The Annawan-Wethersfield Titans’ hopes of a state finals bid were cut short Monday after falling to Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley, 3-0, in the 1A Bloomington Supersectional at Horenberger Field on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan University.
The Falcons (22-7-1) put up two quick runs in the opening inning and added another run in the third to seal the win. GCMS will now play Altamont in the state semifinals on Friday at Dozer Park in Peoria.
The Titans outhit the Falcons 5-3, but weren’t able to capitalize when they had runners in scoring position. Annawan-Wethersfield closes out their successful season with a record of 20-7-1.
Highlights of the Titans’ 2024 season include winning the LTC title with a record of 9-1; winning regional and sectional titles; and another 20-win season for the baseball co-op.
Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley 3, Annawan-Wethersfield
In the bottom of the first inning, Ty Cribbett took first base after being walked. Falcon’ pitcher Brayden Elliott then hit a big RBI double, sending home Cribbett for the first GCMS run.
Zach Price followed up with an RBI single, plating Elliott for a score of 2-0.
The first two innings were three up and three down for the Annawan-Wethersfield offense. In the bottom of the second inning, Trent Wethererll walked, but Titan starting pitcher Koeyn DeClercq struck out the next two batters to retire the side.
The Annawan-Wethersfield bats started to come to life in the third inning. A Dillon Horrie walk was sandwiched by singles from Caleb McGill and Maddux Heitzler. Kellan Keane then grounded into a fielder’s choice and McGill was out on the way to home plate. A third out followed.
With a runner (David Hull) on third, Grayden Leonard hit a sacrifice fly and Hull scored the third and final run of the game at 3-0 heading into the fourth inning.
In the bottom of the fourth, DeClercq struck out two of four batters for his fifth and sixth K’s of the game.
In the top of the fifth inning, Dillon Horrie hit a line drive double to left field, but the Titans weren’t able to capitalize on the hit.
Annawan-Wethersfield had runners in scoring position again in the sixth inning. Heitzler hit his second single of the game and advanced to second on an error. Keane then walked and Colin Hornback hit a single. Nic Thurston then hit into a double play and the attempted rally stalled.
Annawan-Wethersfield had one final gasp in the seventh inning. McGill and Horrie each walked, but the Falcons held off the late-game charge.
Brayden Elliott picked up the win the circle for GCMS. In seven innings of work he struck out six and walked four, while giving up five hits and no runs.
In DeClercq’s six innings on the mound, he struck out eight and walked five, while surrendering three earned runs on just three hits.
At the plate
Titans
Heitzler (2-4). Horrie (1-2, 1 double, 1 BB). McGill (1-2, 1 BB). Hornback (1-3). DeClercq (1 BB). Keane (1 BB).
Falcons
Elliott (2-2, 1 run, 1 RBI, 1 BB). Price (1-3, 1 RBI). Leonard (1 RBI, 1 BB). Wethererll (2 BB). Hull (1 run). Cribbett (1 run).
