Goreville Captures Class 1A State Title

June 4, 2016

By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

PEORIA, IL – Goreville scored 17 unanswered runs, 14 of them coming in a wild fifth inning, to defeat Somonauk 17-7 in five innings and win their first Class 1A State Championship in school history. Since the IHSA four class system was implemented, the 14 runs in one inning shatters the record for most runs in an inning, in a state final game, the previous record being eight.

Trailing 7-3 in the bottom of the fifth, 13 of the first 14 batters reached base safely for the Goreville Blackcats. Goreville (28-6) eventually scored 14 runs in the frame and the game-ending hit was a two-run single delivered by Grant Venus. Venus had two hits in the frame.

In the 17 run offensive outburst, a handful of Blackcats did damage at the plate. Three-hole hitter Brodie Lenon started on the mound but did his best work of the day at the plate. Lenon who had a .485 batting average entering the state finals, went 4-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Catcher Chance Duringer went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI. Peyton Geyman also had three hits, two RBI and two runs scored. Jared Vaughn reached base in three of his four at bats and scored two runs.

All of the momentum was on the side of Somonauk (24-7) to begin the game. The Bobcats of Somonauk scored one in the first, three in the second and three in the fourth to take a 7-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth. Leadoff hitter, Clint Rader led the charge for the Bobcats, singling in all three at-bats. In the fourth, Rader hit his third single of the day, knocking in two runners and extending the Somonauk lead to 6-0 at the time. Johnny Johnson grounded out a few batters later which scored Johnson from third and gave them a 7-0 lead heading to the bottom of the frame.

Goreville chipped away with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Blaine Dunning hit a two-run double down the left-field line cutting the lead to 7-3 entering the fifth.

After a leadoff single for Somonauk to begin the top of the fifth, Peyton Geyman came out of the bullpen for Goreville. Geyman retired the next three Bobcat hitters allowing the Goreville offense to get back to the plate in the bottom of the fifth.

11 hits and 14 runs later, Goreville was crowned the Class 1A Baseball State Champion, their first in school history.

In the third-place game …

Okawville 5, Salt Fork 0: In the Class 1A Third Place game, the Rockets of Okawville captured the third place trophy, with a 5-0 victory over Salt Fork.

The Rockets were led by right-handed pitcher Carter Killion, who spun a complete game shutout. Killion went seven innings, allowed one hit, no walks and struck out 11.

Okawville got all the runs they would need with two in the top of the third inning. Josh Madrid and Alec Wisneski hit consecutive singles to lead off the frame. Two batters later, Brad Fuhrhop hit a sacrifice fly which scored Josh Madrid from third and advanced Wisneski to third. Wisneski scored during the next at-bat when a wild pitch skipped away from the catcher.

Okawville sealed the deal scoring two more runs in the fifth inning. Designated hitter Noland Crane hit a two-run single to put the Rockets up 5-0.

Okawville, who finished runner-up last season, gets another state trophy to take home.