Superb pitching is an obvious reason the Festus Tigers have won five consecutive Class 5 District 1 baseball championships, including shutouts in the last three, and won their only state title in 2023 after a second-place finish in 2022.
That’s just part of that unrivaled success, said Jeff Montgomery, who enters his 30th season with the team and 18th as head coach. In another milestone, assistant coach Barry Stafford enters his 25th season.
“Our competitive energy as a team has been key at district time,” Montgomery said before the Tigers opened the season at home March 20 against Fox High. “When you get a taste of it and then you also know kind of what it takes as coaches and players to win districts. I am proud of that. Our culture we have built. It is never easy. This year, there will be some big challenges. It starts with pitching in those district runs. The boys developed some great execution of pitches. It is a big credit to our pitching. They work hard and they want it.”
After COVID-19 wiped out the 2020 season, Festus began its district run each year with two shutdown pitchers perfect for the playoff format. Nate Moore and Mason Schirmer (2022), Ian Brown and Schirmer (2023), Schirmer and Jackson Smith (2024) and Smith and Cale Schaumburg (2025) have all succeeded on the mound in the postseason, and now Smith, Schaumburg, both lefthanders, senior Brayden Beers, a righthander, and junior lefty Jackson ljames form the new Festus starters.
Last season, Smith and Schaumburg both averaged well over a strikeout per inning. Smith fired a masterful complete-game shutout against Farmington in the District 1 championship. MSHSAA adopted a new playoff format last year, turning the quarterfinals into a best-of-3 series. Vianney beat Festus 2-0 in the first game where Schaumburg went the distance and didn’t allow an earned run. The Griffins ended the Tigers’ season with a 5-2 victory. Smith allowed nine hits, but fanned eight and didn’t issue a walk.
“Both Schaumburg and Smith really went to new levels last year in big games,” Montgomery said. “They were consistent with their pitches. They were competitive and did not give in. They know what it takes. Executing the off-speed pitches to get hitters off balance is the key. They both get a lot of movement on pitches.
“As always, our pitching staff will be bigger than most teams. We use a lot of guys. I think you have to so you do not overuse your pitching. We want guys to peak at the right time.”
If that weren’t enough lefthanded pitchers, juniors Nate Womack, Gunner Wilson and Caden McBride provide them three more. A 6-8 center on the school’s basketball team, Womack was voted to the Jefferson County Activities Association large-schools first team.
“And that does not include (junior) Jack Kester who is currently injured,” Montgomery said.
Montgomery said righthanded twins Lucas Perry and Parker Perry, who are juniors, showed nice flashes last year. Juniors Ryan Vernon, Nolan Chilton, Lane Lucas and Jude Blattner and sophomore Ty Jackson provide more depth at RHP and on defense.
Juniors Cooper Schilly (second base) and Brayden Good (shortstop) return to give Festus pitching a wide net to cover the middle infield. When he’s not pitching, Beers mans third base. The Tigers have used first base as a sanctuary for their big cats on the mound when they’re not pitching. Junior Cole Malusky returns behind the plate.
“Good and Schilly will be key players this year, they both had good offseasons getting bigger and stronger,” Montgomery said. “I really like the way all the sophomores a year ago stepped up. They were key to us winning districts.”
Offensively, the Tigers will certainly miss their catalyst and leadoff batter Brady Nolen (2025), who many times ended up the winning run by getting a hit, stealing second, going to third on a wild pitch, and scoring on the same or a base hit. Smith can hit for power, as evidenced by his 19 RBIs a year ago. Schilly drove in 16 runs and hit .256. Beers hit .270 and was among the team leaders with 23 RBIs.
The JCAA is so rugged that winning a district title in no way guarantees winning the large-schools side of the conference. All four of the games Festus played against Hillsboro High and De Soto High ended in a shutout with a composite score of 5-0. The Hawks and Dragons each have their own hitter-slayers on the mound. North County High in Bonne Terre is hosting District 1 this year.
“Well, De Soto has Blake Coleman. He is a player of the year candidate, and they have (Connor) Heister and (Levi) McCullough, those are good players,” Montgomery said. “And Hillsboro has Jackson Marks and the Partney brothers (Max and Zach). Those guys are all good players and can have a huge impact on the conference. I would say it is an open field. We’ve got a lot of work to do. Nothing is going to be easy, including winning conference.”