Williamsville Downs Shoes in Semifinal Contest; 8th Graders Honored

The Williamsville Bullets downed the Teutopolis Wooden Shoes 4-1 Friday afternoon to advance to the State 2A Baseball championship game and to force the Shoes to the third place contest.

The game was heard on KJ Country 102.3 and www.kjcountry.com.  

As in the super-sectional game, the Shoes fell behind in the first inning. This time, Dan Daykin walked for Williamsville with one out, followed by Talon File's single. A ball hit by Vince Vignali to rightfield resulted in an error with a run scoring, to be followed by Luke Bleyer's squeeze bunt to plate the second run.

Neither team scored in the second or third innings, although the Shoes had several players on base. T-Town finally plated a run in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Brock Mette walked to start the frame. and a ground ball moved him to second. An error moved Mette to third base, where he then scored on a fielder's choice, and the Shoes were within 2-1.

That changed the very next inning, as Talon File was hit by a two-out pitch to reach base and was brought around by a single and a ground ball to regain a two-run lead, 3-1.

Williamsville tacked on one more run in the seventh, again starting the rally with two outs. Talon File doubled and was singled home by Vince Vignali to account for the final score.

Teutopolis had just five hits and three walks. The hits came from Louis Niemerg, Jordan Thoele, Austin Johnson and Jacob Roepke with Roepke getting two hits.

On the mound, Williamsville's starting pitcher Luke Bleyer went 3-1/3 innings while reliever John Beal pitched 3-2/3 innings. Beal allowed no hit and just one walk while fanning two.

Kyle Smith pitched a good game for Teutopolis, allowing four runs, just two earned, on seven hits and two walks while fanning three in 6-2/3 innings. Austin Johnson got the final out.

The loss leaves Teutopolis at 31-6-1 and in the third place game today at 3pm against Peru St. Bede, who lost 2-1 in nine innings to Rockford Christian. We'll have the game on KJ Country 102.3 and www.kjcountry.com.  

A reminder about a Welcome Home for the Wooden Shoes Sunday including a fire truck and parade through T-Town at 12:30pm and a ceremony in J.H. Griffin Gym at 1pm.

Also, special recognition was given the Teutopolis 8th grade baseball team that won the state championship last fall. Coach Kent Niebrugge and the boys were honored prior to the Wooden Shoes game on Friday.