Five things to watch at Missouri baseball and girls soccer state tournaments

It’s the final week of the Missouri high school spring sports season, with state baseball and soccer tournaments scheduled to conclude the athletic year. Here are five things to watch this week.

1. St. Teresa’s quest for a repeat

It’s a cast of usual characters in the Missouri Class 4 soccer Final Four, with St. Teresa’s Academy, Lee’s Summit and St. Joseph’s Academy returning after making appearances last spring.

But nobody has been a more regular fixture in big-class state-championship matches than St. Teresa’s Academy. The Stars have played in the state final in three straight seasons, and they won the title in 2015.

Alyssa Seitzer will become the first player in school history to start in a Final Four match in four straight seasons. Grace Kitts and Kate Scofield have each scored three times during the playoffs.

The Stars, 18-4, play Cor Jesu Academy, 14-10, at 6 p.m. Friday at Swope Soccer Village. Lee’s Summit, 23-1, faces St. Joseph’s, 20-2-1, at 4 p.m. Friday.

Lee’s Summit has scored multiple goals in 22 of its 24 matches this season. Midfielder Kayla Deaver leads the team with 21 goals.

2. Notre Dame de Sion seeks another title

A formidable defense led Notre Dame de Sion through a dramatic postseason run last spring that culminated in a state championship.

It’s back.

Notre Dame de Sion, 18-5, has given up only nine goals this year on its way to reaching the Missouri Class 3 semifinals. Six players — Izzy Romano, Haley Ulowetz, Laney Ulowetz, Kathleen Gansner, Paige Dussold, and Stephanie Ostrander — have scored double-digit goals.

The Storm will play Incarnate Word Academy, 18-5-1, at 2 p.m. Friday at Swope Soccer Village.

3. Two local teams make the Missouri Class 2 Final Four

Last spring, the St. Pius X girls soccer program produced its best state-tournament placing in school history when it took second in Missouri Class 2.

Another chance awaits.

In a rematch of last year’s state final, St. Pius X, 19-3, will meet Duchesne, 15-4, in the semifinals at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Swope Soccer Village.

Pembroke Hill, 14-7-1, faces Notre Dame (St. Louis), 9-13, at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

St. Pius X has not allowed a goal in four playoff games, edging Maryville and Boonville 1-0 in its past two matches.

Pembroke Hill has outscored its playoff opponents 24-1. Freshman Caroline Peterson leads the team with 32 goals and 12 assists.

4. Summit Christian Academy in the mix for two titles

It will be a busy week for Summit Christian Academy, the lone local school to qualify for both the baseball and soccer state semifinals.

The baseball program is 25-2, with a deep pitching staff led by Robbie Suhr and Will Finch. The Eagles’ two losses came against Class 5 schools. They match up against South Callaway at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Class 3 semifinals in O’Fallon, Mo.

The soccer program is 18-4 and will take on Trinity Catholic at noon Wednesday in the Class 1 semifinals.

5. History on Lee’s Summit West’s side

Lee’s Summit West is one of four teams left standing in the Missouri Class 5 baseball playoffs.

The better news: It’s already beaten each of the other three.

The Titans, 23-10, play Francis Howell at 7 p.m. Thursday in O’Fallon, Mo. Lindbergh and Jefferson City will meet in the other Class 5 semifinal.

The Titans defeated each of the three teams during tournaments in April. They are making their first trip to the Final Four in a decade and the second in program history.

This story was originally published May 31, 2016 at 4:57 PM with the headline "Five things to watch at Missouri baseball and girls soccer state tournaments."