For the second time in four years, the Annawan-Wethersfield Titans are sectional champs and they join the field of eight teams still vying for a state baseball title.
The Titans (20-6-1) beat St. Bede 4-2 on Saturday at Jack Horenberger Field on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington. Annawan-Wethersfield will now play Gibson City Melvin (21-7-1) Monday at 11 am at Horenberger Field.
“There was a great crowd today and it was a great high school baseball atmosphere,” said Wethersfield Athletic Director Tom McGunnigal after the win.
“It just reminds you that, sure, it’s great to win games all season long, but memories and the special times are made in the post-season,” McGunnigal added.
The Titans pounced early and took a 2-0 first inning lead, but St. Bede (21-5-1) tied the game in the top of the third inning. A-W added single runs in the third and sixth innings to capture the sectional championship.
Titan pitching ace Colin Hornback had a solid game on the mound. In 6.2 innings, the senior standout struck out nine and walked four, while surrendering six hits and two runs.
Hornback was a key player (as a freshman) when the Titans won the last sectional championship in 2021.
Annawan-Wethersfield 4, St. Bede 2
After a quick three outs by the Titan defense, the A-W offense didn’t waste any time putting runs on the board.
Annawan-Wethersfield had consecutive singles by Maddux Heitzler, Kellan Keane and Zeb Rashid to start the first inning. Hornback then hit the fourth straight Titan single, driving in Heitzler and Keane for the 2-0 lead.
Alan Spencer then struck out two of the next three batters to wrap up the inning.
In the second inning, St. Bede had base runners on first and second (after a walk and a single), but Hornback struck out 3 of the 5 batters he faced, leaving the runners stranded.
In the top of the third inning, Ryan Slingsby walked, but Hornback struck out the next two batters he faced. Luke Tunnel was then intentionally walked and Seth Ferrari also walked to set the table for Carson Riva.
Riva then hit a single, sending home Tunnell and Slingsby to tie the game, 2-2.
The Titan offense came up big in the bottom of the third inning. Hornback hit a single on a line drive to left field to get things rolling (Dillon Horrie entered the game as a courtesy runner for Hornback).
Nic Thurston then hit a fly ball to left field, good for a double and moving Horrie to third on the play. The next batter, Brody Childs, grounded out but Horrie scored to take back the lead at 3-2.
St. Bede threatened to score in the fifth inning after singles by Gus Burr and Nathan Husser, but the Titan defense held.
Rashid hit his second single of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning, but Spencer struck out the final two A-W batters, so the score remained 3-2.
Hornback struck out two of three batters in the sixth inning for a quick three outs. The Titans added one final run in the bottom of the inning.
Childs hit a line drive single to center field and Caleb McGill followed with a well-placed bunt (towards Spencer, the pitcher). Childs advanced to third on the play.
With two outs on the board, Koeyn DeClercq grounded into a fielder’s choice. McGill was out advancing to second, but Childs scored the fourth and final run of the game (4-2).
“Scoring the run in the sixth gave us the 4-2 lead and lot of relief,” said McGunnigal. “It really fired the guys up to get that insurance run.”
Facing one out in the top of the seventh inning, Burr hit a single and Hornback struck out the next St. Bede batter. Having now reached the maximum pitch count allowed, Hornback was then dispatched to left field and Zeb Rashid was inserted at pitcher.
Tunnell connected on the pitch from Rashid and Hornback made a diving catch for the final out of the game.
“We made some really key plays that either held them from scoring or got runs for us,” said McGunnigal. “Everyone contributed and that’s what good teams do,” he added.
McGunnigal noted the rich sports history in the communities of Kewanee and Annawan and he’s happy that this particular group of guys has been able to leave their mark.
“For these guys, who have watched it all growing up, to be able to put their names onto the list of great teams that have come through is really special,” noted McGunnigal.
“They all work very hard at being athletic and competitive, so it’s great to see their dedication paying off in this post-season run.”
At the plate
Kellan Keane, Zeb Rashid and Colin Hornback each had two hits for the Titans.
Annawan-Wethersfield
Hornback (2-3, 2 RBI). Keane (2-3, 1 run). Childs (1-3, 1 run, 1 RBI). Rashid (2-3). Heitzler (1-2, 1 run). Thurston (1-3). Horrie (1-3, 1 run). McGill (1-3). DeClercq (1 RBI).
St. Bede
Burr (2-4). Husser (2-4). Riva (1-2, 2 RBI, 1 BB). Stingsby (1 BB, 1 run). Mullane (1-3). Tunnell (1 BB, 1 run). Ferrari (1 BB).
