“Maybe we didn’t play our best today, but the guys played as hard as they could,” St. Anthony coach Tony Kreke admitted. “We just came up a little short. It’s tough losing a game like this. The guys are really hurting.”

The very first inning just might have been an omen of what was to come.

The Bulldogs loaded the bases, but scored just one run, leaving two runners in scoring position.

The Blackcats then scored four times, aided by a missed tag that went for an infield single and a throwing error that allowed two of the runs to cross the plate.

“We made a few mistakes and didn’t get some big hits,” Kreke said. “We had baserunners on constantly, but just couldn’t get them in.”

In the top of the first, Beau Adams hit the first pitch of the game down the leftfield line for a lead-off double. Eli Levitt then walked on four pitches to get SAHS off to a good start. After Brock Fearday hit into a fielder’s choice, Connor Roepke was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Aiden Lauritzen hit into a fielder’s choice that drove home the run and Max Koenig flied out to center to end the inning.

Goreville responded immediately. After the first two batters walked, Tyler Suits laid down a bunt, trying to move the runners up a base. But he avoided the tag to load the bases.

Ian Sopczak, Goreville’s top hitter, then grounded a single to right, driving in two runs. Suits was trying to advance to third. In an attempt to throw him out, the throw was off target and both Suits and Sopczak raced how to give the Blackcats a 4-1 lead.

St. Anthony came right back to tie the game in the second. With one out, Will Hoene singled, followed by walks to Ryan Schmidt and Adams to load the bases. Levitt also walked, forcing in one run, and Fearday lined a double into right, driving home two more to knot the game at 4-4.

The Bulldogs tried to add another run. After Roepke popped up to the second baseman in shallow rightfield, courtesy runner Henry Brent tried to score, but was thrown out by Goreville’s Hunter Francis.

The final runs of the game came in the third.

SAHS took the lead briefly. Koenig walked, Brock Jansen got an infield single and Hoene blooped a base hit into center to – again – load the bases. A ground ball by Schmidt drove home the run.

In the bottom of the frame, Suits led off with a double, but was throw out trying to advance to third on a ground ball by Sopczak. A walk and a base hit loaded the bases and the tying run scored when Zack Green was hit by a pitch. With two outs, a ground ball was misplayed for an error, allowing for what proved to be the winning run to come across.

St. Anthony went down in order in both the fourth and fifth. But in the sixth, Hoene lined a lead-off double into the right-centerfield gap. Brent, in again as a courtesy runner, went to third on a ground out. When Adams hit a ground ball to third, Brent tried to score, but was thrown out by Goreville’s Cole Tripp.

The Bulldogs had another scoring opportunity in the seventh. With out, Lauritzen singled and went to second on a passed ball. With two outs, Jansen hit a squibber in front of the plate, but beat it out for an infield single, sending Lauritzen to third. Hoene then flied out to end the game.

St. Anthony ended with eight hits, with Hoene collecting three of those.

Levitt was the starting pitcher for the Bulldogs. He went five innings, allowing six hits and six runs, but just three earned runs. He walked five and struck out six, while throwing 108 pitches. Jansen pitched the sixth.

Dawson Cloud, who relieved Drake Buffington in the second inning, got the victory. He went 5.2 innings, giving up four hits and a run. He walked one and struck out two.

The Blackcats, 22-12 on the season, will now play in the Class 1A State Tournament this weekend. Games are scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Dozer Park. They will face Waterloo Gilbaut at 10 a.m. Friday. The other two teams to advance were Sterling Newman and Henry-Senachwine. Their contest is set for noon. The third place and championship games will be played at 9 and 11:30 Saturday morning.

The Bulldogs finished with a terrific 27-5 record.

“This is a great group of guys. I love coaching them,” Kreke said. “As their coach, I couldn’t be prouder. These are great young men. We had one heckuva season. It was a great ride and we made great memories.”