The Franklin Park Bobcats are headed to tomorrow’s Class L State Championship after a thrilling 6-5 come from behind win over Marion on Saturday morning in a game heard on Q92 and WJBDradio.com.
Trailing 5-0 after four innings, the Bobcats mounted their comeback with 2 runs in the 5th and then got a big blow when Colton Starnes connected on a 3-run triple to tie the game in the top of the 6th. Noah Nix then drove in Jalen Inlow on a hit-and-run in the top of the 7th to give Salem the lead. Nix would retire Marion in order in the bottom of the inning to send Salem to the championship.
Rhett Detering started the game going 2 innings allowing 3 hits and 2 earned runs. Nix then came in to relief him working the final innings allowing 2 hits and 2 runs but none earned with 6 strikeouts and no walks. Also driving in runs at the plate were Colton Shelton and Cooper Lobek with Inlow, Detering, Silas Moats, Shelton and Keaton Gullion scoring runs.
Salem will play at 1pm at Centralia’s Rotary Park against the Benton Rangers after they upset Highland in the other semifinal 6-4 in 9 innings. Salem will enter the title game at 15-0 while Benton is 11-5. The 3rd place game with Marion and Highland will be at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow.
In Class M baseball, Christopher defeated Hardin County 6-1 and St Boniface, Edwardsville beat Albion 6-4. In Class S Cisne beat Our Lady of Mount Carmel 7-3 and Waltonville knocked off St Joseph Catholic 16-6.
