Three generations of the Bone family orchestrated consistent success for the Festus Post 253 American Legion baseball program.
Now it’s time for the next chapter.
Alec Kisena, 28, of Crystal City, is the new manager for Festus, succeeding Zac Bone, the head baseball coach at Jefferson College. Kisena coached the Festus junior (AA) team last season.
Bone took over for his dad, longtime skipper Pat Bone, as Festus manager in 2012 and served for a decade before leaving to concentrate on his college job. He came back to Post 253 last season on an interim basis when the manager post came open.
Kisena’s background in baseball includes professional experience. A native of Mill Creek, Wash., he commanded the pitching mound as a 6-5, 308-pound righthander and was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 16th round of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft. After one season in rookie ball, he played for two years with the Gateway Grizzlies of the independent Frontier League, then was signed by the New York Mets in 2019 and rose from Class A to the Mets’ AAA affiliate in Syracuse. In total, he played four seasons in the minors and three in independent ball.
Kisena takes over a Post 253 program that’s accustomed to competing not only for the Missouri District 13 championship, but zone and state titles as well. Zac Bone led Festus to the American Legion World Series in 2019. Kisena sounds like he understands the history of the program.
“There’s a standard,” he said. “No matter who the coaches or players are, they hold that. (Post) 253 runs in their blood.
“The teams they put out every year, they always compete. Last year, I jumped in as an assistant and being in that world, I loved it. It has flashes of travel ball I’m used to. I got to know the kids so well and I’ll see them around town, and even if I haven’t seen them or their families for a month or two, it’s like I talked to them yesterday.”
District 13 has seen its share of teams come and go in recent years, and this summer the senior clubs are Festus, the Hillsboro Prospects, De Soto SMCI, Rock Memorial Post 283 and Ste. Genevieve Post 150, which returns after a year’s hiatus.
“We played against the Ste. Gen juniors last year and they’re going to have a solid team,” Kisena said.
As is customary for 253, the roster is well populated with some of the top high school players from the Jefferson County Activities Association. Crystal City, Festus, Herculaneum, Jefferson and St. Pius X – no longer part of the JCAA – all have players on the team.
Nolan Naucke and Cole Robinson played this spring for the Blue Jays. Naucke’s sister, Haley, is married to Kisena. Their dad, Robert Naucke, played for Post 253. Nolan Naucke can play anywhere except middle infield and catcher. He and Robinson will pitch; Robinson also will play third base and in the outfield.
“(Nolan) has a very strong feel for the game and a very good baseball IQ,” Kisena said. “Baseball has always been a passion of his.”
For Evan Wolfe, who just finished his junior year at Crystal City, it will be wall-to-wall baseball this summer as he plans to play infield for Festus and for the Southside Prospects, an independent select team based in Affton.
“His bat has really come along,” Kisena said.
The core of this spring’s Herculaneum baseball team will take the field for 253. Brothers Devin and Dylan Black and Tanner Duncan, younger brother of former Festus standout Jordan Duncan, give 253 speed, pitching and solid defense from the outfield to behind the plate. Dylan will catch, play first base and pitch. He started the first game of the year on the mound against Rock Memorial on Sunday.
“(Dylan has) taken that leadership role,” Kisena said. “This is his third year on the senior team.” Devin, a center-fielder and catcher when he’s not pitching, is a “lunch-pail, hard-hat kind of guy,” Kisena said. “He loves the game and plays full speed – that’s his only gear.”
Tanner Duncan just finished his sophomore year and is the youngest player on the team. He bats leadoff and can play in the outfield, but will see action primarily in the middle infield.
“He’s way ahead of his age when it comes to what he can do,” Kisena said. “When it’s game time between the lines, he’ll give a full effort.”
As members of the Festus Tigers, Colton Gartner and Caleb Axtetter have seen their share of winning baseball. The Tigers have won four straight district titles and were the Class 5 state champions in 2023. Gartner plays second base and Axtetter will pitch and play in the outfield.
“Maybe this is the culture at Festus (High), but they want to know what they can do to be better,” Kisena said.
The St. Pius contribution to the Festus roster includes shortstop-outfielder Brennan Ervin, first baseman/utility man Zander Street and catcher Gunnar Hosay, who also is double-rostered with a travel team. Kisena said Hosay caught bullpen for former Hillsboro and 253 star Michael Brewer, who’s been pitching in the Texas Rangers farm system since 2021.
St. Pius is hosting Festus senior Legion games this summer. Kisena said some tournament games could be held at Jefferson College.
“This sport has given me and my family so much and if I can give half back, I’m happy,” he said.