Top-10 Stories of 2021: Freeburg Captures 2A State Championship
December 29, 2021
At the end of each calendar year, our staff reflects on the most interesting stories of the past year. Through the end of the month, we’ll be counting down some of the most impactful headlines that affected Illinois’ baseball community, ending with our No. 1 story of 2021 revealed on New Year’s Day.
Freeburg was in total control against Timothy Christian in the 2A State Title game. The Midgets of Freeburg got a quality start from junior RHP Kamden Casey and their bats came alive late, leading to a 12-0 win in the 2A State Championship.
Casey, an uncommitted junior, set the tone from the get-go for Freeburg (37-3). The strong-bodied right-hander pounded the zone throughout with a fastball that sat an easy 82-83 mph. Casey went to a late, sharp biting, 10/4 slider at 75 mph whenever he wanted to, routinely landing it for strikes and expanding the zone for swing-and-misses with two strikes. Through the first six innings Casey did not allow a runner past first base. In total, he threw 72 pitches in his seven innings of work, landing 76% of his offerings for strikes. Casey scattered four hits, did not allow a run, struck out eight and walked two in the biggest game of his year.
Casey’s performance on the mound allowed the Freeburg offense to settle in and once they got into the Timothy Christian’s bullpen they salted the game away for good. Heading into the top of the sixth inning Freeburg led 2-0. They proceeded to put up a six spot in the sixth and tacked on four more in the seventh to account for their 12 runs.
Freeburg had six hits in the sixth inning and sent 12 batters to the plate. Cole Sandheinrich, Lane Otten and Colin Brueggemann (Johnson County CC commit) all had RBI singles in the frame and Eli Hill (Eastern Illinois commit) reached base twice and scored a run in the big inning.
2A State Championship@FburgBaseball gets into the @TCSAthletics bullpen in the T6 and they break the game open with a six spot.
— PBR Illinois (@PBRIllinois) June 19, 2021
Colin Brueggemann continues to rake for Freeburg.
Freeburg 8, Timothy Christian 0 | B6 pic.twitter.com/qWUGXmGRhp
Junior Eli Hoerner capped off the four-run top of the seventh inning with a deep two-run triple to left-center field. Cade Smith singled and scored in the frame and Will Frerking added an RBI single and scored a run as well.
Freeburg tacked on a run in the top of the fifth to take a 2-0 lead at the time. Brueggeman doubled with two outs and was promptly driven in on a line-drive back up the middle by Hoerner.
2A State Championship@FburgBaseball adds a run in the T5. Colin Brueggemann doubles and Eli Hoerner brings him in with a line drive back up the middle.
— PBR Illinois (@PBRIllinois) June 19, 2021
Both hits ⬇️.
Freeburg 2, @TCSAthletics 0 | T6 pic.twitter.com/TC8Ujmfdyl
Timothy Christian starter, LHP Jacob Friend battled and kept the Trojans in the game for as long as he could. Friend ended up going 5.1 innings, scattering six hits, three earned runs, struck out two and walked two.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
+ Colin Brueggemann (Freeburg): 2-for-4, 2B, 3 R, RBI, BB, SB
+ Eli Hoerner (Freeburg): 3-for-5, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI, R, 2 SB’s
+ Eli Hill (Freeburg): 2-for-4, BB, RBI, R
+ Cole Sandheinrich (Freeburg): 2-for-5, RBI, R
+ Fletcher Roemmich (Timothy Christian): 2-for-2, BB