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4A Edwardsville Claims Their Fourth State Title

June 12, 2022
By: Peter Hamot
Area Scout, Staff Writer

Edwardsville and Mundelein faced off in the nightcap at Duly Health and Care Field Saturday evening to decide the Class 4A State Champion. In a back and forth affair, it was Edwardsville who came out on top by the score of 4-3 to claim their fourth State Title in school history and Tim Funkhouser's second as head coach of the Tigers. 

The Tigers headed into the top of the seventh inning in dire need of a run, as they were chasing one with the State Title on the line. With uncommitted senior Spencer Stearns leading off and the heart of the order due up after, it seemed as though we were about to witness some IHSA magic. Stearns, a catalyst for the Tigers all season long, stepped in and blasted a shot deep to center-field for a lead-off double to put the tying run in scoring position early. Indiana State commit Riley Iffrig (2023) then came up and put a ball hard on the ground up the middle, placing men on the corners with nobody out.

Montrez West (2023) would come in to pinch-run for Iffrig and steal second soon after his entrance to put another man in scoring position. Adam Powell (2022) then stepped in and laced a ball up the middle, plating Stearns and tying the game at three runs apiece. Cade Hardy (2022) was the next man up and he proceeded to fly out to left, though deep enough to bring home West and give the Tigers a 4-3 lead and an eventual State Title. 

Mundelein was facing a 2-0 deficit heading into the bottom of the fifth inning and were looking to get the offense rolling. Chris Callas (2023) came to the plate with one out and would start things off for the Mustangs by reaching on an error to the left-side of the infield. Wisconsin-Eau Claire commit Jacob Buysse (2022) would follow Callas with a single to left, putting men on first and second with one away. A walk to fellow Wisconsin-Eau Claire commit Connor Weik (2022) would load the bases for the Mustangs and set up Daniel Connelly (2023) - who went on to rip a double to left-field and tie the game at two runs apiece. Michael Farina (2023) would then come up and deliver a fielder’s choice to plate Weik and give the Mustangs a 3-2 lead at the time. 

The bats were quiet on both sides for most of the game, that was until Adam Powell (2022) stepped in and drove an opposite-field shot over the wall in left for a two-run homer - driving in St. Charles CC commit Grant Huebner (2022) who walked earlier in the frame and giving the Tigers a 2-0 lead at the time. 

One of the biggest plays of the game came early in the bottom of the first inning, with Cade Hardy (Edwardsville) delivering a strike to home from center-field on an errant back-pick attempt to second, gunning down what would have been the first run of the game. 

Right-hander and St. Xavier commit Gannon Burns (2022) got the nod for the Tigers, as he has been one of their most reliable arms all season long. With the State Title on the line, Burns turned in perhaps his gutsiest performance of the year; firing a complete game while scattering five hits, allowing two earned runs, striking out five and walking three - also going 2-for-2 with a walk at the plate. 

Notable Performances:
Adam Powell (Edwardsville): 2-for-4, HR, 3RBI, R
Gannon Burns (Edwardsville): 7IP, 5H, 2ER, 5K, 3BB - 2-for-2
Daniel Connelly (Mundelein): 1-for-2, 2B, 2RBI, BB
Michael Farina (Mundelein): 1-for-3, 2B, RBI
Tommy Stricklin (Mundelein): 2-for-3, 2 2B
Cade Hardy (Edwardsville): 1-for-3, RBI
Spencer Stearns (Edwardsville): 1-for-4, 2B
Caden Morton (Mundelein): 5IP, 3H, 2ER, 7K, 6BB

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