Teutopolis Reaches Final Four of State Tournament; Neoga Eliminated in Elite Eight

Teutopolis has reached the Final Four in the state 2A baseball tournament, while Neoga was eliminated in the Final Four of the 1A tournament.

Teutopolis posted a 3-0 win over Maroa-Forsyth Friday afternoon at Eastside Centre in East Peoria. The Shoes scored in the third inning, then added two runs in the fifth inning. T-Town scored their runs on five hits.

Brady Bloemer had two hits and scored a run, Teagan Pals scored a run and drove in a run, Kendal Mette singled, Hayden Tebbe drove in a run, and Carson Cornell had two hits, scored a run and drove in two runs.

Aidan Niemerg got the win for the Shoes, allowing no runs on four hits, walking three and striking out two in six innings of work. Brady Bloemer pitched the final inning and walked a batter.

Teutopolis will play in the semifinals at 12 noon today against Kankakee Bishop McNamara. If they win, the Shoes will play for the state championship at 4:30pm; if they lose at noon, they will play for third place at 2:30pm.

Neoga battled hard but came up just short in a game that went eight innings. West Prairie took a 2-0 first inning lead, but Neoga bounced back with a run in the third and two more in the fourth to grab a 4-2 lead. West Prairie scored twice in the fifth to tie the game. Neoga scored twice in the sixth to gain a 6-4 lead, but West Prairie tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the frame. West Prairie finally pushed across the winning run in the eighth inning.

Neoga scored their six runs on just three hits. Cayden Hakman singled and doubled, and Grady Haarman doubled. Hakman drove in three runs and Garrett Ballinger drove in a run.

Malik Coy took the loss for Neoga, going five innings and allowing four runs on nine hits, walking one and striking out 10.

Neoga closes its season with a 16-7 record. Teutopolis is now 18-5.