Altamont Finishes Second At Class 1A State Baseball Tourney

Altamont captured second place at the Class 1A State Baseball Tournament. Tyler Repking photo

PEORIA -- Altamont High School squared off against Ottawa Marquette for the Class 1A State Baseball Tournament championship Saturday only to fall short by a 6-2 final count.

The two teams were pretty quiet through the first four innings. With one out, the Crusaders' Carson Zellers drew a walk in the opening inning. But the Indians came up big with a double play as Sam Mitre hit a grounder to shortstop Dillan Elam who completed the double play to first.

Marquette went up and down in the second and third innings.

Altamont's Eli Miller singled in the third inning for the first baserunner but was thrown out on a double play as Kade Milleville grounded to shortstop.

The Crusaders rumbled again in the fourth. Alec Novotney singled to open the frame and was sacrificed over by Carson Sellers. But the Indians got the next two outs on a ground out and a strikeout.

Ottawa Marquette then broke free in the fifth. Griffith Dobershein led off the frame with a single. He was sacrificed over to second by Anthony Couch. Charlie Mullen then hit a single, scoring Dobbershein. The Indians got out of the frame without further damage on a ground out and a strikeout.

Altamont's Ethan Robbins singled in the fifth but was thrown out on a fielder's choice on a grounder hit by Kaidyn Miller. Miller was left stranded.

The Crusaders broke free with four runs in the sixth. Zellers led off with a single followed by singles from Sam Mitre and Keaten Davis and the bases were loaded. However, Zellers was thrown out advancing to home for the second out on a fielder's choice ball hit by Dobbershien. With the bases still loaded, Anthony Couch hit a pop fly ball but an error was committed and three runs scored. Charlie Mullen then followed with a single that brought home the fourth run and the Crusaders held a 5-0 lead.

Ottawa Marquette then scored its final run in the seventh when Grant Dose drew a walk, Alec Novotney singled and Mitre hit a sacrifice fly to score Dose.

Altamont attempted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh. Stuemke and Keegan Schultz drew back-to-back walks. With two outs, Clayton Arnold drew a walk to load the bases. Eli Miller followed with a single, scoring both runners. But the final out came on a pop up to first base.

Ottawa Marquette finished with eight hits in the contest led by Mullen with a single, triple and two RBI and Novotney with two singles.

Altamont tallied four hits, all singles. E. Miller had two singles and both RBI while Davis and Robbins had a single each.

Zellers picked up the pitching win on a four-hitter with three walks and five strikeouts.

Altamont was welcomed home Sunday at the Altamont High School baseball field.

Jacksonville Routt claimed third place with a 3-0 win over Gibson City/Melvin Sibley.

Class 1A State Tournament

Championship

Ottawa Marquette                  000    014    1    --    6-8-0

Altamont                                000    000    2    --   2-4-1

WP -- Zellers. LP -- Milleville.

Ottawa Marquette -- Novotney, 2 singles; Zellers, single; Mitre, single; Gutierrez, 1 RBI; Davis, single; Dobberstein, single; Mullen, single, triple, 2 RBI

Altamont -- Davis, single; Robbins, single; E. Miller, 2 singles, 2 RBI

Altamont shows off its second place trophy at the Class 1A State Baseball Tournament. Tyler Repking photo