JOLIET, IL - The Morton Potters finished off an impressive season, hoisting the first place 3A trophy, after knocking off St. Ignatius 4-1 in the championship game on Saturday afternoon. Morton jumped out to a lead after the first inning and never looked back.

After St. Ignatius (20-12) jumped out to a 1-0 lead after the top of the first, the Potters responded in a hurry. Leadoff hitter Nick Guerra led off the bottom of the first with a walk and was promptly driven in by Logan Peterson. Peterson got a pitch out over the plate and drove a line drive into the left-center gap resulting in a triple. Vinnie Massaglia, an Illinois Central JC, came up next and delivered a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Peterson and giving Morton a 2-1 lead after one inning.

That was all the run support Morton (30-6) starting pitcher, Peterson, an Illinois Central JC commit, would need. Peterson was effective in the win and made big pitches when he needed it. In the fourth, St. Ignatius threatened with runners on second and third but Peterson induced a comebacker to end the threat. When the same situation arose in the sixth, Peterson got pinch-hitter Adam Himes to line out to short. The senior right-hander went six innings, scattered six hits, one run, walked three and struck out six.

The Morton offense extended their lead with two runs in the bottom of the third. Guerra led off the inning once again with a walk. After getting to third base on a wild pitch and infield single by Massaglia, Guerra scored on a infield groundout by Kyle Killion. Massaglia scored the final run of the inning and game on an RBI single to left field by Evan Pfiefer.

Xavier Williams threw three hitless innings and struck out two out of the bullpen for St. Ignatius.

William Brady had a big day going 3-for-3 in a losing effort for St. Ignatius. Thomas Stoodt added two hits and the lone run for St. Ignatius.

Peterson, Massaglia and Pfeifer collected the three total hits Morton had in the win.

Guerra locked down the state title win with a one inning save for Morton. Guerra struck out two in his scoreless inning.

It had been 34 years (1984) since Morton’s last State Title.

This was the first ever state trip and trophy for St. Ignatius.

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