HIGHLAND — Keaton Favre's job was easy as the Highland catcher whenever Chase Knebel climbed the mound.
Read about the St. Louis area's top high school baseball players and their accomplishments throughout the 2024 season.
"I didn't even have to frame it; I just had to stick it," the Highland senior said. "It was fun back there."
Knebel's precision accuracy wouldn't be out of place for a master-level painter. The Highland junior's ability to paint every spot in and out of the strike zone was Picasso-like.Â
He didn't have the luxury of a triple-digit fastball or a wipeout slider, but he did have pinpoint accuracy.Â
And that was a devastating weapon for the Bulldogs.Â
"Chase is all about execution," Highland coach Joel Hawkins said. "Chase is a believer. He doesn't throw 100 mph, but he throws every pitch exactly the same. Every pitch looks exactly the same, but one is 10 mph slower than the other."
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The 2024 All-Metro baseball pitcher of the year used that mastery of the strike zone to lead the Bulldogs to a fourth-place finish in Class 3A.
He also produced one of the best single-season pitching performances for Highland since 2008, when future major leaguer Jake Odorizzi patrolled the mound.Â
"He's put up the same kind of numbers as Jake, but (Jake) threw 92 mph," Hawkins said. "Chase has to miss the barrel and does that so well."
![Highland junior Chase Knebel](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/d8/0d827f86-2014-5d92-b386-daa7a165c218/667c3d66bdfd1.image.jpg?resize=150%2C102 150w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/d8/0d827f86-2014-5d92-b386-daa7a165c218/667c3d66bdfd1.image.jpg?resize=200%2C136 200w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/d8/0d827f86-2014-5d92-b386-daa7a165c218/667c3d66bdfd1.image.jpg?resize=225%2C153 225w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/d8/0d827f86-2014-5d92-b386-daa7a165c218/667c3d66bdfd1.image.jpg?resize=300%2C205 300w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/d8/0d827f86-2014-5d92-b386-daa7a165c218/667c3d66bdfd1.image.jpg?resize=400%2C273 400w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/d8/0d827f86-2014-5d92-b386-daa7a165c218/667c3d66bdfd1.image.jpg?resize=540%2C368 540w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/d8/0d827f86-2014-5d92-b386-daa7a165c218/667c3d66bdfd1.image.jpg?resize=640%2C437 640w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/d8/0d827f86-2014-5d92-b386-daa7a165c218/667c3d66bdfd1.image.jpg?resize=750%2C512 750w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/d8/0d827f86-2014-5d92-b386-daa7a165c218/667c3d66bdfd1.image.jpg?resize=990%2C675 990w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/d8/0d827f86-2014-5d92-b386-daa7a165c218/667c3d66bdfd1.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C706 1035w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/d8/0d827f86-2014-5d92-b386-daa7a165c218/667c3d66bdfd1.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C819 1200w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/d8/0d827f86-2014-5d92-b386-daa7a165c218/667c3d66bdfd1.image.jpg?resize=1333%2C909 1333w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/d8/0d827f86-2014-5d92-b386-daa7a165c218/667c3d66bdfd1.image.jpg?resize=1476%2C1007 1476w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/d8/0d827f86-2014-5d92-b386-daa7a165c218/667c3d66bdfd1.image.jpg?resize=1743%2C1189 2008w)
Highland junior lefty Chase Knebel helped guide the Bulldogs to a fourth-place finish in Class 3A this year. He picked up 11 victories and posted a sub-1.00 ERA. Paul Halfacre, Post-Dispatch
Knebel picked up an area-leading 11 wins with a microscopic .65 ERA in 75 1-3 innings pitched. His double-digit wins are the first for a Highland pitcher since Odorizzi collected 14 in 2008.
Also, Knebel had a team-high 68 strikeouts while walking just seven batters. He also tossed an area-high seven complete games.
His .70 WHIP was tops on the team. From March 29 to June 1, Knebel tossed 49 2-3 consecutive shutout innings. Â
Knebel is just fine being known as a crafty southpaw who relies on his teammates.
"I use my catcher and pitching coach often," Knebel said. "We're a team, the three of us. It's not just me."
Knebel said he and Favre had such a connection on the mound that it was almost a sixth sense when Favre called a pitch. And if it was called out of the strike zone, Favre knew it would be where Knebel wanted it.
"If he wanted it in the dirt, it was going in the dirt," Favre said. "If he wanted it low, it was going low — wherever he wanted it, that's where the ball would go."
It's not that there were many times Knebel lived outside of the strike zone.
But when he did fire a pitch out of the zone and hit the spot where it was called, he lured his coaching staff and teammates into thinking even those should have been strikes.
"He moved it out of the strike zone like we told him to, and when it goes exactly where it goes and the catcher doesn't move and it's not a strike, we're like, 'Wait, what?' " Hawkins said. "It's kind of an amazing circle."
Knebel could change pitch speed and location on a whim, and throughout the season, Hawkins saw hitters get frustrated repeatedly with their inability to square up his lefty.
