This baseball season will be featuring a curve ball for those interested in playing in the Missouri Bootheel this year in the spring. Missouri has been split up into fourth different classes based on each high school’s population and location. This year, instead of having four, Missouri has issued a fifth district. Some of the local teams will be switching districts or classes, which means that the players and coaches have new competitions to prepare for.

In the 2012-2013 school year, Twin Rivers is one of the high schools that will be transferring out of their district they’ve played in for the past ten years. The Royals are no longer in Class 2, District 1, where they won the overall title last year during the 2012 season. The Twin Rivers Royals are now being transferred to Class 3, District 1, where they will play against Doniphan, New Madrid County Central, Alton, and Caruthersville.

Malden, who competed for the overall title and won in 2011, will also be transferred out of the competitive Class 2, District 1, and moved into the same district as Twin Rivers in Class 3, District 1.  Both coaches of the two teams are anxious and ready to face the new competitors, along with facing each other yet again.

The Dexter Bearcats will have new competition this year, due to both Kennett and Notre Dame being transferred from their previous districts to Class 4, District 1. Kennett is the holder of two back-to-back titles and is now bumped up to a bigger and more competitive district. Kennett’s baseball team has been in Class 3, District 1 for the past couple of years but is now being transferred to Class 4, District 1, where they will face off against the Dexter Bearcats, Fredricktown, Notre Dame, Perryville, and Sikeston.

While some teams are transferring to a nearby or local district with teams that they have played in recent years, the Holcomb Hornets have just been introduced to a whole new ball game. The Hornets, who have recently played in one of the smallest division for Missouri baseball, Class 1,  is now being bumped up to Class 2, Division 1. Holcomb will be up against a whole new set of competitors. Holcomb’s new Class includes Hayti, Campbell, and South Pemiscot as rivals.

The Bernie Mules have also been bumped from Class 1 to Class 2 this year. Unlike the Holcomb Hornets, the Mules have jumped from Class 1 all the way to Class 2, Division 3, where they will be up against the Bloomfield Wildcats, the Puxico Indians, Greenville, Saxony-Lutheran, and Chaffee.

In Class 1, Division 2, the Advance Hornets will be competing against the Bell City Cubs, the Richland Rebels, Delta, and Scott County Central. While Bernie and Holcomb are bumped up to Class 2, Class 1 is left with a couple of larger schools competing against the smaller schools. Class 1 has been changed drastically this year due to certain teams moving districts or to different classes.

There are many changes that have taken place with new teams, new members, and even a couple of new coaches. While things are changing in the local areas, things are also changing in the state of Missouri and in the eyes of high school baseball. Instead of the state’s final four playing in Springfield like they did last year, the state’s final four will be playing at T.R. Hughes Ballpark in O’Fallon, Missouri.

Many of the rival teams that have played against each other in the past will have the chance to meet again during the quarter-finals that will take place late in the spring season. Although the districts have changed, the game has still remained the same and the coaches, players, and fans are looking forward to another great baseball season in Missouri this year.