PONY baseball championship doubleheader

[JULY 11, 2005]  In 13- and 14-year-old PONY baseball tourney action, Triple T Promotional and Printing pushed Illini Central to a second game before losing the title game 3-2. To get to that championship game, TTT defeated Illini Central 20-9.

League-champion Illini Central pitchers had no answer for TTT's offensive attack in the first game of what would be a championship doubleheader. TTT pounded out 17 hits. Zach Toft had two hits, including a triple and three runs scored. Conner McQuellon also had two hits, with three runs scored and two RBIs. Josh Mote had three hits and four runs scored. Trevor Moore had two hits and three RBIs. Tyson Smith had four hits, four runs scored and three RBIs. Chris Hill had three hits and three RBIs.

While offense was the deciding factor in the first game, defense and pitching were keys to victory for Illini Central in the title game. Two left-handers, Tommy Hilton for Illini Central and Tyson Smith for TTT, matched each other pitch-for-pitch in the second game. Neither pitcher gave up an earned run in this exciting conclusion to tournament play. Who would have guessed that a bunt single that plated a run in the second inning by the ninth batter in the order would be the deciding base hit for Illini Central?

These two teams have played several exciting games against one another throughout the summer. Theirs was a much-deserved one-two finish. Congratulations to Illini Central for winning both the regular season and tournament championship games.

Those two lefties along with 13 other players from five teams -- three from Lincoln, one from Illini Central and one from Mount Pulaski -- join on a Lincoln Area All-Star team to compete in the upcoming area tournament in Taylorville July 16-21. The winner of that tournament advances to the state tournament, hosted in Lincoln the week beginning July 25.

In preparation for the tournament in Taylorville, the Lincoln Area All-Star team split a doubleheader with Mount Zion on Saturday.

Lincoln's bats were quieted by Mount Zion pitching in the first game, as Lincoln took a 12-2 defeat. Jared Daugherty had two hits for Lincoln.

In the second game, Lincoln prevailed, holding on for a 6-5 victory. Louie Schonauer pitched six strong innings for the victory. Ben Brackney got the save. Trent Gardner led Lincoln's attack on offense, smashing two home runs and collecting three RBIs. Trevor Moore had two hits. Zach Toft, Daugherty, Tommy Hilton, and Tyson Smith also had hits in the game.

Lincoln plays again Tuesday night at 6 and 8 p.m. at home against a McLean County team.

[Provided by Craig Smith]

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