Wooden Shoes Win 2019 State Baseball Championship

(THE TEUTOPOLIS WOODEN SHOES RECEIVE THEIR CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY)

The Teutopolis Wooden Shoes Saturday captured the state championship of Class 2A high school baseball.

The Wooden Shoes defeated Pleasant Plains 12-6 at Dozer Park in Peoria to claim the state title, their fourth under Coach Justin Fleener. The game was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

The game set four state tournament records; most runs scored by a team, most runs scored between the championship game teams, most hits by a team, and most doubles by a team in the championship game.

The contest featured 18 runs, 24 hits and nine errors between the two teams.

Teutopolis jumped in front with two runs in the first, but Pleasant Plains tied the game with two runs in the second. Teutopolis moved back in front with two runs in the third, added two runs in the fifth, and then put the game away with three runs each in the sixth and seventh innings.

Pleasant Plains scored in the fifth and added three runs in the sixth inning.

Mitch Hemmen, who had thrown a no-hitter in the super-sectional game on Monday, wasn't quite as sharp but pitched well enough to win. Hemmen went 5-1/3 innings, allowing six runs on six hits and striking out three. Pleasant Plains scored three times in the sixth and had two runners on when Mitch Hardiek was called in to relieve, and induced a 4-6-3 double play to get out of the threat. Hardiek then retired the Cardinals in order in the seventh to pick up the save, recording one strikeout 1-2/3 innings. 

Hardiek also had the hottest bat for the Shoes in the contest, getting four hits and driving in four runs. Hemmen had three hits and drove in two runs. Dawson Smith, Trenton Schwerdt, and Brady McMahon each had two hits, and Luke Ungrund, Clint Weber, Tyler Runde and Justin Hardiek each picked up a hit, as all nine starters recorded at least one hit.

Here's the rundown: Dawson Smith--two doubles, run scored, RBI; Luke Ungrund--single, run scored, RBI; Trenton Schwerdt--two doubles, two walks, three runs scored; Clint Weber--single, stolen base, run scored, RBI; Mitch Hardiek--double, three singles, two runs scored, 4 RBI; Mitch Hemmen--double, two singles, two runs scored, 2 RBI; Tyler Runde--single, RBI; Brady McMahon--two singles, RBI; Justin Hardiek--single, sacrifice, run scored, RBI. 

Teutopolis finishes the season 28-8-1 and a state champion once again.

A Welcome Home will begin with a fire truck ride through the village at 12:30pm, followed by a reception at 1pm today in JH Griffin Gym.