We are right in the thick of championship season, and the energy in southwest Missouri couldn’t be higher. Today on The Starting Lineup, we caught up with Springfield Catholic Fighting Irish head baseball coach Courtney Spitz just hours before his squad takes the field in the Class 4 state semifinals. Coming off dominant playoff victories—including a 12-3 win over Eldon and a stunning 12-0 quarterfinal shutout against local rival Logan-Rogersville—the Irish are playing their absolute best baseball at the perfect time. Presented by Citizens Bank of Rogersville, we break down how the Irish are preparing for their Final Four run down at the Ozark Mountain Sports Complex.

The Blueprint to Shuttin’ Down Rivals

We had to dive into that quarterfinal matchup against Logan-Rogersville. Rogersville came into the game as the top-ranked team in the state with a 31-4 record, but Coach Spitz explained that seeing their ace earlier in March gave the Irish a major psychological edge. Behind a strong pitching start from Rhett Lane and a massive nine-run explosion in the top of the third inning, Catholic put up 10 earned runs on the starting pitcher to advance in style.

Scouting the Unknown at Ozark Mountain

Next up for the Irish is a 1 p.m. showdown against a 27-7 Excelsior Springs team. Because Excelsior Springs hasn’t played anyone down in our immediate area, Coach Spitz had to rely on deep coaching connections and a couple of common opponents (Pleasant Hill and Lee’s Summit West) to build his scouting report. The Irish are locked in on handling their opponent’s top arm, Kalen Bedford, by staying disciplined at the plate and neutralizing their heavy hitters. Defensively, Spitz feels his outfield—featuring the blazing speed of Sam Boster, Connor Finske, and Easton Gifford—is tailor-made to cover the massive turf gaps at the former U.S. Ballpark.

Legacy, Surgery, and Local Loyalty

We also took a close look at Catholic’s starting pitcher for the semifinal, senior-to-be Jack Smith. Following the footsteps of his brother Ben Smith (who starred at Catholic before heading to Mizzou), Jack’s path has been one of pure resilience. After missing all of last season due to Tommy John surgery, his recruitment opened back up, leading him to commit to Drury University—Coach Spitz’s own alma mater. Alongside senior teammates Nick Rooter (Drury commit) and their starting catcher heading to Angelo State, this senior class is ready for the brightest lights.

The Local Feeder Pipeline & A Classic Outro

Coach Spitz didn’t hesitate to share how the creation of Irish Youth Baseball has helped build a culture where local kids grow up playing together in those iconic gold jerseys. And of course, Ned Reynolds, Scott Puryear, and Art Haynes couldn’t let Coach Spitz leave without putting him on the spot. While he politely declined a comedic impersonation of his wife Katie, he left us with a legendary Charles Barkley impression that had the whole studio laughing.