Scouting the Class 1A state finals
Class 1A State Finals
Site: Silver Cross Stadium, Joliet
Today's semifinal matchups: Tri-Valley (13-14) vs. Goreville (23-11), 10 a.m.; Lebanon (19-14) vs. Westminster Christian (28-9), noon
Outlook: Westminster Christian makes its second appearance in the state finals and its first since the IHSA adopted the four-class system in 2007-08. The Warriors reached the quarterfinals in Joliet as a Class A school in 2007, when they lost to Pinckneyville, 12-1. Westminster advanced to the state semifinals with timely hitting, good defense and excellent pitching.
"I think we have to keep the same approach we've had - staying aggressive at the plate, getting guys in scoring position and scoring them," Westminster Christian coach Jeff Moeller said. "But offense is third on the list. No. 1 is throwing strikes, defense is No. 2 and then offense. If we play our game our way, I think we'll be a tough team to beat."
Sophomore hurlers Kevin Elder and Ryan Perez have been stalwarts throughout the postseason. They have split every game on the mound and will likely do so twice more this weekend. They combined to throw a no-hitter against Ottawa Marquette in a 2-0 supersectional victory on Monday. In the postseason, Elder is 2-0 with 2 saves. The right-hander sports an ERA of 0.96 in 182/3 innings with 35 strikeouts and 7 walks. Perez is 3-0 in 4 playoff starts. Pitching left-handed, he owns an ERA of 2.26 in 161/3 innings with 28 strikeouts and 5 walks. Perez is a rare ambidextrous pitcher who said of the state finals, "I'll probably use my right arm, too," Coach Jeff Moeller lauded his sophomores pitchers as "special" but added "we've got a special team behind them, too. Without our senior leadership we wouldn't be here." That leadership is headed by senior captains Joe McGannon and Brandon Weingartner. McGannon is hitting .417 and leads the team in doubles (13), home runs (8) and RBI (47). Weingartner, the leadoff hitter, is batting a team-best .495. Junior Frank Oliver (. 462) leads the team in hits (55) and runs scored (47).
The Lebanon Greyhounds have won six straight games to reverse a sub-. 500 regular season record. Ace Tyler Sonsoucie enters with a record of 11-1 and a 1.84 ERA in 13 starts with 61 strikeouts in 61 innings. Senior Dustin Pendegraft leads the Greyhounds at the plate with a .456 batting average and 10 doubles.
Goreville lost four of its last five regular season games before catching fire in the playoffs. The Blackcats are led by junior pitchers Alex Stout (8-2, 3.92 ERA) and Nick Andros (7-3, 2.84). Andros has struck out 96 and walked 37 in 662/3 innings; Stout has struck out 85 and walked 47 in 641/3 innings.
Tri-Valley gained a berth in today's semifinals in improbable fashion. Trailing Salt Fork 6-1 in the second inning on Monday, the Vikings came all the way back to win the supersectional, 8-7, courtesy of a 2-run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning. David Christianson notched the game-winning single.
Westminster Christian defeated Goreville 7-3 in the second game of the season on March 24. "That was early," Moeller said. "We didn't have all our starters (healthy), and they didn't pitch their ace. They played a lot better at the end of the year."
Advancement: The winners of today's semifinals advance to Saturday's state championship game at approximately 11 a.m. (following the conclusion of the third-place game at 9 a.m.).