T-town Ready For 2A State Baseball Tourney

Teutopolis is headed to the Class 2A State Baseball Tournament Friday and Saturday.

So, let's look at some Teutopolis High School baseball history since Justin Fleener took over the reins of the program back in the 2000-2001 season.

Nineteen years later, Fleener went over 500 coaching wins for his career as Wooden Shoes head coach this season. His teams have won 17 regionals, 14 sectionals and reached 30 victories 10 times in a season. They also have taken first place in the state three times, one second and three thirds. And now, it's back to the Class 1A State Baseball Tournament this Friday and Saturday at Dozer Park in Peoria for the third straight year. In 2017 they won the state title and last year it was a second place finish.

It goes without saying the Wooden Shoes (27-8-1) would love to bring home that championship and add it to the trophy case.

So, who is up next for the Shoes?  In their way of making the state tourney championship game stands Rock Island Alleman with a 27-13 record. The Shoes and the Cardinals meet at 5 p.m. Friday. Also making the state finals were Pleasant Plains (25-11) and Aurora Christian (18-9-1) who will meet at 3 p.m. Friday. The winners advance to the state championship game Saturday at 5 p.m. while the losers play for third place at 3.

"I know Rock Island Alleman is very athletic" said Coach Fleener. "They play a pretty tough schedule with a lot of 3A and 4A teams up in that area. We'll have our hands full. Anybody at this point will be a good team. We're preparing for everything we'll face."

Getting the Shoes where they are has been a good, solid pitching corps. No less than 10 players have taken the mound at some point this season. Leading the way is Mitch Hemmen who is 7-0 on the season, throwing 50.2 innings, allowing 14 walks and striking out 60. He has a 1.11 ERA. Next up is Dawson Smith with a 6-1 mark in 48 innings. He has walked 12 and struck out 56 and has a 1.17 ERA. Clint Weber has a 5-0 mark, walked six and struck out 29 with a 1.36 ERA. Mitch Hardiek is at 3-1 with 14 walks and 40 strikeouts with a 1.75 ERA. Trenton Schwerdt has gone 3-2 with 12 walks and 49 strikeouts with a 1.21 ERA.

At the beginning of the season, the Wooden Shoes went 0-3. They again went on a three-game losing streak at the 13th Annual Tiger Baseball Classic where they ran into some tough teams. But the Shoes are now on a six-game winning streak and have won nine out of their last 10 games.

"We started out that way because the basketball players had just finished their season and they were trying to jump right into baseball," said Fleener. "And that included some of our top pitchers. The first couple of weeks of the season we went with Trenton Schwerdt on the mound and we had younger guys throw. That got us by. We didn't get bounces early and a lot of times it just didn't turn out our way.

"Hitting-wise we started a little slow but we have continued to get better. I hope we continue that this week."

The Shoes have six players batting in the .300 range. Smith has a .372 average in 35 games with 42 hits, including nine doubles, a triple and 23 RBI. Clint Weber is at .354 in 34 games with 10 doubles, five home runs and 35 RBI. Luke Ungrund stands at .340 in 35 games with two doubles, four home runs and 26 RBI. Standing at .330 each are Mitch Hardiek and Mitch Hemmen. Hemmen has had eight doubles, a triple and five home run along with 30 RBI in 35 games. Hardiek has six doubles, a triple and a home run in 35 games with 24 RBI. Schwerdt is at .327 in 36 games with six doubles and three home runs. He has 27 RBI. Tyler Runde is at .272 in 35 games with four doubles, a home run and 22 RBI.

"Clint Weber plays first base and stepped in last year about this time at first," said Fleener. "He has done a good job adapting to play first. He's proved to be a valuable hitter at the No. 4 spot.

"Tyler Runde plays second base and shortstop whenever Dawson pitches. He's very quick, has done a good job playing defense and has proven lately he has a good eye at the plate. He got a big hit at Sauget to drive in the third run of the game. He has a good bat and gets the bat on the ball.

"Dawson Smith plays shortstop and pitches. He leads us on the mound and he bats leadoff. He does a good job at short. Dawson is one of those guys who is a leader out there.

"Trenton Schwerdt plays third base and is the three-hole hitter. He's got good power to all fields. He's one of our pitchers. We've gotten good distance out of our starters. He's ready to pitch.

"Brady McMahon catches and has really come a long way this year both catching and at the plate. He does a good job of calling the game.

"Mitch Hardiek plays right field. He's a 5-0 hitter and does a good job with power to all fields. And, when he's needed, he's a good pitcher on the mound. We just haven't needed him.

"Mitch Hemmen plays center field and has done a great job on the mound with the no-hitter the other night. He has good power at the plate. He bats sixth.

"Justin Hardiek actually plays center and left fields. He has good speed and does a good job putting the bat on the ball. A lot of good contact this post-season and ignites a rally with walk, bunt, whatever he has to do to get on base.

"Luke Ungrund ir our third baseman or left fielder. He goes where he's needed. Bats second, one of our top hitters and has done a good job all year long , He can drive the ball to all fields. Good contact hitter that has very good speed.

"Evan Wermert plays second base whenever Dawson pitches and Tyler moves to short. He knows how to get done what needs to be done.

"Brayden Will has played first base some this year. He knows his role on the team.  A good person to have on the team.

"Brock Deters, outfield/pitcher, has stepped in and relieved in some good games this year.

"Our sophomores are Matt Deters, Dylan Overbeck, Derek Deters, Hayden Ruholl and Andy Niebrugge. Early in the year they got in some time until the basketball players got in rhythm. They are ready if needed at the varsity level. Evan Addis, another pitcher/outfielder. He along with Derek Deters do a good job on the mound. He'll be looked upon when seniors leave to take a job on the mound."

Seniors include Runde, Smith, Weber and Will. Juniors are Hemmen, Schwerdt, Hardiek, B. Deters, McMahon and Ungrund.

Rock Island Alleman has one player hitting .403. Nate Sheets has played in 39 games, getting 11 doubles, five triples and a home run. He has knocked in 16 RBI. Chase VanDerGinst is at .398 with 11 doubles, four triples and seven home runs. He has played in all 40 games and has 45 RBI. Sam Mattecheck has a .341 average with eight doubles, two triples and a home run. He has knocked in 15 runs. Zach Carpita has a .311 average with seven doubles, thre home runs and 42 RBI in 40 games.

Pitching for the Pioneers are Jono Berry  who has a 5-2 mark. He's gone 54 innings, allowing 27 walks and striking out 60. He has a 3.89 ERA. Collin Snyder is 5-0 going 55.1 innings, allowing 21 walks and striking out 62. He has a 1.77 ERA. Mattecheck has a 4-5 record, pitching 51.2 inings, allowing 35 walks and striking out 57 for a 3.93 ERA.

The Pioneers last visit to the state tournament was 2012 where they placed second.