St. Anthony To Play For Class 2A State Baseball Championship

PEORIA -- The score stood at 2-1 after two innings before Effingham St. Anthony went on a scoring tear that produced 10 more runs as the Bulldogs ended their game by the 10-run rule in the sixth by a 12-1 count over Wilmington at the Class 2A State Baseball Tournament Friday at Dozer Park. The game was heard on Classic Hits 979XFM and 979xfm.com. 

The Bulldogs got on the scoreboard in the first inning. With one out, Aiden Lauritzen singled on a line drive to second. Brock Fearday then followed with a double to left field and Lauritzen stood at third base. Connor Roepke then doubled to centerfield and both Lauritzen and courtesy runner Ryan Schmidt came home.

St. Anthony rumbled in the second inning. Sam Link singled and was sacrificed over by Will Fearday. Henry Brent then singled to right field and Link advanced to third. A second out came on a Max Koenig bunt to the pitcher. Beau Adams then popped out and the threat was ended.

The Wildcats came right back with a run in the bottom of the second. Zach Ohlund drew a walk with one out. Reid Juster then singled and Ohlund took second. Dierks Geiss sacrificed and Ohlund went to third and came home on a single by Joe Allgood.

That's when the Bulldogs got back on track, scoring four runs in the third. Lauritzen drew a walk and B. Fearday tripled him home. Courtesy runner Ryan Schmidt came in for Fearday. Connor Roepke singled and Schmidt scored making it 4-1. With one out, Link singled on a line drive to left. Courtesy runner Nick Ruholl advanced to third on a wild pitch and Link advanced to second and when the dust had cleared, the score stood at 6-1.

St. Anthony pushed that lead to 8-1 in the fourth. Adams doubled and came home on a triple by B. Fearday. Brady Hatton then singled home courtesy runner Schmidt.

The two teams went scoreless in the fifth.

St. Anthony then pounded home four more runs in the sixth. In that frame, Adams doubled, Lauritzen singled. B. Fearday was intentionally walked. Adams scored on a wild pitch. Hatton and W. Fearday both singled and the Bulldogs held a 12-1 lead.

B. Fearday then took the mound in the bottom of the frame. He got Cade McCubbin to ground out then struck out Kyle Farrell and got Ohlund to fly out to end the game.

Fearday went the six innings, allowing one run on four hits, two walks while striking out seven.

Fearday also aided his own cause with a double, two triples and two RBI. Roepke had a single, double and three RBI while Hatton had two singles and three RBI. Adams added two doubles. Link and W. Fearday had two singles and an RBI each and Lauritzen had two singles. The Bulldogs finished with 16 hits and were aided by three Wilmington errors and three walks.

Wilmington dropped to 27-2 on the season and will play Sterling Newman Central Catholic (25-5-1) at 4 p.m. Saturday for third place.

St. Anthony improved to 26-5-1 on the season and will face Maroa-Forsyth (27-4) at 7 p.m for  the state championship.

Celebration plans for St. Anthony fans include Sunday, a 1:30 p.m. parade starting at the Effingham Event Center on West Fayette. A brief reception will follow at the Enlow Center at 1:45-2 p.m. with Greg Sapp as the MC followed by cake and punch in the multi-purpose room.

Class 2A State Tournament

St. Anthony                   204    204    --    12-16-1

Wilmington                   010    000    --      1- 4-3

WP -- B. Fearday. LP -- rink.

St. Anthony -- Adams, 2 doubles; Lauritzen, 2 singles; B. Fearday, double, 2 triples, 2 RBI; Roepke, single, double, 3 RBI; Hatton, 2 singles, 3 RBI; Link, 2 singles, 1 RBI; W. Fearday, 2 singles, 1 RBI; Brent, single

Wilmington -- Rink, single; Juster, single; Geiss, single; Allgood, single, 1 RBI