Toppers advance to Regional Championship in baseball

[May 22, 2014]  MOUNT PULASKI - The number two seeded Mt. Pulaski Toppers defeated Lewistown (no. 3 seed)  5-1 Wednesday night in baseball regional action.

Lewistown was on the board early with a run in the first inning off starter Michael Lowery. 

The Toppers quickly evened the score in the bottom of the first.  Blake Collier walked and stole second.  He advanced to third on Michael Lowery's hard-hit single to right field.  Shortly thereafter Collier would score on an overthrow from the catcher to the pitcher to tie the game.  Senior Jordan Luczaj's 2-double to right field in the bottom of the second inning would give the Toppers a 3-1 lead. 

A bases loaded walk to Eli Griesheim in the Toppers fifth inning would cushion the lead 4-1. In the Toppers sixth inning with two outs Lowery singled and stole second. 

The next batter Beau Collier was hit by a pitch. Collier and Lowery advanced bases on a wild pitch.  Then a wild throw to third by the catcher in an attempt to catch Lowery allowed for the Toppers to take a commanding 5-1 lead heading into the final inning. 

Winning pitcher Michael Lowery (7-1) went the distance and struck out 10 batters while allowing just 3 hits. The Toppers even their season record at 11-11 and will play for the regional championship against North Fulton at 11:15 a.m. on Saturday in Lewistown. Earlier in the day North Fulton (no. 4 seed) beat South Fulton (no. 1 seed) by a score of  9-7.

[By TEENA LOWERY]