Father McGivney wins state semifinal baseball game over Pawnee in four innings

Omar Avalos celebrates his first-inning triple with a yell, standing on third — Father McGivney's Omar Avalos celebrates on third base after hitting a line drive to right field. The sophomore collected the team's first RBI, tying the score at 1-all. The Griffins went on to defeat the Indians in four innings 16-1, advancing to the Class 1A title game against Marquette High School. Avalos finished the game 3-for-4 with one run and 2 RBI.

Photos: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Left: Freshman Gavin Greer lays down a bunt to third base in the first inning. He scored the team's only run on a Coy Clarke hit to center field later in the frame. Middle: Kannon Kamp is welcomed to home plate after his grand slam shot over the right field wall with Evan Koontz, Ty Etcheson, and Reilly Sutberry. The four-run homer put the Griffins up 5-1 on the scoreboard. Right: Pawnee pitcher Riley McElroy, who took the loss for Pawnee, unloads a pitch in the bottom of the third inning. The senior gave up seven hits in semifinal loss.

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Tagged: High School Sports, Baseball, State Baseball, Pawnee Baseball, State Baseball Qualifiers, Father McGivney Baseball

How sweet it is! Cyclones win Class 2A state baseball title in heart-stopping thriller

Sacred Heart-Griffin's Tommy Lauterbach is rushed by teammates after securing their baseball title — **CHAMPAIGN** - The Sacred Heart-Griffin baseball team mug teammate Tommy Lauterbach after he drilled the game-winning RBI deep into left field during their Class 2A championship baseball game against Teutopolis. The Cyclones defeated the Wooden Shoes 5-4 to take home state title for the first time four decades thanks to Lauterbach walk-off heroics in the bottom of the seventh inning. It was SHG's third state baseball title since 1987.

Photos: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Left: Sacred Heart-Griffin's Andy Antonacci celebrates his home run at the plate with Mike Groesch and Drew Ward in the first inning. Middle: Tommy Lauterbach poses for a photo with the Cyclone's state trophy. Lauterbach hit the game-winning RBI to break a tie in the seventh inning. Right: Ty Springer celebrates with teammates after piling on Lauterbach. Want to see more Sentinel photos from this game? Let us know by email at sports@oursentinel.com.

Tagged: SHG State Baseball Champions, High School Sports, Baseball, State Baseball, SHG Baseball

Sunday Sports Rewind; St. Joseph-Ogden advances to baseball title game

Peoria - Brant Hoveln and Colton Hale head to the dugout during the St. Joseph-Ogden baseball team's state semifinal game a Dozier Stadium. The Spartans plated three runs in the top of the ninth inning, breaking a 2-2 tie to beat Chicago Christian 5-2 and advance to the Class 2A champion game. Jesse Schlueter, Eli Place, and Austin Cain led the offensive effort with two hits each. Hale, who struck out eight of the 20 batters he faced across 6.2 innings, earned the win on the bump. Here's a look back at some of the game action from the game seven years ago this June.

Photos: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks