Russell Conwell/Student Correspondent
Darren Kinnard
Section618.com
CARBONDALE — After making the school’s first trip to the basketball state tournament in March, the Steeleville Warriors were hoping to make it to state in baseball as well. Standing in the way at the SIU 1A Super-sectional was North Clay/Clay City. The Cardinals won 8-3 to earn their first state baseball appearance.
The Warriors started off with Jacoby Gross’ leadoff triple. Kaleb Knop hit into a fielder’s choice to score Gross for a 1-0 Steeleville lead.
The Warriors looked to close out the bottom of the first inning with two outs and a runner on first, but Brady Ingram and Donnie Zimmerman each had RBI base hits to give the Cardinals a 2-1 lead.
The Cards added to their lead in the second. With two outs, Bryton Griffy hit a line drive single to center, and when the ball got by the outfielder, Griffy circled the bases for a 3-1 lead. Collyn Ballard followed with a walk, and Logan Fleener kept the inning alive with an RBI triple. Holden Clifton singled home Fleener to make it 5-1.
Ballard drew another walk in the bottom of the fourth, stole second, and advanced to third on a passed ball. He then scored on Clifton’s sacrifice fly for a 6-1 North Clay lead.
Warriors’ starter Reid Harriss settled in, pitching a 1-2-3 fifth inning. Steeleville loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth. Cale Newby singled to left field to score a run cutting the Cards’ lead to 6-2, but the Warriors could not get any closer.
North Clay/Clay City added two runs in the top of the seventh to extend the lead to 8-2. Steeleville wouldn’t go down without a fight, as Lane Lazenby scored off an error to make it 8-3, but that was it for the scoring.
The Cardinals improve to 31-6 on the season. Their first state baseball appearance in school history will start Friday at noon at Dozer Park in Peoria in the second 1A semifinal against Leroy. Brown County will face Ottawa Marquette in the first first semifinal at 10:00 Friday morning.
The Warriors’ season ends with a 22-3 record.
