Baseball

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

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.

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

ET Sports Report

The Teutopolis Wooden Shoes are making a statement.

Two postseason games.

26 runs scored.

0 runs allowed.

How does coach Justin Fleener feel about that?

“We made a good showing,” he admitted, followed by a big smile.

The Shoes, who are no stranger to postseason success, added another plaque – once it arrived at the baseball field – to their trophy case Saturday after cruising to a 10-0, five-inning victory over Newton in the championship game of the Class 2A Newton Regional.

For the tradition-rich T-Town baseball program, it was the 16^th regional title in the past 17 years. And for Coach Fleener, who is in his 24th year, it is the 20^th time he has guided the Wooden Shoes to a regional championship. The only years his teams haven’t advanced were in 2002, 2007, 2022 and the 2020 COVID season.