fastball in that hits 90 miles per hour. Was a preseason all-region pick by Rawlings/Perfect Game.

Noah Gadberry, Sr., Cape Girardeau Notre Dame

The star from Southeast Missouri has gone to Atlanta every weekend the past two summers to play for Team Elite. That helped land him a chance to play at Division II Delta (Miss.) State. Gadberry, who played at Sikeston his freshman year, was 4-3 with a 3.63 ERA in his first year at the parochial school. He just threw a 2-hitter against his old school on May 2.

Bryson Gooding, Sr., Ray-Pec

He sits between 84 and 86 miles per hour on his fastball and has a max velocity of 89 miles per hour. He also plays outfield and has been a big bat for the Panthers. The 6-foot-3 was a preseason All-American the past two years and has committed to Michigan.

Jack DuMont, Sr., SLUH

He will make the transition from Saint Louis University High School to Saint Louis University next year. DuMont is averaging an eye-popping 12.55 strikeouts/9 innings for the Jr. Bills and is holding opponents to a .222 batting average. His younger brother, Andrew, was on the top-right-handed pitcher list.

Carter DeGondea, Sr., Ray-Pec

He tossed a no-hitter earlier this year against O’Gorman High School. He has added more than 5 miles per hour on his fastball since his sophomore year and sits at 86 mph now. He has committed to throw for Missouri State.

Daniel Wissler, Sr., Ft. Zumwalt West

Wissler has grown two inches since his sophomore year and stands at 6-foot-2. That has coincided with an increase in velocity from 82 back in 2020 to 90 this year. In seven starts this spring, he is 6-1 with a 1.59 ERA with 54 strikeouts in 39 2/3 innings. He has signed with Missouri.

Cole Gibler, So., Blue Springs

He is ranked as the No. 1 pitcher in his class in the state of Missouri by Perfect Game and is the No. 2 overall recruit in the state by Prep Baseball Report Missouri. He was named to Perfect Game 15U World Series All-Tournament team last summer playing for the Royals Scout Team. He is committed to Arkansas.

Will Richardson, Sr., Jackson

The 5-foot-11 lefty will play junior college baseball at Parkland College in Illinois next year. Though he hails from the bootheel, he spent his summer playing for the Adidas Athletic in St. Louis. Has a fastball that peaked at 86 miles per hour. His Indians are currently the No. 9-ranked team in Class 5.

Adam Hachman, Jr., Wentzville Timberland

Hachman is the No. 1-ranked player in the Class of 2023, he has seen his fastball jump from 82-84 to 89-91 in only one year. He hit 97 mph in a game back in March. The Wolves’ standout has committed to Arkansas.

Kaiden Wilson, Jr. Ray-Pec

Wilson committed to LSU as a sophomore despite not playing any high school games due to the COVID-19 pandemic wiping out the 2020 season. He has a fastball in the low 90s. He is ranked No. 10 in the Class of ‘23 by Prep Baseball Report Missouri.

Cameron Poe, Jr., CBC

Sports a 3-1 record with a 2.42 ERA through six games for the Class 6 No. 4-ranked Cadets. Holding foes to a .111 average and has a team-high 29 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings. The Duke commit plays for the Royals Scout Team in the summer. Ranked No. 6 in ‘23 class in by Prep Baseball Report Missouri.

Dane Bjorn, Jr., Lindbergh

The Tennessee commit tossed a no-hitter last month against Marquette, striking out 16 batters out of the 21 possible outs. He has been a Rawlings/Perfect Game All-American the past two years and is ranked at No. 7 in the Class of 2023 by Prep Baseball Report Missouri. Has a 2.26 ERA through seven games with 53 Ks in 31 innings.

Wil Libbert, Jr., Blair Oaks

Libbert made first-team Class 4 all-state last year and is again one of the best in the state this spring. On April 30, he tossed a complete game against Palmyra, striking out 17 and not issuing a walk. The start before that he struck out a school-record 19 in an 8-inning game against Fatima. He has committed to nearby Missouri and is ranked No. 3 in the Class of 2023 by Prep Baseball Report Missouri.

Tyler Charlton, Sr., CBC

Another Cadet on the list, Charlton is 4-0 through four starts and has a 1.09 ERA. The Missouri State commit has a WHIP of 0.62 and is holding batters to a .155 average. Has a fastball in the mid 80s.

Kenton Deverman, Jr., Ft. Zumwalt West

Another Jaguar on the list, this southpaw is 5-1 through seven starts and sports a 1.86 ERA this spring. Has racked up 55 strikeouts in 37 2/3 innings. The 6-foot-2 hurler has committed to Evansville.

Brody McNeil, Jr., Hartville

Has been a preseason underclassman All-American all three years of high school, although is only in second season of high school ball. He has 27 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings of work with a 0.43 ERA for the Class 3 school. He has committed to Missouri State.

Micah Worley, Sr., Principia

Missouri landed the services of the 6-foot-5 hurler who has a fastball that peaks at 92 miles per hour. That is a jump of 10 miles per hour in a one-year span. Through a no-hitter in the summer for Adidas Athletics.

Micah Henson, So., Ray-Pec

Want to talk about embarrassment of riches? Ray-Pec has four players on the list, and all are headed to D-I schools. He was named a Rawlings/Perfect Game underclassmen All-American team this year. Has a fastball in the low 80s. Struck out 10 over five innings in a win against Lee’s Summit West on April 28. The start before that, he struck out nine in a 1-0 win over No. 1-ranked Liberty. Henson has committed to Kansas State.

Wade Mann, So., St. Pius X

According to Trackman, the lefty has gone from throwing 75 miles per hour in 2020 to 85.2 mph this year. The 6-footer is also a standout first baseman for the Warriors, ranked No. 5 in Class 4. He is committed to Missouri.

Ross Lawrence, So., Logan-Rogersville

A standout for the No. 3-ranked team in Class 3, the 6-foot-2 hurler has a fastball that clocks in the low 80s. Midway through this season he has a 3-1 record with a 2.73 ERA with 35 strikeouts. He is another Missouri commit.