Mount Pulaski wins Class 1A
regional title over Heyworth
[June 01, 2026]
The Mount Pulaski Hilltoppers defeated the Heyworth Hornets
3-1 in front of a hometown crowd on Saturday to claim the Class 1A
regional championship.
The Hilltoppers have now won back-to-back regional championships
under Coach Troy Burgard. This makes three regional championships in
a row for the Mount Pulaski baseball program.
“It’s never easy,” said Coach Burgard. “Especially this year. We’ve
had to grind every step of the way with the injuries we’ve had. The
bats at times have been a little bit quiet but pitching has always
answered the call. Luke (Martin) was absolutely dominant out there
once again. We found a way to win. We made great plays. Tyler
(Cross) made an awesome diving catch out there in left field. Aaron
Volle went and got that last out. The double play ball that held up.
Tucker Fitzpatrick made a great catch for us by the bullpen mound.
It was a really good running catch. Guys stepped up today and found
a way.”
Luke Martin went the distance for Mount Pulaski versus Heyworth. He
earned the win while allowing just five hits and one unearned run.
He walked one and struck out five. He faced 29 batters and threw 98
pitches in the game.
An error and a double in the top of the first inning allowed the
Hornets to get on the board early.
The Hilltoppers scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Martin got an base via a one-out single. After Aaron Volle was hit
by a pitch, Jaeden Jackson was intentionally walked. With the bases
loaded, Tyler Cross drew a walk to force in the tying run. Carter
Clark lifted a sacrifice fly to left that scored Volle with the
go-ahead run.
Mount Pulaski added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth
inning. After Chase Roberts singled and Martin walked, Volle swung
at the 0-1 count and drilled the ball into right field. Roberts
scored on the hit and Mount Pulaski had all the runs needed with a
3-1 lead.
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A happy group of Hilltoppers hoist the Class 1A Regional
Championship plaque. Photo by Teena Lowery
Martin’s teammates turned a crucial double play behind him in the
sixth inning to keep the lead intact.
Martin was laser-focused in the seventh inning. After two quick
outs, he allowed a single. Martin got the last batter to line out to
center to Volle, ending the game.
Chase Roberts led Mount Pulaski offensively from the top of the
order. Roberts was 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Luke Martin and Aaron Volle each had one hit and one run scored for
the Hilltoppers.
Tristan Crow was the losing pitcher. He worked four and two-thirds
innings, giving up three hits and three runs. He walked five and
struck out six. Crow also hit the run-scoring double in the first
inning for Heyworth.
Braydon Laesch also pitched an inning and one-third in relief. He
allowed one hit and one walk. He struck out two batters.
Mount Pulaski will play Lexington in sectionals on Wednesday at 7:00
p.m. in Bloomington on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan University.
[Teena Lowery]
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