2025 Spring Preview: Willard Baseball

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By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)

When it’s do-or-die baseball, no team executes better than the Willard Tigers.

Willard played its signature style – heavy on sound pitching and mistake-free defense – all the way to another state championship last season.

As the banners go up, the Tigers’ decade-plus run is going better than ever.

“We should be the best defensive team in the area,” said Willard coach Scott McGee on his team’s strengths entering the 2025 season. “It was a strength last year, and we return very good defensive players.

“Experience and knowledge on how to play ‘Willard Baseball’ should help us significantly as well.”

Nine players who have starting experience or played significant varsity innings will take the field again this spring for the defending Class 5 state champions.

“Our top three pitchers are as good as anybody else’s in southwest Missouri, and our defense should be very strong,” McGee said. “We have a versatile lineup that runs well, and we return some of our top offensive players.”

As you’d expect, the Tigers will be strong up the middle.

Catcher Rowden LeJeune, shortstop Matthew Angel and centerfielder Jackson Phipps will anchor Willard’s defense.

LeJeune is a stable force behind the plate for Willard’s pitching staff.

Angel, a Fort Scott signee, is Willard’s top returning hitter. The three-year varsity starter batted .328 with 10 doubles and 26 RBIs last season.

“He was our top position player last year and is a very good defender,” McGee said.

Phipps rotated in Willard’s outfield last season but will take over in center this year. He hit .302 in limited varsity at-bats.

“He is fast and provides power and defense as well,” McGee said.

Fellow seniors Bryton Towe (3B/P), Collin Spering (OF/P) and Caleb Hayter (1B) will also see time in the lineup. Towe threw 21 innings last season and went 3-0 with a save. He will have more opportunities at the plate this season.

“(Towe) is a mid-80s strike thrower and a competitor,” McGee said. “He will also provide defense and power at third base.”

Spering, a Lincoln Land Community College signee, is one of the best athletes on the team and another two-way player.

“Collin is very athletic and threw 14 innings a year ago,” McGee said. “He is a good defender in right and provides power and speed in our lineup.”

Hayter is eager to produce with more varsity at-bats.

“He is a strong defender at first base and has power,” McGee said.

Three juniors will have major roles for the Tigers.

Levi Hilton (OF/P) is a rising star. He threw 37 innings overall last season and got the starting nod in Willard’s state title game.

“He is the top junior pitcher in our area,” McGee said.

Hilton can produce with his bat as well. As an everyday starter in the lineup, he hit .321 with nine doubles and 20 RBIs.

Hilton, Towe and Spering will lead Willard’s pitching staff.

Cade Hayter (IF/P) was a regular starter at second base before getting injured. He hit .300 with 11 steals.

“Cade is a switch hitter who provides defense and speed,” McGee said.

Jarrett McGee will expand from pinch-hitting ace to full-time starter this year. The lefthander batted .344 in limited action last season. He delivered a key two-out, two-run single in Willard’s state championship win over Webster Groves.

“Jarrett will be one of our best offensive players and hit in the middle of our batting order,” McGee said.

The Tigers finished 34-5 overall last season and won the Class 5 state championship. Willard shutout Branson to win its district tournament, then beat St. Francis Borgia (1-0), Ft. Zumwalt South (5-4) and Webster Groves (5-1) to be the last team standing in Class 5.

Willard graduated a good portion of that championship squad. Eleven seniors graduated in all, including four all-state selections in Landon Moore (INF), Drew Quinlan (INF), Cameron Jennings (P) and Hayden Larson (P).

Quinlan (John Wood Community College), Jennings (College of the Ozarks) and Larson (Evangel) are continuing their baseball careers in college, along with Hayden Rakestraw (John Wood CC) and Evangel signees Russell Roweton, Kaelin Adams and Peyton Gayer. Additionally, Kenyon Nixon, Jacob Hearon and Will Merryman graduated from the 2024 squad.

Willard’s 2024 senior class was the winningest group in program history.

Dating back to 2011, the Tigers have won at least 20 games in all but one season.

They haven’t squandered this run, either. Over that span, Willard has won nine district titles, made six state final fours (four in the last five years), and won two state championships. The Tigers have played in 14 straight district title games dating back to the 2010 season.

Willard will call upon some new varsity players to reach the postseason again in 2025.

Seniors Jake Peterson (OF), Dale Anderson (P, College of the Ozarks signee) and Nicholas Lucas (OF) will supplement Willard’s depth.

“Jake has power and is an awesome kid,” McGee said. “Dale will compete for important innings with a low 80s fastball and an improved changeup. Nicholas is a left-handed hitter with speed who will look to find his role off the bench.”

Juniors Kyler Adams (P) and Tyler Davis (3B) are battling for varsity innings as well. Davis is the starting quarterback for Willard’s football team.

“Kyler is a low-80s strike thrower who pitches with intelligence,” McGee said. “Tyler is a good defender at third base and understands our offensive system.”

Two sophomores, Jackson Redd (OF/C/P) and Matthew Burns (P), could emerge as varsity contributors, too.

“Jackson is athletic and plays extremely hard. He’ll battle for a starting role in our outfield,” McGee said. “Matthew throws in the mid-80s and could be key for us in the second half of the season as he gets used to the speed of varsity baseball.”

Willard’s bench was vital to its postseason run a year ago. Health could be a bigger priority this year.

“We are not as deep this year in the position player group or in the pitching group, so we will have to work to stay healthy for the end of the season,” McGee said.

Willard begins the regular season March 20 at Marshfield. The home opener is April 1 versus Kickapoo.

The Tigers will host a variety of special events for home games this season, including “Legends Day” on May 3 where they’ll honor two former members of the program.

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