By Chris Parker
Weaubleau posted a 21-5 record last season marching all the way to the Class 1 state sectional round before falling to eventual state runner-up St. Elizabeth.
The Tigers must replace three of their four all-state selections from that team, but do return a solid core of leaders in Ethan Foster (senior infield/pitcher), Gage Culbertson (senior pitcher/outfield) and Wyatt Dennis (junior pitcher/infield).
Foster was named second-team all-state as a pitcher last year after posting a 1.26 ERA. He also hit .463 with 33 RBI and 13 stolen bases.
“Ethan has started varsity since he was a freshman and is one of our team captains for the third year in a row,” Weaubleau head coach Chad Foster said. “Ethan did an excellent job hitting in the middle of our order, played great defense on the infield, and did a good job on the mound. He has had countless big hits over the years for us. He is a team first guy, a great competitor, and a great leader for us on and off the field.”
Culbertson, an honorable mention all-district and academic all-state player, hit .333 with 16 RBI last year.
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“Gage is one of our team captains,” Coach Foster said. “Gage has gotten better every year and did a good job in the outfield for us last year and had a good year offensively. He will be asked to do more on the mound this year.”
Dennis, an all-district, all-conference and academic all-state honoree, posted 1.53 ERA on the mound while hitting .310 with 19 RBI last year.
That trio along with the freshman trio of Clayton Ginnings, Lee Lambeth and Gunner Freeman will be Weaubleau’s pitching staff.
Sophomores Zach Brown and Beau Stites will each see time at catcher.
Foster, Dennis, Brown, Lambeth, Ginnings and Dawson Stewart (sophomore) will all be at various spots around the infield.
Culbertson, Stites, Freeman, Ginnings and Blane Durnell (sophomore) are all candidates for time in the outfield.
“Our team is athletic. Defense and base running will be a few of our strengths,” Coach Foster said. “With a young, inexperienced team we will work to improve offensively and on the mound.”
