Mount Pulaski ends season with 3-1
sectional loss
[May 29, 2025]
The Mount Pulaski Hilltoppers lost 3-1 to Gibson
City-Melvin-Sibley on Wednesday in the Class 1A sectional semifinals
at Arcola.
Mount Pulaski scored first in the top of the third inning on an RBI
double by Luke Martin. Eric Cooper singled to open the inning and
scored the Hilltoppers only run of the game on Martin’s hit.
The Falcons tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning on two
singles and an error.
The Falcons used a two-out single and a double in the fifth inning
to set themselves up to score again. A hard hit grounder to third
resulted in a two-run error and the Falcons went up 3-1.
Mount Pulaski had just one more hit in the game, a single by Martin
in the top of the sixth inning.
Two Falcons pitchers combined in the win. Starter Graydon Leonard
earned the win while Zeb Greer earned the save.
Leonard worked six innings, allowing five hits and one earned run.
He walked two and struck out eight.
Greer worked a scoreless inning, allowing one walk and recording two
strikeouts.
Eric Cooper took the loss for Mount Pulaski. He worked five innings,
allowing three runs on six hits. None of the runs were earned. He
struck out eight batters.
Liam Smith worked an inning, walking two batters and striking out
one.
Martin led the Mount Pulaski offense at the plate by going 2-for-2
with a walk and an RBI.
Eric Cooper, Chance Payne and Preston Cowan each had one hit.
The Hilltoppers committed three errors in the game.
“It was definitely a tough way to have the season come to an end,”
said Hilltoppers coach Troy Burgard. “I wanted it so badly for this
group to get back to the sectional title game. It just wasn’t our
day.”
“Eric Cooper was outstanding on the mound,” continued Burgard. “They
(Falcons) have a great lineup and he did a very good job of locating
his pitches and keeping them off balance. We just couldn’t get much
going at the plate to give him some run support. Graydon Leonard
threw a heck of a ballgame for GCMS. We made him work in the first
inning but he got out of a bases loaded jam and really settled in
after that.”
“I’m extremely proud of this team,” added Burgard. “They were such a
fun group to coach. They had a lot of adversity thrown their way and
they handled it extremely well. They play with so much energy and
heart and they have nothing to hang their heads about.”
The Hilltoppers end their season with a 22-7 record.
Coach Burgard offered some final comments about his three seniors:
Kolin Gibbs, Liam Smith and Chance Payne.
Kolin Gibbs
“We’ve had a lot of great catchers come through the program over the
years, and Kolin might be the best we’ve seen when it comes to
blocking balls in the dirt. He takes so much pride in that part of
his game and has sacrificed his body countless times behind the
plate. He had always worn no. 15, which is the number we recently
retired for Dennis Werth. When I told Kolin before the season that
he’d need to switch numbers, he was very understanding and was
honored to give no. 15 up and be the last one to wear it. I truly
appreciate all he has sacrificed for this program, and I will really
miss his goofball personality and incredible singing voice on the
long bus rides.”
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Liam Smith
“Liam has been a 4-year starter for us and plays all four infield
positions extremely well. When I talked to him early on in the
season about potentially utilizing him as a closer on the mound, he
was 100% on board with it and has really thrived in that role. He
has been lights-out with a 1.27 ERA, and we know that when we hand
him the ball with a lead, we’re likely walking away with a win. He
took a break from baseball this past summer, and seeing his love for
the game return this spring has been so rewarding. He plays with a
lot of heart, cares about his teammates, and is a great leader. He
will be greatly missed.”
Chance Payne
“Chance severed his ulnar nerve in his pitching elbow in a freak
accident in early January. He was initially told it would be a year
recovery, so we didn’t think there was any chance he’d be able to
play his senior season. He was miraculously cleared to hit less than
a month later, and has overcome the injury with an incredible season
to say the least. His biggest moment for me was getting back on the
mound on Senior Night. It was a huge step in his recovery, and
seeing him get a strikeout to end the inning was such an awesome
moment. Even more so than his outstanding numbers, we will miss his
leadership. The younger guys really look up to him and he has taken
a lot of them under his wing.”
Payne led the team in several categories his senior season and he
also broke some career records.
Payne batted a team-leading .500 average for the season and he had a
team-best 39 hits.
Payne had 31 RBIs and 31 runs scored and he swiped 16 bases without
getting caught. His 14 doubles led the team by a wide margin this
season. He was in a three-way tie for home runs (3) and triples (1).
Payne was also tied with Eric Cooper with 21 walks.
For his career, Payne is now the all-time hits leader with 125 hits.
He broke the previous record of 119 set by Landon Smith.
Payne also broke Smith’s RBI record. Smith had 109 career RBIs.
Payne finishes with 110 RBIs.
Payne even shattered Michael Lowery’s doubles record of 28 set
between 2012-2015.
There is still one more opportunity to catch these Hilltoppers in
action. Mount Pulaski will play Prairie Central at 1:00 p.m. on
Sunday, June 29, 2025 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
[Teena Lowery]
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