Neoga Sees Great Season Come to an End

(THE MOST SUCCESSFUL NEOGA BASEBALL TEAM EVER CLOSED OUT ITS CAMPAIGN MONDAY WITH A 21-8 RECORD AND A FIRST-EVER BOYS SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN ANY SPORT)

The Neoga Indians saw their best baseball season ever come to an end Monday night, losing 5-4 to Cobden at the Carbondale 1A Super-Sectional. The game at Itchy Jones Stadium on the SIUC campus was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

Neoga fell behind in the first inning 2-0 and played catch-up the rest of the game. The Appleknockers got a one-out base hit from Logan Spalt and then a two-out double from Sam Cohen to put runners on second and third. Theron Sweitzer then singled home both runs.

Cobden extended the lead to 3-0 in the second inning on a leadoff triple by Dylan Duty and a RBI ground ball by John Russell.

Neoga started a comeback with a run in the bottom of the second on a leadoff double by Guy Walk and a run-scoring single by Drew Ramert.

Cobden, though, got the run back in the top of the third inning on a leadoff double by Spalt and then back-to-back singles by Cohen and Sweitzer.

Neoga came right back, though, with two in the bottom of the third on a leadoff single by Matt Kingery, two ground ball outs, and a run-scoring single by Walk, who made his way to third base where he was singled in by Ramert to make it 4-3.

Neoga then tied the game in the fourth inning on a leadoff walk to Jordan Hoedebecke, a sacrifice by Lee Nees, and a throwing error.

Cobden responded, though, with a run in the fifth to regain the lead. Cohen delivered a two-out single. Courtesy runner Austin Lewey came around to score what proved to be the winning run on a three-base error on a fly ball.

Cobden then brought in their ace, Logan Spalt, who had been playing shortstop and he took care of the Indians the rest of the contest.

Guy Walk went the distance on the mound for Neoga, allowing five runs, four earned, on seven hits and just one walk while striking out four.

J.T. Moore got the victory for Cobden, allowing four runs, three earned, on five hits in four innings of work, walking two and fanning four. Spalt pitched the final three innings, allowing just one hit and no walks while striking out two.

At the plate for Neoga: Matt Kingery--two hits, walk, two stolen bases, run scored; Guy Walk--double, single, 2 RBI; Ross Moran--two runs scored; Drew Ramert--two singles, 2 RBI; Jordan Hoedebecke--walk, run scored; Lee Nees--sacrifice

Neoga closes out its best-ever season with a 21-8 record and the first sectional championship for Neoga in any boys' sport.