This is the final in a 10-part series counting down the top 10 teams in the STLhighschoolsports.com preseason baseball rankings.
The Westminster baseball team has gone into recent seasons with very high expectations, but coach Rich Van Gilst acknowledged that wasn't the case last spring.
The Wildcats suffered several losses to graduation in 2009, including pitching phenom Jacob Turner, who is the No. 23 prospect in the minor leagues by Baseball Prospectus. Some new faces stepped up and led Westminster to a 21-10 campaign and the Class 3 quarterfinals.
"Last year, there weren't expectations going into the year after losing all our pitching," Van Gilst said. "We just kind of went with what we had to see how far we could go, and we had key hitting down the stretch."
Those results from 2010 -- along with the return of six starters in the field and most of the pitching staff -- equate to high expectations once again for the Wildcats, the No. 1 team in the STLhighschoolsports.com preseason small-schools rankings.
"We're just focusing on playing good baseball and doing the right things," Van Gilst said. "... Right now they are working hard, and we'll see what happens."
Westminster's strong nucleus of returnees includes four pitchers: senior lefthander Collin Henry (4-4, 2.05 earned-run average in 54 2/3 innings), senior righthanders Alec Mitchell (3-3, 1.50) and Jake Kinsinger (4-3, 2.42) and junior lefty Glen Calvin (5-0, 2.43).
Sophomore lefty Ben Loevell, junior righthander Dylan Andres and freshman righthander Shane Benes (son of former Major League pitcher Andy Benes) also are in the mix for innings.
"Our pitchers are kids that can throw strikes for the most part, and if we can play good defense, we're in business," Van Gilst said.
The lineup starts, literally, with junior outfielder and leadoff hitter Tate Matheny, the son of former St. Louis Cardinals catcher Mike Matheny and a Post-Dispatch All-Metro selection last season after hitting .551 with 21 extra-base hits, 45 RBI and a .586 on-base percentage.
Matheny, who is moving from left field to center, has grown a few inches, gotten bigger, stronger and faster, and has attracted interest from Division I schools like Florida State, Michigan and others. Van Gilst said Matheny has been invited to try out for the U.S. National team this summer.
"He's a five-tool player, no question," Van Gilst said.
Matheny is one of six returning starters.
Senior catcher Ryan Allee is back after hitting .480 with 13 extra-base hits, 29 RBI, 31 runs scored and a .552 OBP. Junior Connor Einertson, who is moving from second base to left field, batted .349 with 21 RBI, 24 runs scored and .429 OBP.
First baseman Andrew Beck is back after hitting .301 with 16 RBI. Junior third baseman Luke Turner, who hit .228 with 13 RBI a year ago, started as a freshman and a sophomore. Henry will be in right field when he's not pitching.
Van Gilst said Benes and juniors Jacob Buffa and Connor Larson are competing for the shortstop and second baseman spots.
The coach expects to learn a lot about his team in a five-game trip to Florida this week and then four games against the Parkway schools -- Parkway South, North, West and Central -- next week. But he already likes what he sees.
"I'm excited about being able to coach them," Van Gilst said. "I think they have a chance to be special. It takes a lot of breaks when you get in the playoffs, but this team has a chance."
Returning statistical leaders
| Pitching | Vitals | Year | Pos. | W-L | IP | ERA | R | H | HR | BB | K | KAVG | Ks/W |
| Glen Calvin | 6-2, 160 | Jr. | P | 5-1 | 31.7 | 2.43 | 23 | 30 | 2 | 10 | 28 | 6.19 | 2.81 |
| Greg Gannin | 6-1, 200 | Jr. | P | 3-1 | 22.3 | 2.82 | 14 | 22 | 2 | 8 | 25 | 7.84 | 3.13 |
| Collin Henry | 5-8, 155 | Sr. | P/OF | 4-4 | 54.7 | 2.05 | 27 | 52 | - | 8 | 45 | 5.76 | 5.63 |
| Jake Kinsinger | 6-0, 185 | Sr. | P | 4-3 | 37.7 | 2.42 | 17 | 39 | 3 | 14 | 26 | 4.83 | 1.86 |
| Alec Mitchell | 6-1, 170 | Sr. | P | 3-3 | 46.7 | 1.5 | 22 | 43 | 4 | 18 | 36 | 5.4 | 2.01 |
| Â | |||||||||||||
| Hitting | Vitals | Year | Pos. | AVG | OB% | SLG | AB | R | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB |
| Ryan Allee | 5-10, 175 | Sr. | C | 480 | 552 | 660 | 100 | 31 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 29 | 7 |
| Andrew Beck | 6-0, 165 | Sr. | 1B | 301 | 354 | 356 | 73 | 15 | 4 | - | - | 16 | 2 |
| Connor Einerston | 6-1, 160 | Jr. | LF | 349 | 429 | 488 | 86 | 24 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 21 | 4 |
| Collin Henry | 5-8, 155 | Sr. | P/OF | 242 | 342 | 409 | 66 | 18 | 5 | 3 | - | 10 | 5 |
| Tate Matheny | 5-10, 150 | Jr. | CF | 551 | 586 | 907 | 107 | 37 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 45 | 8 |
| Luke Turner | 6-2, 175 | Jr. | 3B | 228 | 358 | 278 | 79 | 14 | 2 | 1 | - | 13 | 2 |
