Editor’s note: Extracurricular activities, including athletics, for Jefferson County public schools have been postponed until at least April 23. The Leader will present spring sports previews on the presumption that the seasons will be held this spring, with a different team in the county featured at 2 p.m. each day. For updated information, continue to check myleaderpaper.com.
TOMORROW: Windsor
Levi Ebersoldt was 7-1 on the mound for Jefferson High’s baseball team last season. Daylen Whitener posted a 4-0 mark in just 18 2/3 innings.
Ebersoldt, a senior, and Whitener, a junior, are two good reasons for head coach Robert Kuehnle to be optimistic if games are played this spring.
The school’s basketball star this winter, senior Jon Weik, is the No. 3 pitcher. Dylan Schnitzler, Carson Heine, Luke LaBrayere, Nolan Roth and Dawson Jakoubek form a nice blend of starting and bullpen depth.
Ebersoldt, another top basketball player, will play in the infield as well as pitch. He struck out 56 batters in 42 1/3 innings and had an earned-run average of 1.16 last spring. He smashed the ball at the plate to the tune of a .431 average.
“He will be a huge help as the season rolls on,” Kuehnle said. “He has really worked in the offseason and developed a lot more power at the plate.”
Junior Colby Ott gives the Blue Jays one of the top shortstops in the conference. He led the team with a .459 batting average, 25 RBIs and 17 stolen bases.
“He will help us a lot in the infield being an all-conference, all-district guy,” Kuehnle said.
Jefferson was rolling with a six-game winning streak and 18-3 record when it met Herculaneum in the Class 3 District 3 semifinals last year. The Blue Jays had beaten the Blackcats 2-1 a month earlier to help clinch the small-schools division regular-season title, but were stymied by Black Cat hurler Jordan Duncan and fell, 2-1.
Jakoubek (.727 batting average ) and Whitener (.429) only had 11 plate appearances between them last year, but if they can produce anywhere those numbers over the course of the season, Jefferson can be productive at the plate.
“We are going to have some guys who can hit for power, some by contact, and others who bunt to get on,” Kuehnle said. “I’m really excited about this team’s offensive potential.”
The Missouri State High School Activities Association has said it will work with local school districts and county health authorities to determine whether the season will start, and when.