Teutopolis trips up Rangers

Defending IHSA Class 2A baseball champ, Teutopolis, will get another shot at a state title this weekend after defeating Benton, 8-5, in the supersectional at GCS Park in Sauget.

Benton rallied in the seventh to make it interesting but the comeback fell short. At that time, T-Town held an 8-1 lead. The Rangers scored four of its five runs in the top of the seventh.

Ian McMahon started the rally with a double. Jared Shaw was issued a walk and Tyler Butler was hit with a pitch. Gehrig Wynn then slammed a shot down the right-field line for a ground rule double that scored two runs.

Brady Gischer was credited with an RBI on a groundout and Hamilton Page slammed a single to left, scoring Wynn.

Benton's remaining run was scored in the fourth when Parker Williams reached on an error, advanced to second on a passed ball and scored on a Brett Bonenberger double to right.

"Give them a lot of credit. We knew coming in they were going to be able to hit the ball. There was another gear there that we weren't ready for, but I was glad we came back there in the end to make it competitive," said Benton coach Brett Blondi.

T-Town, 29-6, scored two runs each in the first, third and fourth innings to jump out to a 6-1 lead. Cody Jansen's home run in the first off loser Zach Avery jump-started the Wooden Shoes.

T-Town's number four hitter, Eric Kramer, had two doubles and two RBI. Lee Hardek and Mitch Hemmen also had two hits each for the 'Shoes.

Benton strung out six hits with Wynn collecting three. The remaining hits were all singles.

Jansen, undefeated in seven starts, did the rest on the mound. He went 6 1/3 innings, giving up all five runs on five hits. He struck out six. Ethyn Dust got the final two outs for the 'Shoes.

Benton used four pitchers in the contest. Avery threw the first 2 ½ innings, giving up four runs (all earned) on seven hits. Giacone lasted only 2/3rds of an inning, yielding one run on two hits. Hamilton page surrendered three runs on as many hits and freshman Kael Pierce got the final two outs for the Rangers.

"Their kid did a good job on there's a reason they are here every year. You've got to give credit where credit is due. They're a good ballclub," Blondi said.

T-Town, who has won three previous state titles in Class 2A, will play Herscher in a semi-final game at 3 p.m. Friday in Peoria. Benton closed its season with a 26-12 record.