Lexington edges Mount Pulaski 3-1
in sectionals
[June 05, 2026]
The Lexington Minutemen ended Mount Pulaski’s baseball season
on Wednesday night by defeating the Hilltoppers 3-1 in the Class 1A
Sectional semifinal game at Jack Horenberger Field.
The Hilltoppers were hoping to avenge a 14-7 loss to the Minutemen
that occurred back on May 9th but they came up short in the
postseason.
The game was really a great battle between the starting pitchers,
with junior Carter Clark getting the nod for Mount Pulaski.
The Hilltoppers only run came in the top of the third inning as
Clark poked a single to right field to start off the inning on a
good note. After Eric Cooper flied out to center, Tucker Fitzpatrick
laid down a perfect bunt to move Clark to second. Chase Roberts came
up to the plate next and he jumped on the first pitch and it flew
into the gap in left-center, scoring Clark with the first run of the
ballgame. Wesley Bobell entered the game to pinch run for Roberts
with Preston Cowan due up. Cowan drilled a pitch to the hole in
right field and it came back into the infield just as quick as it
left. Bobell was racing towards third when a perfect throw was made
and he was tagged out.
That ended the inning with Mount Pulaski up 1-0.
Lexington tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning thanks to
a lead-off triple by Drake Powell and a wild pitch by Clark. It
could’ve gotten out of hand quickly had it not been for Roberts
throwing out Jack Miller trying to steal third base. After the next
batter singled, Clark hit a guy and was then pulled from the mound.
Aaron Volle came in from centerfield to take over pitching duties
and he struck out the next batter to keep the game under control,
1-1 the score.
In the bottom of the fifth inning the Minutemen hit three singles
off Volle and scored two runs, taking a 3-1 lead.
Luke Martin crushed a one-out double to deep left-center in the top
of the sixth inning and Volle followed with a single, but Martin had
to be held at third. The Hilltoppers failed to get a run across and
an inning later they were down to their last three outs.
Fitzpatrick reached base via a walk in the top of the seventh inning
but Blaine Friedmansky retired the rest of the lineup on two
strikeouts and a groundout to end the Hilltoppers season.
It really was a good ballgame between two teams who each entered the
game with a 22-11 record.
Mount Pulaski had baserunners on in five of the seven innings and
just couldn’t get into a scoring rhythm.
The Hilltoppers made great contact, scattering seven hits throughout
the game. But tough luck followed.
For example, the first inning ended on a double play turned by
Lexington and the fourth inning saw the centerfielder make a great
diving catch on Aaron Volle’s fly ball that would have been an
extra-base hit.
Preston Cowan led Mount Pulaski with two hits.
Chase Roberts, Luke Martin, Aaron Volle, Tyler Cross and Carter
Clark each had one hit.
Carter Clark started the game on the mound. He threw three and
two-thirds innings, giving up three hits and one run. He walked two
and struck out five.
Aaron Volle threw one and one-third innings, giving up three hits
and two runs. Only one run was earned. He struck out two batters.
Volle took the loss.
Jaeden Jackson threw one inning and struck out two batters.
Jack Miller earned the win for Lexington. He threw five innings,
allowing five hits and one run. He walked one and struck out four.
Drake Powell and Blaine Friedmansky each pitched an inning in
relief.
Mount Pulaski head coach Troy Burgard, who is in his second season
at the helm, had plenty of reasons to be proud of his team’s
accomplishments this season.
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The sun begins to set over the Hilltoppers last game of the season
in Bloomington. Lexington beat the Hilltoppers 3-1 in the Class 1A
Sectional semifinal. Photo by Teena Lowery
“I’m incredibly proud of the way these boys
played,” said Burgard. “Lexington put up fourteen runs on us earlier
this season, so we knew we had to find a way to hold their offense
down to give us a chance. We knew that they really liked to hunt
fastballs on the inner half of the plate and struggled against
off-speed, so we knew we had to attack them away and keep them off
balance with breaking balls. Our pitchers executed that game plan
phenomenally well. Carter Clark was outstanding. His curveball
looked as good as it has all season and his fastball had some extra
pop on it. Aaron Volle and Jaeden Jackson were great in relief. My
hope going into the game was to hold their offense to four or less
runs, and I couldn’t be more proud of those three pitchers. We just
couldn’t get the big hit we needed with runners in scoring
position.”
Mount Pulaski stranded six baserunners in the game.
“I can’t say enough how proud I am of this group,” continued Burgard.
“They have fought through so much adversity this year, losing Eric
Cooper all year and Aaron Volle for a month. Guys like Keoni Charron,
Caden Wyler, and Tucker Fitzpatrick stepped up with very little
varsity experience and played great defense for us all year. It was
tough to navigate through some of those four and five game weeks
with pitching, but all of our pitchers did an incredible job for us
against very tough competition. Luke Martin put up all-state caliber
numbers all year and now has a 3-0 career record on the mound in
regional championship games. Carter Clark took a huge step forward
filling in for Eric Cooper as our no. 2 arm. Jaeden Jackson showed
glimpses of his potential last year and really took advantage of his
opportunities this year as our no. 3 arm. It was hard to move Chase
Roberts from his catching duties, but he was electric every time he
was on the mound. Preston Cowan had thrown two varsity innings in
his career before this season, and he stepped up with 29.2 innings
for us with a 2.12 ERA. All season long, our pitching carried us
when the bats went quiet at times.”
Mount Pulaski loses a great group of six seniors who will be missed
not just on the field but off the field as well.
“I can’t say enough what this senior group means to this program,”
added Burgard. “Tucker, Tyler, Preston, Luke, Jaeden, and Eric have
left an incredible mark in their four years. All six of them work so
hard and have been great leaders for our younger players. It was
awesome to get Eric back on the field after such a difficult season
for him. Seeing all six of those guys together on the field one last
time was truly special. I can’t thank them enough for all their hard
work and dedication to this program. They will be greatly missed.”
Final stats:
Aaron Volle led the team in batting with a .382 average over 19
games.
Luke Martin hit .361 in 33 games. Martin led the team with 35 hits.
He had 25 RBIs and 37 runs scored. Martin stole 18 bases.
Chase Roberts batted .324 with 34 hits. He stole 21 bases.
Preston Cowan hit .306 and had 33 hits. He stole 18 bases.
Jaeden Jackson led the team with 30 RBIs and he batted .291 in 34
games.
Tyler Cross batted in 24 runs and led the team with 32 walks and
seven hit by pitches. Cross hit .244 in 33 games.
Martin led the pitching staff with a 6-1 record and a 1.70 ERA.
Martin also led the staff with 84 strikeouts.
Cowan was 4-0 on the mound this season with a 2.12 ERA.
The Hilltoppers final season record was 22-12.
[Teena Lowery]
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