Teutopolis Heads to Sectional Championship After Win Over Piasa Southwestern

The Teutopolis Wooden Shoes advanced to the championship game of the Vandalia 2A Sectional Baseball Tournament with a 3-1 win over Piasa Southwestern Wednesday evening. The game was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com.  

The Wooden Shoes will take on Belleville Althoff for the sectional championship. Game time is 12 noon Saturday in a game we'll have on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. There is the possibility the game could be moved up to Friday due to anticipated rainy weather on Saturday. We'll keep you up-to-date.

Runs were hard to come by for the Shoes against Southwestern lefthander Spencer Heineman, who allowed just six hits in the contest. T-Town got a one-out single from Louis Niemerg in the first inning, but nothing developed. John Kreke singled to the start the second inning, but he was erased one out later when rightfielder Andrew Fry made a grab of Austin Johnson's liner and then threw behind Kreke for an inning-ending double play. Jacob Roepke singled to start the third inning, but three outs followed.

Finally, things changed in the fourth inning when, after a leadoff walk to Jordan Thoele, Shoes DH Austin Hartke hit a shot over the left centerfield fence to give the Shoes a 2-1 lead. The ball easily cleared the fence traveling close to 350 feet.

Teutopolis scored in the sixth to provide a little breathing room when Hartke walked and courtesy runner Tyler Westendorf stole second. One out later, following a walk to Brock Mette, Austin Johnson singled home Westendorf to make it a 3-1 lead.

Meanwhile on the mound, the Smiths took care of things for the Shoes. 

Devin Smith started the game and pitched the first 4-1/3 innings, scattering seven hits, but allowing just one run and walking no one while fanning six. After Piasa Southwestern loaded the bases with one out in the fifth, Shoes Coach Justin Fleener replaced Devin Smith with Kyle Smith who struck out the next batter and then induced a fly ball out to end the threat. Kyle Smith finished the game, allowing just one walk and no hits in 2-2/3 innings while striking out four.

Here's the full hitting rundown for Teutopolis: Devin Smith--double; Louis Niemerg--single; Jordan Thoele--walk, run scored; Austin Hartke--home run, walk, run scored, 2 RBI; Tyler Westendorf--run scored; John Kreke--single; Brock Mette--walk; Austin Johnson--single, RBI; Jacob Roepke--single

The Wooden Shoes improved to 29-5-1 on the spring. Piasa Southwestern closes out a good season with a 26-10 record.

Class 2A Vandalia Sectional

Southwestern Piasa            010    000    0    --    1-7-1

Teutopolis                            000    201    x    --    3-6-2

WP -- Smith. LP -- Heineman.

Southwestern Piasa -- Baldwin, 2 singles; Lawson, single; Fry, double; Ritzhaupt, 2 singles, 1 RBI; Baumgarten, single

Teutopolis -- Smith, double; Niemerg, single; Hartke, home run, 2 RBI; Kreke, single; Johnson, single, 1 RBI; Roepke, single