South Central Captures First-Ever State Championship

By MILLIE LANGE

NORMAL -- South Central High School is the Class 1A State baseball champion.

The Cougars headed to the State Tournament at Illinois State University in Normal Thursday and came home with medals and a championship trophy.

In the opener, South Central faced Mount Pulaski, a team that had lost only once in 22 games. But that didn't faze the Cougars.

In the first inning, South Central struck with two runs. As a matter of fact, Chase Thompson was first up and hit a double to left field. Chase Dodson then followed with an infield single. Aidan Dodson walked to load the bases. Sebastian Cowger put the ball in play and was thrown out at first but tallied an RBI as Thompson crossed the plate for the first run. C. Dodson then came home on a fly ball to left field by Beau Jolliff.

Mount Pulaski came up and followed suit, putting three runners on base with two outs. But C. Dodson got tough on the mound, putting down all three outs on strikeouts.

The Cougars didn't let any grass grow under their feet. In the second inning, they pushed the lead to 4-0. Max Magnus led off with a single. With one out, Brandt Hiestand bunted and got a single and suddenly two runners were on base. With two outs, C. Dodson came up and again came through, this time with a double that scored both runners.

Things quieted down for the Cougars as they went through three innings before the fateful sixth. Mount Pulaski had pulled within 4-2 with two runs in the fourth on two hits and three walks.

In the sixth, South Central batted around. Sam Rubin and Magnus had back-to-back singles. With one out, Hunter Cripe moved both runners over on a sacrifice, Hiestand reached on a fielder's choice. Thompson followed with an RBI single, C. Dodson drew an intentional walk. Aidan Dodson followed with an RBI single and Sebastian Cowger had a single that drove in two runs. Rubin came to bat and singled for the second time in the inning and drove in a run. By the time the dust had cleared, the Cougars held an 11-2 lead.

Mount Pulaski followed by scoring three runs in the bottom of the frame, but South Central put the game away.

The Cougars had a whopping 14 hits in the contest led by Thompson and C. Dodson with two singles, a double and two RBI each, Rubin with three singles and an RBI and Magnus with two singles. Cowger had a single and three RBI.

Dodson picked up the win going five innings, allowing two runs on three hits, six walks while striking out 11.

In the champoinship game, South Central, once again, took the early lead, scoring a run in the third inning.

Glen Carbon Father McGivney tied the score in the top of the fifth. But, the Cougars came back with three runs in the bottom of the frame for a 4-1 lead. Father McGivney tallied its final run in the seventh.

Both teams had six hits in the contest while Father McGivney finished with two errors.

Thompson repeated his first game performance with the exact two singles, double and an RBI while C. Dodson added a double and an RBI. Jolliff finished with a single and an RBI and Cowger had an RBI.

Johannes went six innings, allowing two runs on six hits, three walks while striking out nine for the win on the mound.

South Central finished the season with a 26-3 record. Father Givney ended with a 31-7 record.

Father McGivney had defeated Newark 5-1 to reach the title contest. Newark ended up claiming the third place game with a 6-2 win over Mount Pulaski. Newark ended the season at 27-2 while Mount Pulaski finished 26-3.

There is a parade planned for the team Friday, starting in St. Peter at 6 pm. The parade will travel through St. Peter, Farina, Kinmundy, and Alma. A reception will follow at Lions Field.

Class 1A State Tournament

Game One

South Central             220    007    0    --    11-14-1

Mount Pulaski            000    203    0    --      5- 5-1

WP -- C. Dodson. LP -- Cooper.

South Central -- Thompson, 2 singles, double, 2 RBI; C. Dodson, 2 singles, double, 2 RBI; A. Dodson, single, 1 RBI; Cowger, single, 3 RBI; Jolliff, 1 RBI; Rubin, 3 singles, 1 RBI; Magnus, 2 singles; Hiestand, single

Mount Pulaski -- Bailey, 1 RBI; Cooper, 1 RBI; Martin, double, 1 RBI; Frickie, single; Davis, single, 1 RBI; Smith single; Kuhlman, single

Championship Game

Father McGivney           000    010    1    --    2-6-2

South Central                001    030    x    --    4-6-0

WP -- Johannes. LP -- Gierer.

Glen Carbon Father McGivney -- D. Gierer, single; Sowrewine, single; M. Gierer, single; Deakos, single; Terhaar, single, 1 RBI; McKee, single

South Central -- Thompson, 2 singles, double, 1 RBI; C. Dodson, double, 1 RBI; Cowger, 1 RBI; Jolliff, single, 1 RBi; Hiestand, single