By Drake Skleba

PERU ­ No. 2 Rock Falls opened the season with 21 consecutive victories. The
Rockets hit a speed bump Tuesday at LaSalle-Peru, falling 10-9 in nine
innings on a dramatic game winning home run. Chomping at the bit after that
defeat, the Rockets made amends by cruising to the NCIC Championship by
defeating No. 12 IVC 11-1 in five innings at Washington Park.

Rock Falls (23-1) put an early end to the championship game by exploding for
seven runs in the first inning. Troy and Taylor Eikenberry started the
onslaught by reaching base on a single and an error. Shane Blair then
hammered a three-run homer, his fifth of the season. Starting pitcher Jarred
Hippen added to the onslaught when he followed with his fourth round tripper,
his second of the day. If things can begin any worse for IVC, senior Tim
Jacobs made it three straight homers by hitting his ninth of the season. The
Rockets picked up two more runs on IVC miscues.

"This was a big win for us. It gives us a head of steam heading into the
postseason," said Hippen.

"I kind of coasted in the beginning but I threw the ball well at the end.
We're looking to do well in the postseason."

Rock Falls added a run in the second on an RBI single by Dylan Devries.

Jeremy McAllister doubled and junior Chris Razo singled him home to get IVC
(28-6) on the board in the third. Tim Jacobs and Colby Voss added RBI¹s to
increase the Rocket lead to 10-1. The Rockets would close out the scoring on
a sac-fly by Mitchell Johnson.

The University Of Iowa-bound senior pitcher, Jarred Hippen (9-0) shut down
the Grey Ghosts in the fourth and fifth innings to claim the NCIC crown.
Hippen gave up three hits and a run in his five-inning victory. He struck
out 7 for the game.

The game marked the third victory of the season for Rock Falls over fellow
Lincoln Division foe IVC. The Rockets opened conference play with 4-0 and 5-1
victories over the Grey Ghosts.

"We lost our first game of the season Tuesday, so this was great for us to
get this championship," said Jacobs.

"This was the first time I ever saw back-to-back-to-back homers It was sweet
to be part of it," said Shane Blair. "We'd like to get to Joliet (Class 3A
Finals) and bring home some hardware."

"We lost to a fine team in Rock Falls. This was our sixth game in four days.
I guess we ran out of gas tonight," said IVC head coach Jerry Rashid. "We
are off until Wednesday when we begin Class 2A regional action. We hope to
make a long run in Class 2A."

Rock Falls advanced to the championship game by blanking Ottawa 6-0 in the
semifinals earlier in the day. Freshman standout Jake Junis tossed a two hit
shutout and outdueled University of Illinois recruit Corey Kimes. Junis
(3-1) battled control problems throughout but was tough with men on base.
Junis struck out five and walked seven.

"I thought I pitched very well today," said Junis. "Jarred's home run was
big. My defense was great all day and we really hit Kimes well."

Rock Falls scored in the second on a sac-Fly by Junis. Hippen (2-for-4; HR;
2RBI) hit a towering drive that just cleared the right field fence for a
two-run homer in the third. Tim Jacobs picked up an RBI in the two run
Rocket fifth and Shane Blair (2-for-4; RBI) closed out the Rocket scoring in
the seventh

Corey Kimes (7IP; 6R; 10H; 5ER 5K; 1BB) fell to 5-2 in 2008.

IVC defeated Streator 8-1 in the other semifinal.

In the third place game Streator (21-6) defeated Ottawa 2-0. Ottawa falls to
13-9 on the season.

"The NCIC Championship was one of our goals at the start of the season,"
said Rock Falls skipper Donnie Chappell. "Jarred wasn't as sharp as he
usually is. He really was throwing hard in the fifth inning.
That's the Jarred Hippen we have seen all year. We have a lot of power; that
was sweet to see the three consecutive home runs."