Mount Pulaski Bruins claim Regional Championship over Chester East-Lincoln in extra-inning affair

[September 18, 2018] 

The Bruins win Regional Championship for the first time in 14 years.

This victory was a long time coming. Putting how long it's been into perspective, according to one of the Bruin moms, there is not a single Bruin player who was born the last time Mount Pulaski won a junior high regional.

Following the community's weekend theme of "Celebrate Every Day", the Mount Pulaski Bruins Baseball Team had quite the celebration as they defeated Chester East-Lincoln Monday night at Veteran's Park in Mount Pulaski by a score of 4-3 in extra-innings.

The Bruins walk-off win in the bottom of the eighth inning was thanks to Andrew Bailey's lead-off single to right field and his immediate stolen base on the first pitch to Oran Kuhlman. As Bailey was swiping second base, the throw from the catcher to the second baseman wound up in centerfield and just kept rolling towards the fence past the centerfielder. Bailey was able to easily race around third and he came home without a play to win the ballgame.

Landon Smith earned the win on the mound for Mount Pulaski. He allowed no hits and no runs while striking out two batters over one-and-two-thirds innings of work. Landon Smith relieved starter Evan Cooper, who pitched a terrific ballgame. Cooper tossed six-and-a-third innings, allowing three runs on five hits. Cooper struck out seven batters and walked one.

Alec Martin lead Mount Pulaski in hitting. Martin was 2-for-3 at the plate.

Cooper had a double and an RBI in the first inning for Mount Pulaski that tied the score 1-1.

Mount Pulaski took a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning when Bailey scored on a single by Kuhlman.

The Bruins added an insurance run in the fifth inning as Gavin Smith stole home.

The Panthers tied the game in the top of the seventh inning by scoring two runs. Brady Crane came racing home on a wild pitch and then Ashton Corley scored on a passed ball.

Brenden Wurth shut the Bruins down in the bottom of the seventh inning, inducing a groundout and two pop outs.

Landon Smith was lights out in the top of the eighth inning and he retired the side on a groundout and two strikeouts.

This set the stage for an exciting win in the bottom of the eighth inning for Mount Pulaski. Bailey's beautiful left-handed swing sent the ball sailing into right field and the aggressive base running by the Bruin eighth-grader sealed the school's first regional championship in 14 years.

Other Bruins getting base hits in the ballgame were Landon Smith and Gavin Smith.

Gavin Smith and Andrew Bailey each had two stolen bases.

Wyatt O'Donoghue was 3-for-3 for the Panthers. Tyler Sasse and J.J. Fults also had base hits for Chester East-Lincoln.

O'Donoghue started the game for the Panthers. He went four and two-thirds innings allowing three runs on five hits. O'Donoghue struck out eight batters and walked two.

Wurth took the loss in relief for the Panthers. He worked two and a third innings and gave up a run on two hits. Wurth struck out two batters.

Mount Pulaski will play in the sectional hosted by West Lincoln-Broadwell on Saturday at 11 a.m.

Congratulations Bruins!

(L-R) Front Row: Jackson Fricke, William Smith, and Isaac Pulliam.  Second Row: Hunter Kretzinger, Landon Smith, Jameson Lowe, Manager Franklin Wade, Colt Selinger, Kolin Gibbs, Wyatt Carlson, Tanner Bishop, and Trenton Heath.  Third Row: Assistant Coach Clark, Emmett Carlson, Oran Kuhlman, Gavin Smith, Evan Cooper, Alec Martin, Andrew Bailey, Ethan Payne, Jackson Fricke, Michael Stauffer, and Head Coach Burgard

The game is pictures

This at bat by Andrew Bailey in the bottom of the eighth inning started it all. Bruins win 4-3 in extra innings.

Evan Cooper started the game for Mount Pulaski. He allowed three runs on five hits and struck out seven Panthers.

Brady Crane scores a run for CEL in the seventh inning.

Ashton Corley scores the tying run for CEL on a passed ball in the seventh inning.

Landon Smith sits 'em down one-two-three in the top of the eighth inning.

Good game, good game. Mount Pulaski wins their first regional in 14 years.

Reaching for that championship plaque.

All hands on the hardware.

Chester-East Lincoln vx Mount Pulaski Box Scores - Pdf

[Teena Lowery]