Saxony Lutheran senior Will LeDure recently finished up his final season as a Crusader. However, that does not mean that it will be his final inning or pitch he will ever see. LeDure signed a national letter of intent to play baseball at Fontbonne University this past spring.
LeDure has played the sport since he was a toddler and said that was what he has always wanted to do.
“I just want to play it every single day,” LeDure said. “When I’m bored, that’s what I want to do. Going to college and being able to continue to do that is just great for me.”
LeDure established himself as the first baseman in the field, and a middle-of-the-order bat in the lineup with a .361 batting average to along with 15 runs scored and seven runs batted in during the season. LeDure wasn’t too bad on the mound either as he was the third pitcher in the rotation behind fellow seniors Tanner King and Eli Brown.
LeDure went 4-0 in five starts for the Crusaders this year, with one save and a 0.35 ERA in 20 innings pitched. LeDure also struck out 35 batters.
LeDure has enjoyed quite the career as a Crusader as Saxony finished his senior campaign 19-3 after falling to Kelly in the district title game, while individually LeDure was named to the All-District Team.
As a sophomore, LeDure was the designated hitter and finished with a .270 batting average as he produced 10 hits and scored 10 runs on a team that finished 23-4 and third in Class 3. LeDure was instrumental in the Crusaders season as a relief pitcher getting the last two outs in the top of the seventh inning in Saxony’s 7-6 quarterfinal victory over West County in 2019.
LeDure had not pitched on the varsity level until that contest.
“Going into that moment I didn’t think about how rare it was for me to be pitching in such a big quarterfinal game,” LeDure said. “I had some people ask me after that if I was nervous. That whole season was awesome because I wasn’t a full-time starter at the beginning of the season, and had to fight my way through. It was great to be able to contribute to the team.”
LeDure enjoys the friends he’s been able to make over the years while being heavily involved in the sport by playing not only school ball but on travel and summer teams as well, especially the senior class at Saxony Lutheran.
“There were quite a few seniors on the team this year,” LeDure said. “We all get along together and have been in this club for four years. We’ve bonded pretty well and the whole class gets along.”
Fontbonne went 24-18 this past season including 19-9 in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and is part of Division III. LeDure thinks he brings a lot of ability to the collegiate level.
“I think my bat has come around and I think I can help the lineup and fight for a spot at first base,” LeDure said.
