By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

Get ready Champaign.

Wooden Shoes magic is headed your way.

Whether it’s the tradition of winning, the blessing of the gloves and bats or maybe even one parent’s pair of lucky wooden shoes, the Teutopolis baseball team continues to find ways to turn the agony of a season-ending loss into the thrill of another hard-to-explain victory.

For the second time in three days, the Shoes’ season was in serious jeopardy. And for the second time in less than 72 hours, this “never-say-die” team put together a late rally that almost defies logic.

After scoring four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat St. Anthony and claim the sectional championship Saturday, the Shoes overcame a two-run deficit Wednesday night in Carbondale.

And it was a sophomore stepping into the batter’s box for just the third time all season that proved to be the improbable hero.

Teagan Pals ripped the first pitch he saw into the left-centerfield gap to drive in two runs and give Teutopolis a walk-off 6-5 victory over DuQuoin to not only claim the Class 2A Carbondale Super Sectional, but also clinch a berth in the state tournament.

The Shoes (29-5) will face Sterling Newman Central Catholic (27-7-1) at 7 p.m. Friday at Illinois Field in Champaign.

By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

Anyone that follows baseball knows recording the final three outs can be a difficult task.

Saturday’s game in Teutopolis is a perfect example.

When the host Wooden Shoes came to bat in the bottom of the seventh inning, they were trailing by three runs and facing one of the state’s toughest pitchers.

About 20 minutes and eight batters later, however, a celebration erupted.

The THS squad pulled off the improbable, rallying for four runs to post a come-from-behind 5-4 victory over St. Anthony in the championship game of the Class 2A Teutopolis Sectional.

“I’m so proud of these guys,” said T-Town coach Justin Fleener. “They kept grinding and believing. The bottom of the lineup got on base, we kept putting the ball in play and we got a couple breaks.

“In high school baseball you just never know what can happen,” Fleener added. “We’re fortunate to be moving on, but it feels great.”

There was no reason to expect this kind of rally. St. Anthony’s Brock Fearday had allowed just one run on three hits and was facing the bottom three batters in the lineup.

By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

Cardinals-Cubs. Packers-Bears.

Yankees-Red Sox. Alabama-Auburn.

Ohio State-Michigan. Army-Navy.

You get the gist. These are some of the biggest rivalries in the history of sports.

While not on the national scene, local high school rivalries are just as strong and popular in their small part of the world.

My best guess is that sporting events between Breese Central and Breese Mater Dei are quite spirited. I’m told the football rivalry between Springfield Sacred Heart Griffin and Rochester is off the charts.

I was part of such a rivalry in high school. Today, we know the school as Central A&M. Years ago, it was Assumption vs. Moweaqua. I was a Comet from AHS and still have memories of playing basketball and baseball against those dreaded Indians from seven miles up the road.

I’m sure there are similar rivalries throughout Illinois. But here in Effingham County, there is one that’s second to none.

We know it as Teutopolis vs. St. Anthony. Some refer to it as the Cross Creek Rivalry.

By Steve Raymond

The Sports Report

Tony Kreke said the game plan was the same.

“We want to swing at strikes and take balls,” the St. Anthony coach explained. “If you swing at pitches that are in the zone, you have the potential to do damage.”

Which is exactly what the Bulldogs did Wednesday night.

The defending state champions sprayed hits all over the diamond, en route to a 7-3 win over the Columbia Eagles in a semifinal game of the Class 2A Teutopolis Sectional.

The Bulldogs banged out 12 hits, including a long two-run homer from Brock Fearday. They had baserunners in every inning, and with a few more timely hits, could have easily won by a larger margin. They stranded 12 runners, including eight in scoring position.

SAHS left the base loaded three times, including the first inning.

“Having the bases loaded and not being able to scratch some runs across in that first inning was tough,” Kreke admitted. “But the bottom of our order came through in the second by getting on base. Then our guys were able to get some big hits and get us on the board.”

The Bulldogs scored three runs in the second and then added a pair in both the third and fourth to build a commanding 7-1 lead. The pitching of Brady Hatton and Aiden Lauritzen took care of the rest.

By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

When the first inning was completed, things weren’t looking very good for the Teutopolis Wooden Shoes.

And Davin Worman in particular.

The starting pitcher just wasn’t sharp. He had already thrown 24 pitches and his team was trailing 3-0.

“He was struggling to make good, competitive pitches,” THS coach Justin Fleener said. “But just like the whole team did today, he kept battling.”

Now fast forward to the seventh inning. The junior lefthander was still on the mound. He allowed only one additional run after that rocky start before being relieved after giving up a lead-off single in the seventh.

Austin Borries came in and recorded the final three outs Wednesday afternoon to secure T-Town’s 7-4 win over Breese Central in a semifinal game of the Class 2A Teutopolis Sectional.

“I had someone warming up in the second inning,” Fleener noted. “There’s a shorter leash in the postseason. But Davin settled in, got in a groove and did a nice job. After that first inning, I didn’t think he’d still be pitching in the seventh, but he earned that.”

While Worman was settling down, the Shoes’ bats came alive. Mitch Niebrugge led the 12-hit attack, going 4-for-4 at the plate and driving in a pair of runs.

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