By Ryan Quigley
Illinois Scouting Director

Over the next few weeks in addition to highlighting the Top 10 Player Profiles of 2014, we will also highlight the Top Ten Stories in Illinois High School Baseball during the 2014 calendar year.

No. 7: Pleasant Plains Captures 2A State Title

Coming in at No. 7 is Pleasant Plains capturing their second state championship under legendary head coach Dave Greer. The Cardinals finished the season 31-11, and captured the state crown with a 7-1 victory over Byron.

Let’s take a look at Sean Duncan’s Game Story from the Pleasant Plains vs. Byron State Championship Game.

Class 2A State Championship Game Story

PEORIA, IL – Pleasant Plains is small in stature. And young. And possess little power at the plate or on the mound.

And guess what? The Cardinals don’t care, because they will run, scrap and hustle doubters right out the stadium if opponents aren’t on their toes.

Pleasant Plains did just that to Byron in the Class 2A state championship game, as the Cardinals played their brand of baseball in a 7-1 rain-shortened game Saturday at Dozer Park.

The convincing victory marks Pleasant Plains’ (31-11) second state championship under legendary coach Dave Greer. Not bad for a team that collectively hit only four home runs in 42 games. The Cardinals finished runner-up last year and now have earned five state trophies.

Despite having one senior in the lineup, including a middle infield that consists of 5-foot-7, 135-pound freshman shortstop Cole Greer and 5-foot-8, 135-pound sophomore Daulton Nibbe, the Cardinals erased a 1-0 first-inning deficit by scoring three runs in the top of the second.  Pleasant Plains didn’t stop putting pressure on Byron (35-6) until it had built a commanding 7-1 lead after five innings.

Byron, which was appearing in the state championship game for the first time since all-time Tiger great Sean Lyons led the school to a runner-up finish in 1995, threatened in the bottom of the sixth. The Tigers scored once and had the bases loaded with two outs before the skies opened up for a lengthy delay.

After a four hour, five minute rain delay, the game was called, reverting back to the fifth-inning score.

Leadoff hitter Cole Hamilton, a 5-foot-8, 140-pound junior third baseman, was the offensive catalyst for Pleasant Plains. Hamitlon went 3-for-3 with two RBI, including a run-scoring double in the fourth inning. He reached base all four plate appearance and stole two bases.

Nibbe tallied a pair of hits, scored two runs and swiped a bag, and junior DH Alex Edwards also had two hits, including a second-inning double, and scored a run. And in a play that epitomized Pleasant Plains’ brand of baseball, 5-foot-9, 150-pound T.J. Steinwart laid down a bunt hit. His speed down the line forced a throwing error, which enabled 5-foot-9 sophomore catcher Johnny Steinwart to score. Meanwhile, T.J. motored to third base on the error, and the first baseman’s throw sailed away, and he came around to score on the bunt.

Junior right-hander Chad Weller (7-2) pitched five strong innings before getting into a jam in the sixth. Byron’s first-inning run was unearned after a dropped popup allowed Austin Carlson to score.

The Class 2A third-place game was also canceled due to rain, and Westmont and Freeburg share the third place, according to IHSA rules.

Complete List of Top Ten News Stories of 2014

No. 10 – South Elgin’s Improbable Third-Place Run

No. 9 - St. Rita's 26 Game Winning Streak

No. 8 – Illinois 2016 Prospects Transfer to IMG Academy in Florida

No. 7 - Pleasant Plains Captures Class 2A State Championship