Hatton pitched into the sixth inning. After giving up a walk and a single, Lauritzen came on in relief. The Eagles pushed across two runs in the sixth, but Lauritzen retired the final six batters he faced to secure the win and advance the Bulldogs into the sectional championship game.

“I thought Brady was gritty tonight,” Kreke said. “Being gritty is one of our core principals. We challenged him a little after the first couple of innings. After that, I thought his mindset was much better.”

The veteran coach said he thought “the timing was right” to bring in Lauritzen.

“He’s been through this before,” Kreke noted. “He’s been battled-tested. We know what he’s capable of.”

The Bulldogs took the lead with their three-run second. Alex Mayer and Vince Vogel both walked and moved up a base on a wild pitch. Will Fearday then lined a base hit off the first baseman’s glove, driving in both Mayer and Vogel.  Fearday stole second and scored on a ground out by Hatton.

After Columbian scored a single tally in the bottom of the second, SAHS added to its lead in the third. Henry Brent ripped a pitch over the centerfielder’s head for a leadoff double. After Mayer walked and both runners advanced on a wild pitch, Charley Spour delivered a big two-run single that expanded the lead to 5-1.

Brock Fearday widened the margin even further in the fourth. Hatton drove a one-out single to left and Fearday then launched a 3-1 pitch over the fence not far from the 380-foot sign in center field.

The top three batters in the St. Anthony lineup – Will Fearday, Hatton and Brock Fearday – combined for seven hits and five RBI in the game. Lauritzen, Brent, Sam Link, Mayer and Spour each had one hit.

“The top of our order is tough,” Kreke said. “But every hitter in our lineup but one had a hit tonight. Everybody is doing their part, which is what you have to have.”

Hatton scattered five hits and gave up three runs in his five+ innings of work. The senior righthander walked five and struck out five, while throwing 105 pitches. Lauritzen allowed just one hit and recorded two strikeouts over the final two innings.

St. Anthony, now 22-7 for the season, will face arch rival Teutopolis in the sectional final for the second straight year. They used a pair of seventh-inning runs to post a 2-1 victory over the Shoes in last year’s championship game of the Greenville Sectional, en route to the Class 2A state title.

The first pitch Saturday is set for 10 a.m. at the T-Town diamond.

“Everything is set up for another great game Saturday,” Kreke said. “It’s all you could ask for. This is postseason baseball at its best. Two really good ball clubs – some would say two of the best teams in the state – will go at it. I’m sure there will be plenty of tension. Every pitch will mean something. It should be a fun one.”