"He's one of these kids, because of his change of speed on the mound, he makes you mad," Hawkins said. "You throw your bat down because you're frustrated after a popup, or you roll over another ground ball. All he does is throw strikes and at different speeds."
Bulldogs pitching coach Derek Reckmann has been calling pitches for Knebel since the lefty was in middle school.
This year, they added a two-seam fastball to his arsenal, and Favre said it was different trying to catch that pitch.Â
"It runs so much, it's hard to catch," Favre said. "I've never seen a fastball like his before. I'm still not used to it. It still catches me off guard."
Though his fastball danced and dove away from hitters, Reckmann knew which pitch to call if he needed Knebel to ring up a batter.
"His changeup is his finishing pitch," Reckmann said.Â
Reckmann noticed something about Knebel from an early age — the belief that he carries with him every time he takes the mound.
"He has a level of confidence I've never seen before in a player," Reckmann said. "He believes that he's going to win. There's nothing anyone else can do about it. He believes in himself, he believes in his teammates, and he's very confident in his ability."
That unshakeable belief in his and his teammates' ability allowed Knebel to stay cool.
"He just believes in what he's throwing," Hawkins said. "He can't wait to get the ball in play for his defenders."
Something that Knebel echoed.
"At Highland, we pride ourselves on our defense, and they always make plays behind me," Knebel said. "When they don't fully barrel it, my defense will make a play. I want to work through a game that way."
![Highland junior Chase Knebel](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/db/edbd605a-c9a4-56b2-a88a-3d2502064b33/667c3d682d368.image.jpg?resize=150%2C100 150w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/db/edbd605a-c9a4-56b2-a88a-3d2502064b33/667c3d682d368.image.jpg?resize=200%2C133 200w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/db/edbd605a-c9a4-56b2-a88a-3d2502064b33/667c3d682d368.image.jpg?resize=225%2C150 225w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/db/edbd605a-c9a4-56b2-a88a-3d2502064b33/667c3d682d368.image.jpg?resize=300%2C200 300w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/db/edbd605a-c9a4-56b2-a88a-3d2502064b33/667c3d682d368.image.jpg?resize=400%2C266 400w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/db/edbd605a-c9a4-56b2-a88a-3d2502064b33/667c3d682d368.image.jpg?resize=540%2C359 540w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/db/edbd605a-c9a4-56b2-a88a-3d2502064b33/667c3d682d368.image.jpg?resize=640%2C426 640w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/db/edbd605a-c9a4-56b2-a88a-3d2502064b33/667c3d682d368.image.jpg?resize=750%2C499 750w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/db/edbd605a-c9a4-56b2-a88a-3d2502064b33/667c3d682d368.image.jpg?resize=990%2C659 990w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/db/edbd605a-c9a4-56b2-a88a-3d2502064b33/667c3d682d368.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C689 1035w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/db/edbd605a-c9a4-56b2-a88a-3d2502064b33/667c3d682d368.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C799 1200w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/db/edbd605a-c9a4-56b2-a88a-3d2502064b33/667c3d682d368.image.jpg?resize=1333%2C887 1333w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/db/edbd605a-c9a4-56b2-a88a-3d2502064b33/667c3d682d368.image.jpg?resize=1476%2C982 1476w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/db/edbd605a-c9a4-56b2-a88a-3d2502064b33/667c3d682d368.image.jpg?resize=1764%2C1174 2008w)
Highland junior lefty Chase Knebel helped guide the Bulldogs to a fourth-place finish in Class 3A this year. It's the first time since 2015 that the Bulldogs had made the semifinal round. His 11 wins led the area. Paul Halfacre, Post-Dispatch
Hawkins never saw his faith waver, even when he encountered issues in the Class 3A state semifinals.
"He's always upbeat and positive. Even in that game (against Lemont), he just went about his job," Hawkins said. "I never considered pulling him out. I was really proud of those last few innings. He just kept plodding. That's the best part about him. He believes he knows it's going to work."
Despite giving up more runs in one game (4) than the whole season (3), Knebel pitched his third consecutive complete game of the postseason with five strikeouts.
Knebel felt the team had a chance to make a deep run coming into the season, so he wasn't surprised when the Bulldogs caught fire.
All he had to do every fifth day was hit his spot and the rest would take care of itself.
"I knew how good the team was. I knew how prepared we'd be for each game," Knebel said. "I wasn't really surprised because of how good the team was behind me. I just had to mix speeds and hit wherever Keeton sets up. Don't miss over the middle."
In the past three years, Knebel has racked up 22 wins and given up just 19 runs over 155 1-3 innings (0.86 ERA) with 13 complete games. With his mastery over his pinpoint control, Knebel is now focused on his body.
"I'm just trying to get stronger this summer," Knebel said. "I don't really know how many innings I'll throw this summer. It might be more me working on my body to get stronger."
Hawkins is at a loss on what else the junior can do regarding results.
But the coach knows he'll have to keep the weight room open a few hours extra for Knebel as they prepare for his senior campaign.
"That's how he is," Hawkins said.Â
Read about the St. Louis area's top high school baseball players and their accomplishments throughout the 2024 season.