By Sean Duncan

PEORIA, IL – St. Anthony junior right-hander Ben Hecht entered Friday’s Class 1A state semifinal game with a 0.53 ERA and a perfect 10-0 record. So when Marquette put two runs on the board in the first inning, it was a bit concerning.

Shortly after the rough start, however, Hecht settled in and pitched St. Anthony into the Class 1A state championship game with a 6-2 complete-game victory.

Hecht shut out Marquette (27-9) the final six innings, holding the Explorers to five hits with 11 strikeouts and four walks.

“It couldn’t quite get my footing on the mound,” Hecht said. “It took me a while to get in a groove. I just had to get adjusted to the mound.

“I was getting a little worried. My teammates had my back the whole way.”

The 6-foot-2, 165-pound Hecht was impressive throughout. In the early innings, his fastball sat in the 83-86 mph range, climbing as high as 88 on occasion. Hecht operates from a high-3/4 slot, and his arm works with little effort. He also flashed an often-tight 70-73 mph curveball that he located for strikes.

Hecht finished the game with a flourish, striking out the side in the seventh to send the Bulldogs to the championship game for the first time in school history. Previously, St. Anthony (30-8-1) finished third in 1992 and fourth in 1991.

It also helped that St. Anthony came right back to score four runs in the bottom of the first to take the lead – and the momentum – right back. Hecht also helped himself at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Right fielder Jared Having also chipped in with two hits and two runs, and shortstop Reed Willenborg added a run-scoring single.

Junior outfielder Brogan Fischer led Margquette with a two-run single in the first inning.