PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) – Saturday marked a thrilling day of sectional title baseball games throughout Central Illinois where the area also saw the maximum number of teams possible advance to the state quarterfinals.
In a rematch of Mid-Illini rivals in 3A, East Peoria beat Dunlap in comeback fashion 5-3 at Washington High School. East Peoria came into the day without a sectional title in baseball since 1974.
The Eagles jumped out first in the top of the third with a two-run homer that just stayed fair by Eli Michanicou.
But the Raiders got rolling, tying the game with a two-run single by Dalton Oakman in the bottom half of the fourth. Then in the 5th, the go-ahead bloop single to left came from first baseman Auggie Loghnes to take their first lead of the day, 3-2.
In the sixth, East Peoria added two insurance runs off a single from Roman Moody and an RBI triple from Jackson Ahrens to make it 5-2.
That would be vital because Dunlap did not go quietly. The Eagles loaded the bases with two outs and forced Illinois State commit and East Peoria senior RJ Duncheon from the mound. Duncheon finished the day with 6.2 IP allowing three runs and going 3-3 at the plate.
Replacing him was freshman right fielder and late reliever, Eli Martin. Martin had made two game-winning hits in the past few games of the playoffs for the Raiders but had not appeared on the mound.
With Dunlap down to their last strike, Jake Weeks came through with a single to bring home a run, pushing the deficit down to 5-3 and moving the tying run into scoring position.
But Martin forced a pop-up to shallow center to end it, clinching the Raiders first sectional championship in 52 years.
It’s amazing. I mean, doing this run for my best friends, that’s what I’ve dreamed of my whole life, is getting this done for my best friends.
RJ Duncheon
It’s amazing. I mean, doing this run for my best friends, that’s what I’ve dreamed of my whole life, is getting this done for my best friends.
I love this group. I love your heart. I love your character. I love your toughness. And I love what you do to represent our hometown. Look around right now. Take your hats off to your home crowd. Thank you, East Peoria! Thank you, East Peoria!
Matt Plummer, Head Coach
I love this group. I love your heart. I love your character. I love your toughness. And I love what you do to represent our hometown. Look around right now. Take your hats off to your home crowd. Thank you, East Peoria! Thank you, East Peoria!
The Raiders face Geneva Monday night in Geneseo at 6 for a spot in the 3A Final Four
In another 3A sectional title, the U-High Pioneers survived a pitchers duel against co-Big 12 conference champion Champaign Central.
They came out on top 2-0 after an RBI single from Brody Klemmenen in the bottom of the first and an insurance run from Rhett Lynch in the fourth.
Just really excited for our guys. You know, they stuck together all year long. We’ve been preaching toughness and togetherness and it really show today and we were able to get it done. Man, Isaac to be the sophomore today, he was incredible. I mean, he just went attacking hitters the entire day. Our defense made plays behind them and we just kind of stuck together
Charlie Shempf
Just really excited for our guys. You know, they stuck together all year long. We’ve been preaching toughness and togetherness and it really show today and we were able to get it done. Man, Isaac to be the sophomore today, he was incredible. I mean, he just went attacking hitters the entire day. Our defense made plays behind them and we just kind of stuck together
The Pioneers play Troy Triad in Decatur Monday night at 6.
Brimfield-Elmwood’s entire postseason came down to the final pitch of the day for the second straight game. After a 7-6 walk-off win in extras against Rockridge on Wednesday, the Indians won 7-6, again, in walk-off fashion Saturday against Illini West.
Trailing 2-1 in the fourth, Dan Fagerburg, who hit the walk-off Wednesday, tied the game with a triple to center off the wall.
It was part of four-run inning for the Indians to give themselves the lead. But Illini West came roaring back to tie the game 6-6.
After an incredible catch from Blake Bruner in right field to keep the game tied in the 6th, the Indians ended it on a base hit in the bottom of the 7th.
Noah Malone hit a sharp grounder to right field to score Fagerburg and put the Indians on top as sectional champs.
I saw a gap in the right side of me. It’s not about me. It’s about doing a job. So, I just tried to fling one to the right and got it done….[Dogpile] felt amazing until it started crushing me!
Noah Malone
I saw a gap in the right side of me. It’s not about me. It’s about doing a job. So, I just tried to fling one to the right and got it done….[Dogpile] felt amazing until it started crushing me!
Brimfield-Elmwood will play Ottawa Marquette on Monday.
In 1A, Tremont beat Heart of Illinois conference foe Lexington 7-4 at Illinois Wesleyan. The Turks jumped out to a 7-0 lead.
But the Minutemen came close to a miracle rally. A four-run 7th inning that included a bases-clearing triple to push the game to 7-4 before a groundout ended the comeback attempt.
The win propelled the Turks to a 1A sectional title.
“That was a tough one right there. Barber. Great pitcher. Whole Lexington team. Great team. Great competition. Getting over that hump right there. Makes things exciting and probably eased up a little bit.”
Chase Rhodes
“That was a tough one right there. Barber. Great pitcher. Whole Lexington team. Great team. Great competition. Getting over that hump right there. Makes things exciting and probably eased up a little bit.”
“Every single day they come in with the mindset of we got to get better. And uh, yeah, they’re just a great group to be around. They love being here. They love each other.”
Eddie Betson
“Every single day they come in with the mindset of we got to get better. And uh, yeah, they’re just a great group to be around. They love being here. They love each other.”
The Turks will play Armstrong Monday night for a spot in the 1A Final Four.
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