Bleyer and Beal Combine On Five-Hitter To Send Williamsville To Class 2A Title Game
June 5, 2015
By Ryan Quigley
Illinois Scouting Director
PEORIA, IL – In the last semifinal game of the day on Friday night at Peoria’s Dozer Park, Williamsville took down Teutopolis 4-1 behind a combined five-hitter from Luke Bleyer and John Beal, and the offensive efforts of Talon File and Vince Vignali.
Williamsville took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first thanks to a misplayed fly ball in right field. With one out, senior left fielder Dan Daykin walked, then went first to third on sophomore shortstop Talon File’s perfectly executed hit-and-run up the middle. Vince Vignali lifted a fly ball to right field for what looked to be the second out of the inning, but the ball dropped off the Teutopolis’ fielder’s glove, scoring Daykin. Bleyer (2-for-3, RBI, two singles) then put down a perfect safety squeeze, scoring File and giving the Bullets a 2-0 advantage.
After throwing three scoreless innings, scattering five hits in the process, Bleyer was lifted after a walk and a groundout in favor of the junior righthander Beal in the fourth with a man on second and one out. Junior second baseman Jacob Roepke (2-for-3) singled to shortstop, then stole second to put runners at second and third. Senior centerfielder Thomas Flach then hit a similar ball into the hole, scoring Brock Metter from third on the fielder’s choice/errant throw to attempting to nab Roepke at third base, cutting the Williamsville lead to 2-1.
Williamsville added an insurance run in the fifth when File (2-for-3, doubled, hit-by-pitch, three runs scored) scored on an error by the Teutopolis shortstop, who attempted to throw behind Williamville’s Vince Vignali after his single to right field. The throw sailed high past first base, and allowed File, who was going from first to third, to push the lead to 3-1.
The Bullets added one more in the seventh, with File and Vignali once again in on the action. File doubled to right field on a ball lost in the sun, then scored on Vignali’s RBI line drive single to center field.
Williamsville improves to 31-6 on the year, and will take on Rockford Christian tomorrow night at 5:30 pm for the Class 2A State Championship. Teutopolis (31-6-1) takes on St. Bede at 3 pm in the third place game.
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