By Drake Skleba

 

JOLIET – Teutopolis (30-4) junior centerfielder/left-handed pitcher Derek Thompson is known for his blazing fastball and wicked curveball that he has showcased for the Wooden Shoes this season. On Friday in a Class 2A semifinal at Silver Cross Field, the multi-talented prospect put his offensive capabilities on full display.

 

Thompson had three hits and drove in four runs in leading Teutopolis to a 9-4 victory over Immaculate Conception (30-11), vaulting the Wooden Shoes into Saturday night’s 6 p.m. championship game vs. No.1 Harrisburg (40-0).

 

“My bat was working fine today,” said Thompson. “It feels great to know I will be pitching in the state championship game. I am really excited about tomorrow’s game.”

 

Eastern Illinois recruit senior right-handed pitcher Luke Bushur improved to 10-0 for T-Town with complete-game performance against the Knights. Bushur, whose fastball sat at 87-91 mph for the entire game, scattered nine hits and was tough with men on base.

 

“Immaculate Conception is a good hitting team,” said Bushur. “I pitched well and really pitched a good game. I have been dreaming about playing for the state championship since I was a little kid. I can’t wait until tomorrow.”

 

T-Town jumped out to a 2-0 lead against I-C starting pitcher Kevin Nutley. Wooden Shoes junior second baseman Dillon Hardiek plated the first run on a sac-fly and Thompson ripped a clutch two-out RBI single for a 2-0 Shoes lead.

 

I-C senior third baseman Matt McMahon got I-C on the board with an RBI on a ground out to first in the third inning.

 

Thompson struck again in the fourth with another clutch two-out single, this time plating two T-Town runs for a 4-1 lead.

 

I-C showed its grit and battled back with a single tally in the fourth on a sac-fly by senior SS/C Steve Maloney and a pair of runs in the fifth to tie the game at 4-4. McMahon singled in his second run of the game and Nutley tied it up with a sac-fly.

 

Teutopolis broke the game open in the sixth against I-C right-handed reliever Jose Godinez (7-4), who had relieved Nutley in the fifth. Senior Kyle Zeruson (2-for-4, R) singled. The Shoes loaded the bases on the first of two critical Knight errors in the inning and a single by senior left fielder Ryan Pruener.

 

After one out, Thompson struck again with his third straight hit, plating one run to give the Shoes a 5-4 lead. Godinez induced junior catcher Derek Repking to hit a made-to-order double play that went right through the Knight shortstop for a huge error, allowing another two runs to score. After the second out was recorded, Shoes junior third baseman Garrett Overbeck (3-for-4, 2RBI) ripped a two-out two run double to finish off the Knights.

 

I-C was led by Godinez (2-for-4) and sophomore Dan Ribando, who had a pair of hits.

 

“Teutopolis is a good team,” said I-C head coach Dan Holleman. “They hit the ball hard all day. We really battled back to tie the game against Bushur. I really felt when we tied it up we were going to win the game. Unfortunatly, we fell apart in the sixth.”

 

Immaculate Conception will battle No. 8 Illinois Valley Central (32-6) for third place at 3 on Saturday.

 

Teutopolis will have the multi-talented Thompson (8-1, 0.47 ERA) on the mound to try to end the historic run of No.1 Harrisburg.

 

“We are right where we want to be - playing in the last Class 2A game of the season,” said Teutopolis head coach Justin Fleener.