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: Hillsboro
If and when the 2020 high school baseball season begins, Windsor will host the Class 4 District 3 tournament for the first time in its new stadium.
Affton, Bayless, Lutheran South, Roosevelt and St. Mary’s will join the Owls for the tournament.
Junior Derek Williams is fully recovered from the injury he sustained playing football last fall. Williams played the second half of the basketball season and returns to the diamond this spring as the team’s top pitcher and hitter. He hit .383 and led the Owls in most offensive categories. On the hill, Williams struck out 25 batters in 18 2/3 innings and had an earned-run average of 0.38.
“He’s a great athlete, fast, has a strong arm and can for average and power,” Windsor head coach Jeff Young said.
Seniors Pierce Hartmann and Matt Martin complement Williams in the starting rotation. They chewed up 66 2/3 innings and combined to go 6-1 last season. Martin will also play both corners of the infield. Hartmann batted .343 and drove home 13 runs.
“They all three pitched well and will be leaned upon again to get all the big starts,” said Young, who enters his 16th year.
Junior Gavin Kinworthy gives Young a fourth quality starter, with senior Cal Gaitens getting some spot starts around his duties in the outfield.
Senior Kaelen Gmerek is the catcher, seniors Andy Omanovic and Justin Stenger play in the outfield, senior Nick Hummel is at second base and senior Ian West plays first. Omanovic led the Owls with 15 stolen bases.
“As a team, coupled with a year of experience, we look to hit for a higher average than last year,” Young said. “We have good team speed for the top guys needed to score runs.”
After losing the Class 4 District 3 championship to Lutheran South last year, Windsor beat Althoff at Busch Stadium in a makeup game and finished the season 17-10. The 2019 season included a stretch where the Owls won 10 of 11 games.
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.