Jefferson baseball head coach Robert Kuehnle sat down with Andy Runzi last summer to pick the Hall of Famer’s brain.
“I had a list of questions for my own professional development,” said Kuehnle. “Two hours later, I had a notebook full. I wanted him to keep talking. This year we’re using a lot of that stuff from that day.”
Since a 1-2 start, the Blue Jays (13-3) have gone 12-1 and beat Herculaneum 2-1 in a Jefferson County Activities Association small-schools showdown on April 16.
Runzi played for and then coached the Blackcats to the Class 3A state championships in 1986 and 1999. He is a member of the Dunklin R-5 Blackcat, University of Missouri-St. Louis and St. Louis Amateur Baseball halls of fame.
The 1999 team was honored prior to the conference game.
Kuehnle said he has put a Runzi recommendation into action. While Jefferson’s players warm up before practice, he said, he and his staff of four coaches (two unpaid) -- Gene Desalme, Jared Richardson, Daniel Rothweiler and Christian Mouton -- talk about their plans for that day.
“It was our time to talk about what we were going to work on,” Kuehnle said. “There’s no talking among the players during throwing. Our assistants talk to the kids and build relationships. That’s reduced our throwing errors to the point I can count them on one hand. That’s something (Runzi) taught me. There was a lot of stuff.”
The Blue Jays practice “no-ball cuts” which removes the baseball from the equation. Instead of hitting grounders to their fielders, Jefferson’s coaches yell out a scenario and the players react accordingly. Kuehnle said early in the spring when outside field time often is at a premium, this is a good way to teach his players situational awareness.
Kuehnle picked that training device up from Francis Howell head coach Tony Perkins, who’s in several halls of fame himself and has guided the Vikings to four Class 4 state titles since 2003.
“Coach Perkins wakes up and wins another state title,” said Kuehnle, who remembers all too well facing the powerful Vikings as a player at Fort Zumwalt West.
The Blue Jays sent senior Levi Ebersoldt to the mound against Herculaneum ace Jordan Duncan in a premier pitching duel.
Last spring when the two were matched, the Blue Jays tagged Duncan for three earned runs in 2 2/3 innings, while Ebersoldt was hit for three unearned runs in 4 2/3 frames in a 6-5 Jefferson win. This year, Ebersoldt scattered seven hits, piled up seven strikeouts and walked two batters, and Duncan fanned 11 in 6 2/3 innings; neither of the runs he allowed was earned.
As good a hitter as he is a pitcher, Duncan doubled off of Ebersoldt in the second inning, but Jefferson shortstop Colby Ott and second baseman Dawson Jakoubek turned a double play on the next batter to end the inning.
“That was a game-saving play,” Kuehnle said. “When Duncan came up to bat, I told my pitching coach to get the guy out before Duncan and we put him on. Levi induced a ground ball, Jakoubek is filling in for Ricky Daugherty and the moment wasn’t too big for him. One great thing about us is guys are stepping up in big situations.”
Ott took a Duncan breaking ball the other way for a double in the first inning and gave the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead after being driven home by Jacob Bridges.
Senior Andrew Graves scored in the fourth for a 2-0 Jefferson lead, then made the defensive play of the game in the bottom of the inning with a diving catch in center field. After knee surgery in 2017, Graves leaves the school as its all-time career leading rusher on the gridiron and he hasn’t had any setbacks since the operation.
In the Herky fourth, a double by Jason Harden scored Bryce Hall to cut the Blue Jays’ lead to 2-1 before Graves’ grab.
“It was a shot to center field that was tailing away and he made a full extension dive and if he doesn’t do that we probably lose 3-2,” Kuehnle said.
Kuehnle said Duncan and Ebersoldt put up one of the best pitching duels of the season. “Both kids were on point,” Kuehnle said. “We weren’t getting that low strike at the knees. Pitching is so natural to Jordan, it doesn’t look like he’s trying. But he can spot that little fastball with the little hook he’s got. Levi has been doing a good job. His velocity has picked up. He’s an absolute bulldog and will give you his best game.”
When the Class 3 District 3 tournament begins at WestCounty next month, the Blackcats and Blue Jays could meet again. Jefferson was knocked out of the tournament by Saxony Lutheran last year, while Herculaneum fell 4-0 to Hancock in the District 4 final.
“Any team can win it. It boils down to who shows up during the (district tournament),” Kuehnle said. “Who wants it the most? St. Pius, WestCounty, ArcadiaValley and Herky can beat anybody with the right guy on the mound. Kingston has a couple of guys who can absolutely throw it. Our district is loaded.”
