The Eureka High baseball team opens its season Friday in St. Charles against four-time state champion Francis Howell as part of the 29th Troy Classic.
The Vikings finished second in the state last season in Class 6 and have been a top-four team the last three seasons. Under head coach Tony Perkins, Howell won state titles in 2003, 2011, 2013 and 2016. This is Ken Droege’s third season at the helm for the Wildcats, who were 24-12-1 last season. Droege guided Rockwood Summit to a Class 4 state crown in 2012. Eureka’s last final four appearance was in 2015.
On the mound, the Vikings will start righthander Eli Skidmore, who has committed to St. Louis University. Skidmore pitched 1 1/3 scoreless, hitless innings an struck out three batters in the state semifinals against Blue Springs. He’s one of eight Vikings committed to DI schools.
Skidmore’s counterpart on the hill is Eureka senior Ralph Gianino, who was 6-0 in 43 1/3 innings, had an ERA of 1.29 and fanned 36 batters.
“He was our best arm last year. The moment’s never too big for him,” Droege said.