The Wright City baseball team will return four out of its five award winners next spring. 

Juniors Duan McRoberts, Jake Orf and Drew Elsenrath made first team all-conference. Junior Micah Boeckman and senior Bryce Williams were awarded second team all-conference. 

Orf and Elsenrath went on to make second team all-district. Then, this past Saturday, it was announced that Orf and McRoberts both made the all-state team. 

Orf made first team all-state and McRoberts was an honorable mention selection.  

“It’s always very rewarding to see the players get awarded for all the hard work they’ve put into the sport they love,” Head Coach Cody Bair said. 

The Wildcats ended their season with a .500 record following a loss in the first round of districts against Lutheran St. Charles, something the team will look to improve on next spring. 

Elsenrath prepared for his junior season by attending every 5 a.m. workout Bair held and meeting with Bair one-on-one to fix his swing, which he noted did improve a lot.

“I put a lot of work in during the off season and it definitely meant a lot to me to get those accomplishments, so it was worth it,” Elsenrath said.

Elsenrath will have one more year of high school baseball and he has set goals for himself and the team. 

“I want to achieve all-state and improve my metrics for pull-off lead and hitting,” Elsenrath said. “Sadly this year was cut short, so for more as a team goal, I’d love for us to go far in districts.”

Bair noted that these five players have all been instrumental in the team’s success. Even though Williams, along with Zachary Rodriguez and Bernard Goughenour have graduated, Bair is feeling optimistic about next season. 

“It’s a good feeling to know you have some quality players returning and they’re going to lead the team the way you want them to,” Bair said. 

Bair also has expectations for the four soon-to-be seniors.

“I want them to continue to develop their game in both the physical and mental approach,” Bair said. “They have the potential to do some really wonderful things and the team is definitely going to follow their lead next year.” 

The Wildcats only graduated three seniors this year, which leaves the team with a lot of familiar faces. However, Bair noted the seniors will be missed. 

“They all graduated with summa cum laude,” Bair said. “They all really handled their business in the classroom and I wish them the best as they move forward with their lives.”