Altamont Headed To Super-Sectional

The Altamont Indians are headed for Super-Sectional baseball for the second straight season.

A six-run fourth inning led the Indians to a 6-4 victory over the North Clay Cardinals Saturday, and the championship of the Dieterich 1A Sectional Tournament.

North Clay took the early lead, as Tyson Jones, the first Cardinal to bat in the contest, homered. Harmon Clifton followed with a single but was caught attempting to steal. With two outs, Ethan Burkett doubled but Altamont pitcher Alek Biggs posted a strikeout to end any further threat.

The Indians had put two runners on in the top of the first but Jones, the Cardinals' starter, got out of the jam with no runs scoring.

Things were quiet through the second before Altamont loaded the bases in the third. Kaden Eirhart drew a walk and Dakota Kuhlman reached on an error. With two outs, Jacob Hammer walked to load the bases, but a ground out ended the threat.

Altamont, though, kept on coming. In the fourth, Dawson Guerrettaz drew a walk but was later forced out. Grant Schmidt reached on an error and Eirhart had an infield single. Kuhlman reached on a fielder's choice. Biggs then helped his own cause, slamming a double that cleared the bases.

Jacob Robbins followed with an rbi single and Hammer blasted one over the centerfield fence that hit the light pole for a home run. Noah Teasley followed with a double and Bradin Baucum drew a walk. The Cardinals finally got the last out but the damage was done as Altamont led 6-1.

North Clay made some noise in the bottom of the fourth. Ethan Burkett drew a walk and Luke Fleener singled, but a fielder's choice was the second out and a strikeout ended the inning.

In the fifth, the Indians' Biggs smacked a ball that looked certain to go over the centerfield fence for a home run, but North Clay's Aleon Rinehart robbed Biggs with a high catch reaching above the fence.

North Clay made it close in the sixth. Briar Repking doubled to start the frame. With one out, Fleener reached on an error. Holden Clifton singled home a run. Peyton Koelm laced a single that brought home two runs, but he was retired on a fielder's choice to end the frame.

North Clay mounted one final challenge in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Harmon Clifton drew a walk, followed by a single by Repking. The two sat at second and third before Noah Teasley got a strikeout and then fielded a ball that was hit to his right before turning and getting the final out.

"This is pretty nice, winning back-to-back sectionals," said Altamont Coach Alan Whitt. "I rooted for North Clay against Nokomis because they're local and in our conference. But, at the same time, I knew they were a good club and would be a tough opponent."

Biggs was the winning pitcher, going 5-2/3 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits, one walk and striking out nine. He came out in the sixth when North Clay scored three.

"I went out to take Alek out of the game earlier and he told me no," said Whitt. "That's the type of competitor he is. I put in Noah and he told me, 'I got this.' He really did have it especially that last ball when he got the final out."

The Cardinals end the season with a 24-7 record.

Altamont advances to the Carbondale Super-Sectional Monday with a 15-14-1 record. The Indians will face Steeleville at 1 p.m. at Southern Illinois University's Itchy Jones Stadium. Steeleville defeated Goreville 8-5 Saturday to win the Goreville Sectional.

Class 1A Dieterich Sectional

Altamont                     000    600    0    --    6-7-2

North Clay                  100    003    0    --    4-8-1

WP -- Biggs. LP -- Jones.

Altamont -- Kuhlman, single; Biggs, double, 3 RBI; Robbins, 2 singles RBI; Hammer, home run, 2 RBI; Teasley, double; Eirhart, single

North Clay -- Jones, home run, 1 RBI; Harmon Clifton, single; Repking, single, double; Burkett, double; Fleener, single; Holden Clifton, single, 1 RBI; Koelm, single, 2 RBI