Using today’s vernacular, the pitching in Jefferson County is sick. So sick, it should be on life support.
Take Seckman lefthander Cory Hilzinger, for example. After his breakout freshman season had Jaguar-land eager for his return to the mound, all Hilzinger has done in his first 11 scoreless innings is allow six hits and strike out eight batters. In his most recent start March 26, Hilzinger shut out Fox for six innings and reliever Brody Kube came in and slammed the door on a 7-0 victory over the Warriors at GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Ill.
In Hilzinger’s other start, the season opener against CBC, he pitched five innings and allowed two hits, and Carson Hardin held the Cadets scoreless for two innings in a 1-0 win.
Hilzinger, who is 6-0, 170, took a no-decision against Fox in a 4-2 home loss last year. By the end of 2025, he had asserted himself as the ace of the Seckman staff for years to come. Like most of the athletes I cover who emerge so quickly, Hilzinger seemed low-key about what he’s accomplished so far. He said he’s gained a couple mph on his fastball, which can hit 85.
“Staying consistent, throwing strikes,” Hilzinger said of his early success this spring. “My defense has my back. It’s me and the catcher. You have to dim out the noise. Working on mechanics has helped me a lot. Moving quicker down the mound, turning faster into the pitch more fluently.”
Hilzinger said he’s become a fan of Seth Hernandez (6-4, 190), the sixth overall pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2025 draft.
“I like his movement when he goes down the mound,” Hilzinger said.
Before beating the Warriors, the Jaguars beat Fort Zumwalt West and Francis Howell Central in a pair of one-run games for a fifth-place finish in the Troy Buchanan Classic. Seckman played four teams from the Gateway Athletic Conference, and went 2-2.
Hilzinger said he isn’t letting increasing expectations cause any pressure.
“The offense is helping. No stress for me. I’m still in the fun part. Baseball is all about having fun.”
After a 3-0 start in Missouri, Festus traveled to McCracken County (Ky.) for three games March 27-28. The Tigers (4-2) lost two of three games, but lefthanded starting pitchers Jackson Smith and Cale Schaumburg are on the same fast track as Hilzinger. The innings pitched for all three will start to ramp up now that we’re getting past the easing-them-in phase of the season. Schaumburg is 2-0 and hasn’t allowed an earned run in seven innings, and Smith is 1-1 with an early ERA of 2.00.
Last year, Festus was taken out by Vianney in two games in the Class 5 quarterfinals new best-of-three format. Smith and Schaumburg were the starting pitchers for the Tigers in those two games. The Griffins ended up second in the state, and for their success, MSHSAA moved them up to Class 6 and out of the way. No matter, in a best-of-three setup, then two games in two days in the final four, Festus looks hard to beat.
But a Tiger trap is waiting for them in District 1, where JCAA rivals
De Soto and Hillsboro have their own one-two punch on the mound. Early results are in, and the Dragons have their strongest team in years. Lefty Blake Coleman still has the governor on, but has fanned 13 batters in six innings. Teammate Austin Milton, a righty, has been the staff workhorse so far, pitching 11 1/3 innings with a 2-0 record and 1.24 ERA.
In Hillsboro’s most recent game, an 11-0 win over Jefferson on March 25, pitchers Hunter Grewe, Cameron Hill and Jackson Marks combined for the shutout. The starter, Grewe helped himself with four hits (two doubles), three runs and two RBIs.
We’re supposed to get a bunch of rain this week, so the needle might not move much for baseball stats, but now that we’re into April, experience says that these are the fastest two months in the school year. After what I saw at the McCullough-Douglass Invitational on March 28 at Festus High, I can’t wait to write about the achievements of our track and field stars this spring.
Happy Easter, everyone.