Lindbergh Baseball Staying Cool in the Clutch

The target for the baseball team is clear this season, and that is to win the Class 4 state championship in Springfield, Mo. during the first weekend in June.

After winning eight of their past nine games, the Flyers certainly look poised to remain a title contender deep into the 2011 baseball season. Lindbergh defeated Eureka on Thursday night, 6-5, to improve to 10-3.

“We were tested right away this season, and that’s the way you want it to be. You want that adversity, and it helps give you a sense of how to set your lineup for later in the season,” Lindbergh coach Darin Scott said.

Even more impressive is the Flyers’ 6-1 mark in the elite Suburban West Conference. In fact, if you talk with Scott, what happens during the conference schedule is vital to him and his team.

The Suburban West this season has scheduled all league games to be played in a back-to-back format, with each team hosting one game. Scott says this will make winning the conference much more legitimate, and also a more rewarding team goal.

“I absolutely love it. I was one of the major advocates for doing this for one simple reason. Baseball is meant to be played in a series format. With rainouts, and the way you could set up your schedule in the conference playing one game at a time, you could use your No. 1 pitcher in seven out of eight games,” Scott said.

“That is not a true indicator of a team’s depth and how you develop your pitching staff. This gives a more true way to get a conference winner. With this prestigious conference, which has some of the best teams in the entire state, it is nice to bring back some prestige to the league.”

As for advancing toward a possible berth in the state semifinals at Meador Park in Springfield, the Flyers’ primary obstacle may be its own league. Unfortunately, the Suburban West teams are usually grouped together in a couple of districts. Besides possible elimination in districts, Suburban West teams often face each other in the first sectional game as well.

“When you have the one and done playoff system, like we do in Missouri, it is really harsh,” Scott said. “I think you need to be able to set other goals, and this conference schedule makes it more worthwhile for the kids. No other level of baseball plays just one game at a time.”

As things stand, only Parkway South (15-0) is ahead of the Flyers in league play with a 7-0 mark. Oakville is 5-1; the Tigers made the state semifinals last season despite its 4-4 league record. They beat Lindbergh in the 2010 district championship, 7-6, in eight innings.

Last season, four teams tied for the Suburban West title at 6-2.

Despite being in the middle of the pack among the Suburban West teams in runs scored and allowed, Scott has seen his team go 6-1 in games decided by one run. That not only indicates the Flyers are solid in the clutch, but that there is plenty of room for improvement.

Offensively, three players have carried the team. Junior catcher Kendall Helbert hits fourth and is batting .344 with 15 runs batted in. Junior Sean Murphy is batting .405 with a team-high 17 hits, two home runs and has nine RBI. Junior Matt Feldt is hitting .424 on 14 hits and has a team-best 19 runs.

“Matt is hitting third for us, and is our catalyst with his speed. He is the total package on offense. He can run, bunt, hit and hit for power. A lot of good things happen when he gets on base,” Scott said.

“Kendall is a great situational hitter and gets runs across and makes things happen.”

Senior lefthander Will Spitzfaden, the expected staff ace, is 2-1 with a 5.67 earned-run average in 21 innings. He threw 56 2/3 innings last season and had a 1.98 ERA, so Scott knows he is capable.

“Will will get the ball in big games because he’s our guy, but the best part is that now we have two or four big games each week with the new scheduling, and you need two aces. We also have Jordan Harmon, and we look for big things from him.”

Harmon, a sophomore thought to be the Flyers’ No. 2 pitcher, has emerged as the most effective starter in the 2011 season. He is 3-0 and has a 2.33 ERA in 24 innings and four starts.

“Our team is built on athleticism and speed, and once we get guys on base we can put pressure on the defense. Speed and aggressiveness never go into a slump, and I tell our guys to keep that in mind,” Scott said.

Lindbergh will play at Oakville (12-2) on Friday at 4:15 p.m. followed by a home game against the Tigers on Saturday at noon.