CHAMPAIGN — Few programs in Illinois Class 2A baseball have enjoyed the sustained success that Freeburg has built over the past two decades. The Midgets have become a familiar name in June, and once again they find themselves among the final four teams standing.
Freeburg will make the sixth state finals appearance in program history when it takes the field Friday at 4 p.m. at Illinois Field on the campus of the University of Illinois. The Cahokia Conference champions enter the IHSA Class 2A State Tournament with a 30-9 record and plenty of momentum as they prepare to face Harvest Westminster Academy in the opening semifinal.
Head coach Drew Gericke has guided the Midgets back to championship contention in his 15th season at the helm. After a 17-15 campaign a year ago, Freeburg has responded with one of the state’s most impressive turnarounds, earning another trip to Champaign. Gericke is no stranger to the state stage, having previously led the program to a third-place finish in 2014 and the Class 2A state championship in 2021.
The Midgets punched their ticket to the Final Four in emphatic fashion, rolling past Pinckneyville 13-0 in a shortened game in the SIU-Carbondale Super-Sectional.
Freeburg’s success has been fueled by a dangerous lineup and dominant pitching staff. Cole Miller has been one of the most productive hitters in the state, batting .480 with eight doubles and six home runs. Beau Breyman (.443) and Ryan Garland (.438) have provided plenty of support, combining to drive in 106 runs while giving opposing pitchers little room for error.
On the mound, the Midgets feature one of the premier one-two punches in Class 2A.
Senior ace Cohen Merrill enters the state finals unbeaten at 11-0 with an astonishing 0.64 ERA. In 55 innings, Merrill has surrendered just five earned runs while striking out 70 hitters. Liam Scaife has been equally important to Freeburg’s postseason run, compiling a 7-2 record, a 2.07 ERA, and 80 strikeouts. Together, they have anchored a pitching staff capable of matching up with anyone remaining in the tournament.
Standing between Freeburg and a berth in Saturday’s championship game is a Harvest Westminster Academy squad making history.
The Warrior-Lions enter with a 27-7 record after capturing the Kane County Cougars Super-Sectional championship over Hope Academy. Under second-year head coach Matthew Schulenburg, Harvest Westminster has reached the state finals for the first time in program history.
The Warrior-Lions feature a balanced offense led by Luke Bartolome (.438), Elias Vaagen (.432), and Ryan St. Louis (.402), while St. Louis has also excelled on the mound with a 7-2 record and a 1.54 ERA.
While Freeburg and Harvest Westminster meet in the afternoon semifinal, the evening matchup promises to be one of the most anticipated games of the entire weekend.
At 7 p.m., Ottawa Marquette and St. Joseph-Ogden will square off in a showdown between two of the state’s elite programs.
Marquette enters at 37-3 after opening the season with 21 consecutive victories. The Crusaders are seeking an unprecedented fourth state championship in seven seasons under legendary head coach Todd Hopkins, who is making his sixth trip to the state finals. Marquette captured state titles in 2019, 2024, and 2025 and arrives in Champaign after defeating Brimfield in the Peru Super-Sectional.
The Crusaders boast a potent offense led by Alec Novotney, who is batting .478 with 19 doubles. Griffin Dobberstein is hitting .407 with eight home runs, while Easton DeBernardi has supplied much of the power with 12 home runs and 53 RBIs. On the mound, Anthony Couch and Novotney have combined for a remarkable 20-2 record.
St. Joseph-Ogden enters with a 38-2 record and a 16-game winning streak, its last defeat coming on May 6. The Spartans advanced to Champaign by defeating Williamsville in the Springfield Super-Sectional and are making their third state finals appearance under 14th-year head coach Josh Haley.
Trevor Ames has powered the Spartans offensively with 11 home runs, 64 RBIs, and a .467 batting average. St. Joseph-Ogden’s pitching staff may be its greatest strength, as Asher Pruemer and Parker Fitch have combined for a 20-2 record, a 1.50 ERA, and 159 strikeouts while issuing only 25 walks all season.
The Class 2A field is loaded with talent, tradition, and championship aspirations, but Freeburg enters Champaign with the experience, pitching, and offensive firepower needed to make another title run. Two victories separate the Midgets from adding another trophy to an already impressive baseball tradition, and the journey begins Friday afternoon at Illinois Field.
