Festus Post 253 begins its quest for its sixth state American Legion baseball championship against Washington Post 218 in Sedalia on Thursday night at 8 p.m.
Ste. Genevieve Post 150 plays Sedalia Post 642 in the other first-round game of the double-elimination tournament at 5 p.m. Ste. Genevieve beat Festus on Sunday to win the Zone 4 title. Post 253 received a state bid because there are just three zones in the state, and it’s Zone 4’s turn to send a second team. The three zones will rotate qualifying the second-place team on a yearly basis.
The state championship is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m., with a second game at 4, if necessary.
Follow the Leader for state results.
Call it the Chad Donze Effect
It’s the feeling that seems to overcome Festus Post 253 batters when they dig in against the tall Ste. Genevieve Post 150 right-hander.
Donze has started on the mound against Festus three times since June 9. Post 150 won two of three of those starts. The only run Donze has allowed to Festus came in the teams’ first meeting on June 9 at West City Park. Gavin Turley scored the unearned run after reaching on a two-base error and coming home on a hit by Jordan Duncan. Donze shut out Post 253 in the subsequent 19 2/3 innings and mowed them down in his second 3-0 decision against them in a week, in the second round of the Zone 4 tournament on July 25.
Donze has played for Post 150 for three years, steadily improving each summer. He doesn’t overpower batters with blazing fastballs, instead slicing them up with a combination of off-speed pitches, curveballs and sliders.
“They’re a good ballclub and I know they’re good hitters,” Donze said of Festus. “I know when I pitch against them, I need to bring my ‘A’ game. I’ve been throwing good all summer and I’m confident in my pitches.
“This rivalry is fun. I guarantee if you ask any baseball player what they want, it’s competition.”
In his starts against Post 253, Donze has allowed 12 hits, walked two and hit two batters and struck out 15. He finished the first two starts and was relieved with two outs in the seventh in the last outing, in which he tossed 109 pitches.
“The kid knows how to pitch,” Ste. Genevieve manager Junie Basler said. “He’s not going to overpower anybody, but he can locate and hit spots. He does a really good job of knowing the game and situation.”
Heading into the state tournament, Donze has a record of 8-2 and an earned run average of 0.50.
“Ever since I was younger, I’ve never been able to throw that hard, so I really got good with my off-speed stuff,” Donze said. “When I got to high school, my velocity picked up.”
In the spring, Donze pitched as a senior for Ste. Genevieve High, which won the Class 4 District 2 championship and lost to Sikeston in sectionals. The highlight of his season was striking out 10 in the Dragons’ 4-1 win over Valle Catholic in the annual Old Settlement Rivalry game. He’ll play baseball for Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff.