Class 2A state tournament predictions
May 14, 2012
By Sean Duncan
The Class 2A state tournament begins Monday, May 14 with regional play-in games. Which means it’s time for our intrepid tournament predictions. As always, The Guru and I have gone on the record. In years past, we’ve also had a trained circus chimpanzee take part in our predictions, but the primate always made us look bad, so we fired him. Nevertheless …
All eyes will be on Teutopolis, as the Wooden Shoes will endeavor to make IHSA history by winning their third straight state championship. Last season, Teutopolis became back-to-back Class 2A champions after it shut out Walther Lutheran, 4-0, in the title game.
Teutopolis certainly has the talent to make a run at history, though it will have to do so without the services of last year’s No. 1 prospect, LHP Derek Thompson, who earned victories in both championship games.
The Guru is putting his chips on No. 16 Teutopolis for a historical three-peat. Myself, while I like to romanticize about historical stuff, I’m going in a different direction. You see, Teutopolis is shoved in clearly the toughest sectional in Class 2A - the Robinson Sectional. Teutopolis will likely face No. 19-ranked Harrisburg, our preseason pick to win Class 2A, in the sectional semifinal. And if by chance Teutopolis gets past Harrisburg, the Wooden Shoes will likely have to face Mt. Zion and power RHP Nick Stroud.
And, if by chance Teutopolis gets by Mt. Zion, it will have to turn around and likely face No. 17 Benton in the Sauget Supersectional. That’s three straight high-stress games for the Wooden Shoes. Most other sectionals are pretty weak, and therefore the top seeds can cruise through sectional play.
My pick to win Class 2A is Aurora Christian HS. Aurora features Northern Illinois-bound LHP/OF Bobby Kuntzendorf, Valparaiso-bound C Jake Hanson, and the team recently received a significant boost when RHP/OF Mitch Holtz (Penn recruit) returned from a knee injury.
The Guru, too, likes Aurora Christian, as he has it advancing to the championship game. I think Benton will advance to the championship game.
We’re both aligned that Richmond-Burton and Williamsville will advance to Peoria out of their weaker supersectional come June 1-2.
Enough of this. Here are our picks:
Drake "The Guru" Skleba |
Sean Duncan |
Rock Island (Augustana) Supersectional |
Rock Island (Augustana) Supersectional |
|
Monmouth Sectional |
Monmouth Sectional |
|
Rock Island Alleman d. Peru St. Bede |
Illinois Valley Central d. Rock Island Alleman |
|
Brimfield d. Macomb |
Brimfield d. Macomb |
|
Rock Island Alleman d. Brimfield |
Illinois Valley Central d. Brimfield |
|
Morrison Sectional |
Morrison Sectional |
|
Richmond-Burton d. Morrison |
Richmond-Burton d. Morrison |
|
Rock Ralls d. Winnebago |
Rock Ralls d. Winnebago |
|
Richmond-Burton d. Rock Falls |
Richmond-Burton d. Rock Falls |
|
Supersectional: |
Supersectional: |
|
Richmond-Burton d. Rock Island Alleman |
Richmond-Burton d. Illinois Valley Central |
|
Richmond-Burton advances to Peoria |
Richmond-Burton advances to Peoria |
Lisle (Benedictine) Supersectional |
Lisle (Benedictine) Supersectional |
|
Coal City Sectional |
Coal City Sectional |
|
Aurora Christian d. Herscher |
Aurora Christian d. Herscher |
|
Chicago Christian d. Wilmington |
Chicago Christian d. Wilmington |
|
Aurora Christian d. Chicago Christian |
Aurora Christian d. Chicago Christian |
|
Benedictine Sectional |
Benedictine Sectional |
|
Lisle d. Gordon Tech |
Lisle d. Gordon Tech |
|
Walther Lutheran d. Chicago Perspectives |
Walther Lutheran d. Chicago Perspectives |
|
Lisle d. Walther Lutheran |
Lisle d. Walther Lutheran |
|
Supersectional: |
Supersectional: |
|
Aurora Christian d. Lisle |
Aurora Christian d. Lisle |
|
Aurora Christian advances to Peoria |
Aurora Christian advances to Peoria |
Suget (GCS Park) Supersectional |
Suget (GCS Park) Supersectional |
|
Robinson Sectional |
Robinson Sectional |
|
Mt. Zion d. Olney East Richland |
Mt. Zion d. Olney East Richland |
|
Teutopolis d. Harrisburg |
Harrisburg d. Teutopolis |
|
Teutopolis d. Mt. Zion |
Mt. Zion d. Harrisburg |
|
Vandalia Sectional |
Vandalia Sectional |
|
Benton d. Anna-Jonesboro |
Benton d. Anna-Jonesboro |
|
Nashville d. Greenville |
Greenville d. Nashville |
|
Benton d. Nashville |
Benton d. Greenville |
|
Supersectional: |
Supersectional: |
|
Teutopolis d. Benton |
Benton d. Mt. Zion |
|
Teutopolis advances to Peoria |
Benton advances to Peoria |
Springfield (Lincoln Land) Supersectional |
Springfield (Lincoln Land) Supersectional |
|
Clinton Sectional |
Clinton Sectional |
|
Normal U-High d. Bloomington C. Catholic |
Bloomington C. Catholic d. Normal U-High |
|
Tolono Unity d. Monticello |
Monticello d. St. Joseph-Ogden |
|
Normal U-High d. Tolono Unity |
Bloomington C. Catholic d. Monticello |
|
Quincy Notre Dame Sectional |
Quincy Notre Dame Sectional |
|
Williamsville d. Virden |
Williamsville d. Lichtfield |
|
Rochester d. Roxana |
Civic Memorial d. Rochester |
|
Willaimsville d. Rochester |
Williamsville d. Civic Memorial |
|
Supersectional: |
Supersectional: |
|
Williamsville d. Normal U-High |
Williamsville d. Bloomington C. Catholic |
Class 2A State Semifinals |
Class 2A State Semifinals |
|
Aurora Christian d. Richmond-Burton |
Aurora Christian d. Richmond-Burton |
|
Teutopolis d. Williamsville |
Benton d. Williamsville |
Third-Place Game |
Third-Place Game |
|
Williamsville d. Richmond-Burton |
Richmond-Burton d. Williamsville |
Class 2A Championship Game |
Class 2A Championship Game |
|
Teutopolis d. Aurora Christian |
Aurora Christian d. Benton |
|
Teutopolis wins third straight title |
Aurora Christian takes home the big trophy |