By Russell KorandoFor the Leader
Jefferson baseball head coach Robert Kuehnle sat down with Andy Runzi last summer to pick the Hall of Famer’s brain.“I had a list of questions for my own professional development,” said Kuehnle. “Two hours later, I had a notebook full. I wanted him to keep talking. This year we’re using a lot of that stuff from that day.”Since a 1-2 start, the Blue Jays (13-3) have gone 12-1 and beat Herculaneum 2-1 in a Jefferson County Activities Association small-schools showdown on April 16.Runzi played for and then coached the Blackcats to the Class 3A state championships in 1986 and 1999. He is a member of the Dunklin R-5 Blackcat, University of Missouri-St. Louis and St. Louis Amateur Baseball halls of fame.The 1999 team was honored prior to the conference game.Kuehnle said he has put a Runzi recommendation into action. While Jefferson’s players warm up before practice, he said, he and his staff of four coaches (two unpaid) -- Gene Desalme, Jared Richardson, Daniel Rothweiler and Christian Mouton -- talk about their plans for that day.“It was our time to talk about what we were going to work on,” Kuehnle said. “There’s no talking among the players during throwing. Our assistants talk to the kids and build relationships. That’s reduced our throwing errors to the point I can count them on one hand. That’s something (Runzi) taught me. There was a lot of stuff.”The Blue Jays practice “no-ball cuts” which removes the baseball from the equation. Instead of hitting grounders to their fielders, Jefferson’s coaches yell out a scenario and the players react accordingly. Kuehnle said early in the spring when outside field time often is at a premium, this is a good way to teach his players situational awareness. Kuehnle picked that training device up from Francis Howell head coach Tony Perkins, who’s in several halls of fame himself and has guided the Vikings to four Class 4 state titles since 2003.“Coach Perkins wakes up and wins another state title,” said Kuehnle, who remembers all too well facing the powerful Vikings as a player at Fort Zumwalt West.The Blue Jays sent senior Levi Ebersoldt to the mound against Herculaneum ace Jordan Duncan in a premier pitching duel.Last spring when the two were matched, the Blue Jays tagged Duncan for three earned runs in 2 2/3 innings, while Ebersoldt was hit for three unearned runs in 4 2/3 frames in a 6-5 Jefferson win. This year, Ebersoldt scattered seven hits, piled up seven strikeouts and walked two batters, and Duncan fanned 11 in 6 2/3 innings; neither of the runs he allowed was earned.As good a hitter as he is a pitcher, Duncan doubled off of Ebersoldt in the second inning, but Jefferson shortstop Colby Ott and second baseman Dawson Jakoubek turned a double play on the next batter to end the inning.“That was a game-saving play,” Kuehnle said. “When Duncan came up to bat, I told my pitching coach to get the guy out before Duncan and we put him on. Levi induced a ground ball, Jakoubek is filling in for Ricky Daugherty and the moment wasn’t too big for him. One great thing about us is guys are stepping up in big situations.”Ott took a Duncan breaking ball the other way for a double in the first inning and gave the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead after being driven home by Jacob Bridges.Senior Andrew Graves scored in the fourth for a 2-0 Jefferson lead, then made the defensive play of the game in the bottom of the inning with a diving catch in center field. After knee surgery in 2017, Graves leaves the school as its all-time career leading rusher on the gridiron and he hasn’t had any setbacks since the operation.In the Herky fourth, a double by Jason Harden scored Bryce Hall to cut the Blue Jays’ lead to 2-1 before Graves’ grab.“It was a shot to center field that was tailing away and he made a full extension dive and if he doesn’t do that we probably lose 3-2,” Kuehnle said.Kuehnle said Duncan and Ebersoldt put up one of the best pitching duels of the season. “Both kids were on point,” Kuehnle said. “We weren’t getting that low strike at the knees. Pitching is so natural to Jordan, it doesn’t look like he’s trying. But he can spot that little fastball with the little hook he’s got. Levi has been doing a good job. His velocity has picked up. He’s an absolute bulldog and will give you his best game.”When the Class 3 District 3 tournament begins at West County next month, the Blackcats and Blue Jays could meet again. Jefferson was knocked out of the tournament by Saxony Lutheran last year, while Herculaneum fell 4-0 to Hancock in the District 4 final.“Any team can win it. It boils down to who shows up during the (district tournament),” Kuehnle said. “Who wants it the most? St. Pius, West County, Arcadia Valley and Herky can beat anybody with the right guy on the mound. Kingston has a couple of guys who can absolutely throw it. Our district is loaded.”