Mount Pulaski’s season ends in regional championship loss

 

[May 22, 2023]  The Hilltoppers season ended abruptly on Saturday in the Class 1A Regional Championship at Argenta. After reaching 27 wins on the season, Mount Pulaski was sent home by the Sabers on Saturday, falling by a final score of 5-2. To reach Saturday’s championship game, the Hilltoppers beat the host school, the Argenta-Oreana Bombers, 12-1 on Wednesday. Prior to regional action, the Hilltoppers fell to the Monticello Sages 8-7 during Monday night’s final regular season game.

Monday, May 15, 2023

Mount Pulaski hosted the Monticello Sages to start the week and with the Sages jumping out to an early lead, they were able to hold off any threat by the Hilltoppers and hang on to win 8-7.

Monticello led 6-0 after the first two innings of play, getting to starter Evan Cooper.

The Hilltoppers offense started to chip at the lead in the bottom of the second inning. Chance Payne led off the inning with a single, Luke Martin followed with a double and Liam Smith walked to fill the bases with Hilltoppers. Clay Aylesworth’s double to center scored Payne and Martin and the lead was cut to 6-2.

In the third inning, the bottom half of the lineup did damage again for Mount Pulaski. Luke Martin and Liam Smith added RBI singles to trim the lead to 6-4.

The Sages scored twice in the top of the fifth inning, making the score 8-4.

The Hilltoppers (and the Sages pitching) made things interesting in the bottom of the seventh inning. Evan Cooper and Jackson Fricke got on base after being hit by pitches. With two outs, Luke Martin reached base on a dropped third strike and the threat to score was still alive. A bases loaded walk to Liam Smith brought home one run. After Aylesworth was tagged with a pitch, another run came trotting home for Mount Pulaski. Another walk in the inning brought home run no. 7 for the Hilltoppers. A.J. Bailey would strikeout to end the game with the Hilltoppers coming up short, 8-7 the final score.

Evan Cooper took the loss for Mount Pulaski. He allowed three runs on four hits and struck out two batters.

Mount Pulaski used a total of six pitchers versus the Sages.

Luke Martin, A.J. Bailey, Gavin Smith, Eric Cooper and Chance Payne also took turns on the mound for the Hilltoppers, who combined to strike out nine batters.

Mount Pulaski had 10 hits off the Sages pitching staff.

Luke Martin led the offense by going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.

Clay Aylesworth was 1-for-3 with three RBIs.

A.J. Bailey, Evan Cooper, Landon Smith, Jackson Fricke, Chance Payne and Liam Smith also had hits for Mount Pulaski.

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

The Hilltoppers began the Class 1A Regional at Argenta on Wednesday afternoon, opening with a 12-1 win over the host Bombers.

As the home team, Mount Pulaski scored twice in the bottom of the first inning. Evan Cooper had an RBI single and Chance Payne added an RBI groundout to make the score 2-0.

In the bottom of the third inning, the Bombers pitching allowed two walks and the defense committed an error to load the bases right off the bat for the Hilltoppers. A seven-run inning would quickly follow for Mount Pulaski. Jackson Fricke’s fielder’s choice drove in a run and Payne’s single drove in another run. Liam Smith, Clay Aylesworth and Eric Cooper also contributed RBI singles in the inning. Mount Pulaski also scored two runs on two more errors committed by the Bombers. At the end of the inning the Hilltoppers held a 9-0 lead.

The Bombers scored their only run in the top of the fourth inning.

Fricke’s double in the bottom of the fourth inning plated two more runs for Mount Pulaski. Colt Selinger scored the final run on a wild pitch for the Hilltoppers and the 12-1 score was set.

The ten-run rule was in effect after five innings and the game was over with Mount Pulaski advancing to the Class 1A Regional Championship on Saturday.

A.J. Bailey was stellar on the mound for Mount Pulaski. He allowed two hits and one run while striking out seven batters. He walked two over the course of five innings. His pitch count was 80 pitches as he picked up the win.

Chance Payne and Liam Smith each had two hits for Mount Pulaski.

A.J. Bailey, Evan Cooper, Jackson Fricke, Clay Aylesworth and Eric Cooper also contributed hits for the Hilltoppers.

Saturday, May 20, 2023

The St. Thomas More Sabers scored early against Mount Pulaski in the regional championship game on Saturday afternoon and the Hilltoppers could not recover. The Sabers won the game by a final score of 5-2.

The Sabers, the visitors on the scoreboard, led 3-0 after the second inning.

Luke Martin supplied the Hilltoppers offense in the bottom of the fourth inning, driving in two runs on a single to center. Evan Cooper and Landon Smith had reached base on an error and a walk, consecutively, ahead of Martin and they were able to advance on base thanks to a wild pitch. Chance Payne reached base on a fielder’s choice while Cooper was out trying to score at home. Martin’s hit was able to bring Smith and Payne home with the Hilltoppers only two runs of the ballgame.

St. Thomas More answered with two more runs in the top of the fifth inning and stretched the lead to 5-2.

The Hilltoppers were able to load the bases with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning but could not score.

A leadoff single in the bottom of the seventh inning was the Hilltoppers last hope before the remaining three batters were retired.

St. Thomas More walked away regional champions by a final score of 5-2.

Evan Cooper took the loss for Mount Pulaski. He worked five innings, allowing five runs on eight hits. Only one run was earned. He struck out nine batters and walked one.

Chance Payne worked two innings, allowing one hit and zero runs. He struck out three batters and walked none.

Luke Martin and Eric Cooper had the only hits for Mount Pulaski, with Martin driving in the only two runs.

Two hits, two runs and two errors summed up the story for Mount Pulaski in the loss.

The Hilltoppers will lose six seniors to graduation.

Mount Pulaski ends the season with a 27-5 record.

[Teena Lowery]