PAC 13's Capture Season Finale In St. Louis

Members of the PAC 13's are, first row, left to right, Eric Kremer, Landon Jansen, Ryan Sandifer, Cody Jansen, Brett Koester and batboy Quest Hull. Second row, left to right, Brent Beals, Mason Hull, Colin Funneman, Ethan Dust, Drew Gibson, Lee Hardiek and Coach Chris Koester. Third row, left to right, coaches Jeff Hardiek and Ted Funneman. Not pictured was Ian Addis.

ST. LOUIS, MO -- The PAC 13 Team Extreme was not satisfied with repeating as Illinois State champions in June. Instead, the PAC 13 squad traveled to Missouri and captured the Game 7 baseball championship by going undefeated in the USSSA tournament in St. Louis, Mo. The team finished with a season record of 37-7, a dtate championship and the most recent Missouri tournament victory.

In the semi-final game, the PAC 13's defeated the Illini team 4-2, scoring four runs on five hits. Ryan Sandifer scattered five hits in the contest to secure the pitching victory.  Offensively, Brett Koester went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Brent Beals, Eric Kremer and Cody Jansen also chipped in with hits and Colin Funneman, Landon Jansen and Sandifer also scored runs for the PAC.

The PAC won the championship game 5-3 against the Prospects in a game that was stopped after 6 2/3 innings after the coach of the Prospects was ejected from the game. Ethan Dust allowed two runs on three hits, earning the pitching victory. The PAC offense was paced by Lee Hardiek who had two hits and two RBI while Drew Gibson, Beals, Kremer and Dust each had a hit for the PAC.  Mason Hull also scored a run while making a run saving defensive play at shortstop.

The coaches for the PAC did not allow the unfortunate actions of the opposing coach and stoppage of the game by the tournament director diminish the accomplishment of the team.

"The behavior of the opposing coach was reprehensible and we talked to the kids about how important it is to display respect and class, on and off the field," explained Coach Chris Koester. "The tournament director and umpires actually made a point to talk to our kids about how impressed they were with maturity and professionalism displayed by our players throughout the tournament, especially at the end of the championship game."

Coach Jeff Hardiek admitted that he was pleasantly surprised by the success of the team in light of the injuries that plagued the squad throughout the year.

“We were bitten by the injury bug this year, especially in our pitching and catching positions,” Hardiek commented. “The depth of our team was tested and the kids passed the test with flying colors.”

The PAC 13 team is comprised of players from Effingham, Teutopolis and St. Anthony and is currently playing with their junior high teams. The PAC team practices throughout the year in the Premier Athletic Club in Effingham.