Altamont Claims NTC Tournament Championship

Altamont captured the NTC Tournament championship.

ALTAMONT -- The game couldn't have ended any more dramatically than it did.

 With one out in the eighth inning, the score between Altamont and Effingham St. Anthony tied at 4-4, Jared Hammer stepped to the plate. And, with the National Trail Conference Tournament championship on the line, Hammer produced with a walk-off home run over the left field fence giving the Indians the 5-4 win and the tourney title.

"Two years in a row, Jared has come up with a home run," said Altamont Coach Alan Whitt. "He goes up to the plate with an idea what he's going to do and he does it."

It was a game that was just as it should be, close from the get-go and back and forth.

The Bulldogs struck in the first inning as Kennan Walsh had a bunt single to reach base. Colton Fearday then lofted a ball that was misplayed in centerfield, allowing Walsh to go around and score.

The Indians went up and down in the first two innings but struck in the third. Kaden Eirhart drew a walk and Logan Cornett followed with a single. A wild pitch allowed Eirhart to come home. Then with two outs, Bradin Baucum hit a ball and a error allowed him to reach base and Cornett to come home giving the Indians the 2-1 lead. But the Bulldogs got out of the inning without further damage on a great catch by Walsh in centerfield.

It was quiet until the fifth when St. Anthony moved ahead 4-3. Josh Blanchette led off the frame with a single. With one out, Logan Antrim drew a walk. Walsh doubled home a run. Colton Fearday then followed with an RBI single that drove in two runs.

Here came Altamont. With one out in the sixth, Hammer and Wyatt Phillips drew back-to-back walks. A wild throw produced the run and the Indians had pulled within 4-3.

Getting the Bulldogs up and down in the seventh, Altamont came to bat. Kaden Eirhart singled and Cornett got his second single of the contest. Two wild pitches later, Cornett had scored but Eirhart had been caught in a rundown. But the score now stood at 4-4 sending the game into extra innings.

The Bulldogs put a runner on base in the top of the eighth as Fearday got his third single and with two outs, Will Hoene singled. But Fearday was tagged out when he was caught off base.

Then came the dramatic ending in the bottom of the eighth. With one out,  Hammer nailed his home run.

"Our guys were ready to play and so was St. Anthony" said Whitt. "These kids just don't give up. Our defense held strong. It was just an all out team effort."

The Indians finish the season with a 16-7 record while St. Anthony ends at 10-10.

NTC Championship

St. Anthony            100    030    00    --    4-7-2

Altamont                 002    001    11    --    5-6-2

WP -- Baucum. LP -- Hotze.

St. Anthony -- Walsh, single, double, 1 RBI; Fearday, 2 singles, 2 RBI; Hoene, single; Blanchette, single; Adams, single

Altamont -- Stuemke, single, 1 RBI; Hammer, home run, 1 RBI; Eirhart, 2 singles; Cornett, 2 singles

Altamont holds aloft the NTC championship plaque after beating St. Anthony in the title game.