The Missouri high school baseball season is set to kick off shortly, with ‘Opening Day’ set for March 17th. Over the next two weeks, leading up to opening day, we’ll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2023 spring season, touching on programs spanning all state classifications.

Perennially, we’ve submitted a Preseason Questionnaire to high school head coaches across the entire state. Their responses have been flooding in and we’re using the detailed insight they’ve provided in our team-by-team preseason analysis.

Our 2023 preseason coverage continues today. 

Team: Blair Oaks
2022 Record: 21-14
Conference: Tri County
Classification: 4A
Head Coach: Mike DeMilia

X-FACTOR

Wil Libbert, LHP, 2023 (Missouri commit)
There’s no doubt that Libbert is one of the best players in the entire MSHSAA. He’s an early ‘Player of the Year’ favorite and gives Blair Oaks a high chance of winning each game he toes the rubber. Ranked third overall in the state’s senior class, and No. 148 nationally, Libbert can flat-out pitch and pounds the zone with three above-average offerings. His fastball plays anywhere from the upper-80s to the low-90s for strikes in all quadrants. He’ll spin a quality breaking ball around the zone and he’ll work in an effective mid-80s changeup with natural arm-side action as well. Libbert was a no-doubt first team all-state selection for the second consecutive season as a pitcher, but he’ll also chip in plenty for this team offensively as one of their middle-of-the-order bats. Expect Libbert to dominate once again this spring and garner plenty of professional interest in the process.

STAT RAT

9 - The number of starters that return for Blair Oaks this season. The Falcons bring back five position players and four pitchers from a team that finished as the District runner-ups last year and won 21 games.

OUTLOOK

Blair Oaks entered the playoffs as the second seed in their District after winning 21 games during the regular season. They blanked Fatima in the semifinals but fell to eventual state champion Southern Boone by one run in a tightly contested championship. Expectations are higher for Blair Oaks in 2023 with their top player and eight others returning.

We highlighted Libbert above as this team’s ‘X-Factor’ and there’s little doubt he’ll greatly produce yet again. Libbert will anchor this staff in total, but the Falcons do bring back four arms that threw quality innings last spring: RHP Chase Schnieders (State Fair CC, 2023), 3B/RHP Tyler Doman (2023), RHP Jacob Tellman (2024) and RHP/3B Harrison Lear (2024). They have a few young arms that’ll supplement that core, provide depth, and look for an opportunity to make an impact on varsity with LHP Hayden Lackman (2026) and RHP Evan McCullough (2025). Blair Oaks doesn’t lack experience or success on the mound, and it’s likely their pitching is a main driver of their success this year.

The Falcons’ offense is in a strong spot too, headlined by Libbert and 3B/OF Aidan Boeckmann (2023), who earned all-conference honors last season. Doman and C Nolan Laughlin likely slot in towards the top of this lineup, while INF Holden Brand is another senior returner that’s expected to contribute, especially in the power department. Laughlin, in particular, is going to have an especially expansive role for this team as he’s likely to be the Blair Oaks’ backstop in the spring.

BOTTOM LINE

The Falcons have a few necessary ingredients to crafting a championship caliber recipe. They have one of the state’s best players, have an experienced core of arms with proven success on the mound, and they’re adding in a few underclassmen that can help them win games if called upon. Building off last season and reaching Ozark in Libbert’s final year is unquestionably the goal for this team.

Follow along @PBRMissouri for complete coverage of the 2023 high school season.

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