For the first time in school history, the Franklin Park Bobcats are state baseball champions. Salem defeated Benton at Rotary Park in Centralia 4-1 to take the Class L title.
Benton scored in the opening inning to take an early 1-0 lead, but Salem capitalized on some wildness from starter Grant Owens as they got RBI walks from Lyric Black and Deyton Parker to score Keaton Gullion and Colton Shelton to give Salem the lead.
It would stay 2-1 until the sixth when Salem once again would capitalize on some wildness from Kyle Thomas. Colton Starnes reached base and went to 2nd on a passed ball. Then as Lyric Black was walked the ball got by the catcher and Starnes went to third with Black never stopping at first and continuing on to 2nd base. Then a passed ball would score Starnes and as the pitcher had trouble with the throw from the catcher, Black once again never stopped as he rounded 3rd and scored on the same wild pitch to make it 4-1.
The drama wasn’t done as Benton loaded the bases in the 7th with 1-out, but Colton Shelton induced a groundout to third base to close out the game with a save.
Rhett Detering was the winning pitcher and was great on the hill for the Bobcats. He allowed just 2 hits and 1 run, not earned, with 7 strikeouts. Shelton got the final 2 outs in the 2nd.
At the plate, Salem only mustered 3 hits, singles from Jalen Inlow, Noah Nix and Colten Starnes. Salem did capitalize on 10 Benton walks along with a hit batter and 2 errors. Kyle Thomas doubled for Benton who also got singles from Trey Severin and Isaiah Jones.
Salem’s season finishes perfect at 16-0.
(Photo’s by Pat Hodges)
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Highland won the 3rd place game over Marion 5-1.
In Class M baseball at Pinckneyville, Christopher won the state title beating St Boniface, Edwardsville 4-1, Albion beat Hardin County in the 3rd place game 3-2.
In Class S baseball also at Pinckneyville, Cisne beat Waltonville 5-0 in the championship with Our Lady of Mount Carmel beating St Joseph Catholic in the 3rd place game.
