It was a rough opener for the St. James High School baseball team, as the Tigers were beaten by Clever 20-3 Friday, March 20 at Nelson Hart Park.

St. James jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. However, the Clever Blue Jays, who advanced to the Missouri Class 3 State Tournament Quarterfinals in 2025, took control after that, tying the game 1-1 in the top of the second and erupting for seven runs in the top of the third. St. James got a run back in the bottom of the third. In the fourth Clever got two more runs and St. James one. Clever would end it on the run rule by reeling off 10 more runs in the sixth.
Clever outhit STJ 16-5.

Thirteen of Clever ’s 20 runs were unearned. 

Senior Cooper Schacht had a triple and scored a run for the Tigers while senior Max Wilson had a hit and scored a run; senior Trevor Mitchell a hit, two RBI and scored a run, and junior Hunter Freeman and senior JV Meurer each had a hit.

Freeman also stole a base. The Tigers left 12 men on base.

Meurer was the starting and losing hurler for the Tigers, allowing two earned runs on eight hits and three walks over three innings while junior Isaac Pearson allowed six earned runs on six hits and three walks over 2 1/3 innings. Sophomore Aiden Cruz and Mitchell also pitched for St. James.

This week St. James was to play at Mountain Grove Tuesday, March 24; host Crocker Thursday, March 26 at Nelson Hart Park, starting at 4:30 p.m., and at South Callaway Saturday, March 28 at 11:30 a.m.