CHAMPAIGN — Four years after capturing the first state baseball championship in program history, the North Clay Cardinals are back on the biggest stage in Illinois high school baseball.
The Cardinals, ranked No. 2 in Class 1A and sporting a stellar 35-4 record, will take the field Friday afternoon at Illinois Field on the campus of the University of Illinois as they seek a second state title in school history. North Clay will face Putnam County in the second IHSA Class 1A State Semifinal at 1 p.m.
North Clay arrives in Champaign as one of the state’s most complete teams. Under the guidance of veteran head coach John Frech, now in his 15th season, the Cardinals have blended dominant pitching, explosive offense, and experienced leadership into one of the finest seasons in program history.
The Cardinals’ lineup has been relentless from top to bottom, with four hitters batting above .400. Senior standout Jack Compton leads the charge with a .462 average, followed closely by Ian Jones (.441), Brodie Adair (.438), and Carder Walden (.429). Their offensive consistency has helped North Clay overwhelm opponents throughout the spring.
As impressive as the offense has been, the Cardinals’ pitching staff may be their greatest strength.
Compton has been nearly unhittable, posting a 9-1 record and microscopic 0.69 ERA across 12 appearances. Jones has matched that success with a 9-1 mark of his own and a 1.92 ERA in 17 outings. Together, the duo has anchored a pitching staff that has consistently shut down opposing lineups throughout the postseason.
Perhaps most telling of North Clay’s dominance is the fact that the Cardinals have not lost to a Class 1A opponent all season. Their only defeats have come against larger-school competition, further reinforcing their status as one of the favorites entering the weekend.
Standing in their way Friday is a battle-tested Putnam County squad making its seventh state finals appearance and first since finishing runner-up in 2013.
The Panthers enter with a 25-11 record under 12th-year head coach Chris Newsome, who is making his first trip to the state tournament as the program’s leader. Putnam County features a potent lineup led by Jonathan Stunkel, who is batting .440 with seven home runs. Kade Zimmerlein is hitting .413 with nine doubles, while Traxton Mattingly brings a .426 average and a team-leading 17 doubles.
Zimmerlein and Stunkel also headline the Panthers’ pitching staff, combining for a 16-5 record with a sparkling 1.80 ERA. Putnam County punched its ticket to Champaign by defeating Galena in the DeKalb Super-Sectional.
The winner of Friday’s semifinal will advance to Saturday’s state championship game against either top-ranked Tremont or Jacksonville Routt Catholic.
Tremont enters the tournament as the state’s No. 1-ranked team with a remarkable 36-2 record. Third-year head coach Eddie Betson has guided the Turks to a staggering 99-10 mark during his tenure, and Tremont has dominated opponents all season behind one of the state’s most talented rosters.
Andrew Dawson has been a star both at the plate and on the mound, batting .511 with 13 doubles, six triples, and six home runs. Griffin Meeker and Justin Muselman have each hit .470, while Dawson, Hunter Smith, and Chase Rhodes have combined for a 27-1 record and a collective 1.20 ERA.
Tremont earned its place in Champaign by defeating Armstrong in the Bloomington Super-Sectional and is making just its second state finals appearance.
Routt Catholic enters at 24-12 after defeating Nokomis in the Springfield Super-Sectional. Head coach Ryan Turner, now in his seventh season, has the Rockets back in Champaign for the third time in program history. Brady Turner leads the offense with a .416 batting average and 13 doubles, while Talon Thompson adds a .391 average. Routt finished third in the state in 2024 and captured its lone championship in 2008.
While the field features four accomplished programs, much of the spotlight this weekend will shine on North Clay. The Cardinals have spent the season proving they belong among Illinois’ elite, and now they stand just two victories away from bringing another state championship trophy back to Louisville.
The road to the title won’t be easy, but with a veteran lineup, dominant pitching, and championship experience within the program, North Clay enters Champaign with every reason to believe another memorable chapter awaits.
