Illinois Class 1A State Semifinal Results

June 2, 2017

By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

GAME 1: Peoria Heights 4, Goreville 3

PEORIA, IL – Peoria Heights used a four-run fifth inning to propel them past last year’s class 1A state Champion, Goreville by a final score of 4-3.

Peoria Heights did all of their damage with two outs in the top of the fifth inning after Goreville jumped on top with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. With the bases loaded and two outs, Patriot right-handed hitter, Anthony Whittenberg cleared the bases and tied the game with a deep drive over the center fielders head. Whittenberg would score what turned out to be the game-winning run, when Trevor Heath drove him in with an RBI single.

After 3.5 innings of scoreless baseball, Goreville pounced on Peoria Heights with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Brodie Lenon delivered a sacrifice fly to deep right field to score Braden Webb for the first run of the inning and the game. Peyton Massey came up a few batters later and laid down a bunt that the catcher threw down the right-field which scored Peyton Geyman. Massey would later score the third and final run of the inning, on a two-out RBI single by Logan Verble.

Goreville had one last chance in the bottom of the seventh. Verble laced a one-out double to left-ceneter field. Peoria Heights went to their bullpen and brought in their ace Blake Begner. Begner, an Illinois Central JC commit, used five pitches to record the final two outs and advance the Patriots to the Class 1A State Championship game tomorrow.

Peoria Heights starter Tyler Gregory went 6.1 innings to pick up the win. The senior right-hander allowed five hits, three runs, two earned, struck out six and walked two.

GAME 2: Valmeyer 7, Somonauk 4

PEORIA, IL – Valmeyer freshman left-handed pitcher Phillip Reinhardt spun a complete game, leading Valmeyer to a 7-4 win and a spot in the Class 1A State title game on Saturday.

Reinhardt pounded the zone and seemed to be in complete control on the mound. The crafty southpaw used a steady three-pitch mix throughout to keep hitters off balance. Reinhardt got the win going all seven innings, scattering five hits, four runs, one earned, striking out eight and walking one. Reinhardt also went 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI.

Valmeyer scored three runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth to pull away from Somonauk for good. In the fourth a flurry of errors and a two-run double by Tyler Kempfer led to the three runs. In the fifth Drew Maus doubled and scored on a single by Cole Juelfs. Then with two outs in the frame, an error on the infield led to two more runs and a 7-3 lead at the time.

Somonauk scored two in the top of the fourth to take a 2-1 lead at the time. Ben Svoboda had a big RBI double in the frame while Sam Brooks added a sacrifice fly, scoring Ryan Lumsden who had reached on an error.

Nate Wegener and Ryan Lumsden had two hits apiece to lead the Somonauk offense.

Valmeyer will play Peoria Heights for the Class 1A State Title at noon on Saturday.