PEORIA, IL - In game one of the Class 2A State Semifinal at Dozer Park on Friday afternoon, Teutopolis matched up against Herscher. Teutopolis, the defending 2A State Champions, needed a late rally and eight innings to knock off Herscher 5-4.

Senior Ethyn Dust deserved the game ball with his performance for the Wooden Shoes of Teutopolis. Dust, came up with one of the biggest hits of the night and shut the Herscher offense down with his performance out of the bullpen. Dust, who had two rough at-bats to begin the game, came to the plate with one out in the top of the fifth inning. With the bases loaded and trailing 3-1, Dust atoned for his first two at-bats with a line-drive double down the left-field line that cleared the bases and gave the Wooden Shoes a 4-3 lead at the time.

Herscher would battle back in the bottom half of the inning and tie the game at four apiece. Tyler Stuart reached on an error with one out and was driven in on a double by the very next batter, McKinley Keenan. After a single by Kaden Hubly, Teutopolis turned to Dust out of the bullpen.

Dust proceeded to throw the final 3.2 innings without giving up a hit or a run to pick up the win for Teutopolis. Dust walked two and struck out five in his outstanding effort out of the bullpen.

With the game tied at four and a runner on second with two outs in the top of the eighth inning, Herscher elected to intentionally walk Eric Kremer which brought Drew Thoele to the plate. Thoele made them pay with the go-ahead and eventual game-winning RBI single to center field.

Herscher jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after the first inning. Hubly scorched a double to center field which scored Tyler Jarnigan and Anthony Karanda who reached base safely to begin the frame.

Jarnigan came out of the bullpen and held the Teutopolis offense scoreless until they finally broke through in the top of the eighth inning. Jarnigan, who saw his fastball climb as high as 87 mph, went 3.2 innings, scattered three hits, one run, walked one and struck out five.

Thoele singled three times and knocked in two pacing the Teutopolis offense. Hubly and Luke Cross had multiple hits and three RBI combined to lead the way offensively for Herscher.

With the win Teutopolis will be going for their second consecutive 2A State Title tomorrow. The game is scheduled to start at 11:00 am and they will match up against Hall Township who had their own extra inning affair in an entertaining Semifinal game.

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