Final 2023 SBLive Missouri high school baseball Power 25 rankings: Liberty North wins second straight state title
Liberty North completed the season on top of the standings, defending its Class 6 crown with another Class 6 Championship. John Burroughs finished the season on a 25-game winning streak and remained undefeated against Missouri opponents as it captured the Class 4 Championship. Festus picked up its first state championship trophy in Class 5, while Ash Grove and Licking picked up titles in Class 3 and 2, respectively. St. Elizabeth joined Liberty North in winning back to back in Class 1.
SBLIVE MISSOURI POWER 25 BASEBALL RANKINGS
• PREVIOUS RANKINGS: MARCH 21 | MARCH 28 | APRIL 3 | APRIL 10 | APRIL 17 | APRIL 24 | MAY 1 | MAY 8 | MAY 15 | MAY 22 | MAY 29
1. Liberty North (34-7)
Last ranking: 1
Liberty North completed its title defense by claiming the Class 6 Championship for the second straight season. The Eagles defeated Francis Howell 9-3 in the final game of the Missouri baseball season. The potent lineup smashed six doubles against the Francis Howell pitching staff and collected 10 total hits. Ty Wisdom and Jack Lemasters collected two RBIs each while Cole Young manned the hot corner with five assists in the title game.
2. Francis Howell (31-11)
Last ranking: 3
The Vikings survived disaster in the Class 6 semifinal round, holding off a furious Jackson rally to earn a spot in the Class 6 title game with a 9-8 victory. Howell got a second chance against the team that ended their title hunt last year in Liberty North but was unable to keep up with the juggernaut from KC. Tytus Cissell, Brady Wilson and Aden Johnson picked up RBIs in the final game of the season.
3. Jackson (34-7)
Last ranking: 4
The Indians nearly pulled off the impossible in the Class 6 semifinal round against Francis Howell when they nearly erased a seven-run deficit in the final frame. Jackson fell just short of knocking off Francis Howell before rebounding in a 2-1 win over Nixa in the Class 6 third-place game. John Paul Sauer pitched a complete game, giving up one run on four hits and striking out five. Jackson Wyatt collected two hits and Henley Parker scored a run in the third-place game.
4. Nixa (32-8)
Last ranking: 2
The Eagles were rolling into the Class 6 semifinal round before it ran into the buzzsaw that is Liberty North. Ethan Taylor nearly went pitch-for-pitch with Tate McGuire, going six innings, striking out six and giving up two unearned runs on two hits. Caden Cloud collected an RBI in the fifth inning to close the gap to 2-1. Nixa ended up falling in a walk-off fashion to Jackson in the Class 6 third-place game.
5. John Burroughs (28-3)
Last ranking: 8
The Bombers rattled off 25 consecutive wins to end the season and captured their first state championship since 2002. John Burroughs ambushed Springfield Catholic with six runs in the first inning of the Class 4 state championship game. Griffin Barnett collected two RBIs, on two hits while Calvin Gelle went 3-for-3 with an RBI. Bowen Brantingham went 6 1/3 innings with 13 strikeouts and seven walks while giving up three earned runs on three hits.
6. Festus (27-8)
Last ranking: 19
Festus captured its first state championship, defeating Borgia 8-1 in the Class 5 championship game. The Tigers banged out 16 hits in the title game against Borgia's pitching staff. Senior outfielder Brady Nolen went a perfect 4-for-4 with three RBIs to lead the high-potent offense. Senior catcher Tyler Bizzle went 3-for-4 with an RBI while sophomore Mason Schirmer picked up the win with 5 2/3 innings and two strikeouts.
7. Borgia (25-6)
Last ranking: 9
Borgia advanced back to the state championship game for the first time since 2019 and came up just short, finishing as Class 5 runner-ups. Junior Jack Nobe tossed a complete-game shutout over Webb City with two hits allowed and five strikeouts in the Class 5 semifinal round. Senior Tanner McPherson led the offense in the semifinal game going 3-for-4 with two RBIs against Webb City.
8. Springfield Catholic (21-8)
Last ranking: 5
Another year, a higher class, and another runner-up finish for the Fighting Irish. Springfield Catholic advanced past Excelsior Springs in the Class 4 semifinal round in extra innings before running into John Burroughs in the title game. Coleman Morrison, Ben Ruter and Cole Schoen each picked up a hit in the title game.
9. Fort Zumwalt South (28-7-1)
Last ranking: 7
After being shutout against Festus in the Class 5 semifinal round, Fort Zumwalt South ended the season on a high note with a 4-3 win in 11 innings over Webb City in the Class 5 third-place game. Junior Carter Cox went 2-for-4 with a run scored in the extra-inning affair. Connor Henke went eight innings, giving up one earned run on seven hits, while Gavin Reidel got the win going the final three innings.
