By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
2023 proved to be a banner year for Weaubleau baseball.
The Tigers posted an 18-10 record and captured a fourth-straight district championship, falling to the eventual Class 1 state champion, St. Elizabeth, in the sectional round.
“It was a successful year for our program,” head coach Calab Kauffman said. “At the end of the year, we were playing our best baseball, and that led to another district championship for our program. We lost some games last year during the regular season that we probably shouldn’t have but we quickly learned from them and got back on track. I know when baseball season finally gets here, my boys will be ready to go.”
Kauffman has every reason to be optimistic, as well.
Led by a pair of all-state honorees in senior Blane Dumell and junior Lee Lambeth, Weaubleau returns its entire lineup this season.
“Blane Durnell is a strong leader,” Kauffman said. “He does a great job of getting guys locked in. He can play anywhere I ask him to play. He is one of our strongest bats in the lineup.
“Lee Lambeth is our go-to reliever when we need to close games. He has a strong bat and is a really tough out to get. He has been our lock at third base the past two years and is another guy that can play anywhere on the infield if need be.”
The all-state duo will be joined by Clayton Ginnings, Beau Tucker, Zach Brown and Gunner Freeman.
Ginnings, a junior pitcher and first baseman, received all-conference and all-district honors as a sophomore.
“Clayton Ginnings is our dude on the mound,” Kauffman said. “He will throw in a lot of our big games like he did last year. He was our leadoff last year. He has a great bat and has great speed. When he’s not on the mound, he can play infield and outfield. He has an above average arm.”
Tucker, a senior outfielder and pitcher, is another all-conference and all-district selection for the Tigers.
“Beau Tucker is another guy with a big bat and great speed,” Kauffman said. “He reads baseballs really well in the outfield. He also had a big fall on the mound. I look for him to get more innings on the mound.”
Brown, a senior catcher, was named to the 2023 all-conference squad.
“Zach Brown is one of, if not the best catcher in the conference,” Kauffman said. “When he is behind the plate, our pitchers are very comfortable and typically throw really well. Zach has a lot of speed on the bases and is another strong bat in our lineup.”
Freeman, a junior infielder, outfielder and pitcher, received all-conference honors last season.
“Gunner Freeman has really developed into a solid first baseman,” Kauffman said. “He played some right field for us last year, and he pitched in our district championship win. I expect him to have more success on the mound again this year.”
Seniors Dawson Stewart, Landon Chaney and Owen Hicks round out Weaubleau’s returning core.
“Dawson Stewart is our shortstop and has a lot of range and can make a lot of tough plays look easy,” Kauffman said. “He is another guy that has a lot of speed and is a great base runner.
“Landon Chaney is another player who has great speed. He is very coachable and does a phenomenal job in the outfield. Very confident when I know a pop fly is heading in his direction.
“Owen Hicks is one that recently transitioned to the infield and has done a tremendous job. He makes a lot of great plays. I look for him to catch when Brown takes the mound.”
Kauffman also expects a trio of sophomore newcomers to compete for varsity playing time in Bryce Caufield, Brady Medina and Jett Johnson.
“With everyone returning, my expectations are set pretty high and talking with the boys, they have the same expectations,” Kauffman said. “We definitely want to get back to where we left off last year. This is what makes them a great group of men to coach because I know when the time comes, they’re ready to fight.”
“I have several guys who will see a lot of time on the mound,” Kauffman said. “Ginnings will be leading the pitching staff for this year. Lambeth, Freeman, B. Tucker, Durnell and Brown will all see a lot of time on the mound. These guys do a great job at controlling their mental toughness on the mound. They’re competitors on the mound and that’s where a lot of our success comes from. Our guys feed off their energy.”
At the plate, Kauffman also believes that continuity from last season will definitely help his lineup develop heading into the new season.
“We have a lot of guys in our lineup that swing it really well and that have a lot of speed,” Kauffman said. “I have confidence with every guy in my lineup 1-9 to get a hit or get that runner from third in. Another strength is experience. With that experience, we have six seniors and three juniors in the lineup who have played a lot of baseball.”
For Weaubleau to build upon last season’s success and drive deeper into the postseason, experience and chemistry will play vital roles.
“Our experience is one of our biggest strengths heading into the season,” Kauffman said. “We have dudes where anyone can set the tone for the night and get the guys going. This group is very coachable so that makes my job a lot easier.”
Following a March 9 jamboree at Stockton, Weaubleau opens its season March 15 at home against Climax Springs.
