Festus-Hillsboro, DeSoto-Windsor in Class 5 District 1 baseball semis on KJFF

(Festus) Jefferson County rivals will meet up in the postseason at the Class 5 District 1 baseball semifinals Thursday on KJFF.

In the first game, the top-seeded Festus Tigers battle the number-four-seeded Hillsboro Hawks.

Festus has had a phenomenal 23-8 season thank largely to great pitching.

Senior Connor Hulsey, freshman Mason Schrimer and juniors Ian Brown and Nate Moore have been dominant on the mound.

But Tigers head coach Jeff Montgomery believes every hitter in their lineup is a tough out as well.

Hillsboro is 8-14 but has won six of its last 10 games.

While the Hawks have gotten great play all season from senior Andrew Brody and juniors Kyle Turman, Austin Romaine and Jaxin Patterson, head coach Kevin Lucas says the whole team is in a groove, and they cannot afford to take their foot off the gas pedal.

In the second semifinal, the second-seeded Windsor Owls meet the third-seeded DeSoto Dragons.

Windsor is 18-11 and has relied on a mix of solid pitching and explosive offense.

Junior Austin Happel has been a leader on both fronts.

Owls head coach Randy Green says the reason other players are performing so well is having the right attitude.

At 9-13, DeSoto has leaned on seniors Caleb Coleman and Cody DeClue to grind out victories in some pitchers’ duels, including their quarterfinal win.

Dragons head coach Matt Buechting says it’s all about doing whatever it takes to win.

The Tigers tamed the Hawks in the regular season by winning both meetings, while the Owls also swept their series with the Dragons.

Festus faces Hillsboro and DeSoto duels Windsor in the Class 5 District 1 baseball semifinals Thursday evening.

Coverage begins with the Flieg’s Equipment Pregame Show at 4:15 on AM 1400 KJFF.