10. St. Elizabeth (23-7)
Last ranking: 12
The defending Class 1 state champions won its second successive state championship and third since 2019. Jace Kesel and Gavin Williams picked up two hits and two RBIs in a 13-3 title game victory. Blake Wobbe led the offense with six RBIs going 3-for-4 while Gavin Williams picked up the win, going 5 2/3 innings with six strikeouts.
CHAMPIONSHIP HEADLINES
Liberty North tops Francis Howell for second straight Missouri Class 6 baseball championship
Kellar Davis pitches Licking past South Callaway in Missouri Class 3 title game
Ash Grove caps off undefeated season with win over Salisbury in Missouri Class 2 championship game
St. Elizabeth tops South Nodaway to win second straight Class 1 baseball championship
11. Excelsior Springs (29-13)
Last ranking: 21
After a crushing defeat in the Class 4 semifinal round game in extras to Springfield Catholic, Excelsior Springs outlasted Fulton in the Class 4 third-place game. Lucas Dillman went 3-for-4 with an RBI while Kaelan Bedford went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI in the third-place victory. It's the second third-place trophy the Tigers have secured since 2018.
12. Licking (27-6)
Last ranking: NR
Licking captured its first state championship since 1989 with a 3-1 win over South Callaway in the Class 3 state championship game. Cole Wallace went 2-for-4 with two RBIs in the title game. Kellar Davis made his triumphant return to the mound at US Ballpark, picking up a complete-game win with eight strikeouts and giving up one run on five hits.
13. Ash Grove (25-0)
Last ranking: NR
Ash Grove completed the perfect season with the Class 2 Championship last week. Bryce Davis did it all, going 3-for-3 with two RBIs and scoring three times. He also went five innings on the mound with five strikeouts. Cooper Burks went a perfect 2-for-2 with one run scored and three RBIs, while Nate Trammell went 1-for-2 with two RBI. It's the first state championship for Ash Grove and the first state trophy since 1992 when it finished as Class 2A runner-up.
14. Webb City (22-14)
Last ranking: 20
Was shut out in the Class 5 semifinal round against Borgia before falling in 11 innings against Fort Zumwalt South in the third-place game. Kenley Hood went 2-for-4 at the plate while Gage Chapman went 2-for-5 with a run scored against the Bulldogs. The Cardinals picked up their first state postseason trophy since a second-place finish in 2010.
15. Portageville (35-3)
Last ranking: 6
The Bulldogs picked up a third-place finish in Class 3 with a 3-2 win in 12 innings in the third-place game. Thomas Frakes went 2-for-6 with an RBI while Mason Adams, Beau Warren and Aaron Dunlap each collected a hit. Mason Adams got the win going 5 2/3 innings giving up two hits and striking out one. It is the second successive year that the Bulldogs have come home with a state trophy.
16. Fulton (19-10)
Last ranking: 13
Fulton lost to the eventual state champion John Burroughs in the Class 4 semifinal round. The Hornets picked up their second fourth-place trophy since 2016. In the third-place game, Gabriel DeFily scored 2-for-4 with a run, while Jayce Thompson Dustin Hagens and Benjamin Leslie all picked up RBIs in the third-place loss.
17. Glendale (25-6)
Last ranking: 10
Glendale lost to Borgia in the Class 5 quarterfinal round, 2-0.
18. Willard (28-10)
Last ranking: 11
Willard lost to Glendale in the Class 5 District 6 title game, 2-0.
19. Fort Zumwalt West (30-9)
Last ranking: 14
Fort Zumwalt West lost to Francis Howell in the Class 6 District 4 title game, 6-1
20. Blue Springs South (27-6)
Last ranking: 15
Blue Springs South lost to Blue Springs in the Class 6 District 5 title game, 5-3.
21. Logan-Rogersville (24-6)
Last Ranking: 16
Logan-Rogersville lost to Springfield Catholic in the Class 4 District 10 title game, 2-1.
22. Rock Bridge (30-7)
Last ranking: 17
Rock Bridge lost to Blue Springs in the Class 6 District 5 title game, 12-3.
23. Vianney (30-6)
Last ranking: 22
Vianney lost to Lafayette in the Class 6 District 2 title game 4-3 in nine innings.
24. Valley Park (20-5)
Last ranking: 18
Lost to West County in the Class 3 sectional game 3-0 in extra innings.
25. Cooter (25-7)
Last ranking: 23
Cooter claimed the Class 1 third-place trophy after getting shut out by St. Elizabeth in the semifinal round. The Wildcats got a complete-game effort by Hayden Nazarenus with eight strikeouts in the 7-0 victory over Community in the third-place game to close out the season.
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