Bulldogs Win Class 2A State Baseball Championship

St. Anthony boys are honored for their Class 2A State baseball championship with a Welcome Home Sunday. Greg Sapp photo

Effingham St. Anthony High School's baseball team was welcomed home Sunday after capturing the Class 2A State Baseball Tournament championship Saturday at Peoria's Dozer Park.

The Bulldogs went up against Maroa-Forsyth for the State title Saturday and struck early.

St. Anthony ran out to a 2-0 opening inning lead. Beau Adams got things started with a single. He was sacrificed over by Aiden Lauritzen. A line drive double to centerfield by Brock Fearday scored Adams. With two outs, Brady Hatton followed with a double to centerfield and Fearday scored.

Maroa-Forsyth went up and down in the first but put runners on base in the second. Zayn Giles led off with a single and Andy Munjoy followed with a single. The two runners advanced on a ground out by Ace Giles. Cayden Rose was then struck out but the final strike was dropped and St. Anthony got Rose out, throwing to first. Conner Kelly then drew a walk to load the bases. Lauritzen gave up a ball to Ian Reed but came back with three straight strikes to get out of the inning unscathed.

The Bulldogs then came up in the bottom of the second to move the lead to 7-0. Will Fearday led off the frame with a single. But the Trojans got the next two batters out. Adams followed with his second single of the contest and Lauritzen aided his own cause with an RBI single that scored W. Fearday. Ryan Schmidt came in as a courtesy runner for Lauritzen. B. Fearday followed with another single for an RBI. Conner Roepke was hit by a pitch. Hatton followed with a double that scored three runs before the final out of the inning was recorded and St. Anthony held a 7-0 lead.

The Trojans finally hit the scoreboard in the top of the third. Kaiden Maurer singled. The Bulldogs registered one out on a fielder's choice after Mitch Williams drew a walk but was thrown out on the fielder's choice. Maurer stood at second and Tate Brandenburg at first. Z. Giles followed with a double, scoring both runners. But the Bulldogs got out of the inning without further damage to hold a 7-2 lead.

In the bottom of the frame, Will Fearday was hit by a pitch. The next two batters were out on fly balls before Adams singled home W. Fearday but was picked off second for the final out. The Bulldogs held an 8-2 lead.

The Trojans came back with two runs in the top of the fourth.. Rose drew a walk but was out on a fielder's choice hit by Kelly. With two outs, Maurer drew a walk and both runners came home on a single by Williams and the lead was 7-3.

Maroa-Forsyth scored its final run in the sixth as Williams singled and came home on a single by Giles.

St. Anthony had two runners on base in the fourth and one in the sixth but did not bring them home.

Maroa-Forsyth's Giles singled to start off the seventh but Joe Tegeler got the next two runners on infield pop flies and struck out the final batter.

Hatton led the way for the Bulldogs with two doubles and four RBI while Adams went three-for-four at the plate with three singles and an RBI. B. Fearday finished with a single, double and two RBI and Lauritzen had two singles and an RBI.

Lauritzen went 5 2/3 innings, allowing seven hits, five runs, six walks and striking out four for the win on the mound Tegler came on to finish out the last 1 1/3 innings with two hits and one strikeout for the save.

Maroa-Forsyth finished the season with a 27-5 record.

St. Anthony ended with a 27-5-1 mark for Coach Tony Kreke.

Third place went to Wilimington over Sterling Newman Central Catholic, 4-0.

The Bulldogs were welcomed home Sunday with a reception at St. Anthony High School. Coach Kreke had his sons distribute flowers to each coach's wife or girlfriend. Greg Sapp was the MC. Greg Fearday and Father Michael participated while Athletic Director Kevin Palmer had spoke. Everyone was then invited to the MPR for punch and cookies afterwards.

Class 2A State Tournament

Championship

Maroa-Forsyth                 002    201    0    --    5-  9-1

St. Anthony                      251    000    x    --    8-11-0

WP -- Lauritzen. LP -- Kelly.

Maroa-Forsyth -- Maurer, single; Williams, 2 singles, 2 RBI; Z. Giles, 2 singles, double, 3 RBI; Munjoy, 2 singles; A. Giles, single

St. Anthony -- Adams, 3 singles, 1 RBI; Lauritzen, 2 singles, 1 RBI; B. Fearday, single, double, 2 RBI; Roepke, single; Hatton, 2 doubles, 4 RBI; W. Fearday, single

The St. Anthony seniors line up to talk during the Welcome Home at St. Anthony High School. Greg Sapp photo