Marquette wins the 1A State Championship behind Zeller's complete game
June 1, 2024
MARQUETTE VS. ALTAMONT
It was a pitcher’s duel for the first four innings of the 1A State Championship as both RHP Carson Zellers (Marquette, 2024) and RHP Kade Milleville (Altamont, 2026) held the opposition scoreless.
Marquette threatened with a runner on third base in the top of the fourth, but Milleville was able to get the third out of the inning on a swing-and-miss slider, keeping the game scoreless.
The Crusaders crossed their first run in the top of the fifth inning when 3B Griffin Dobberstein (2027) reached base on a single, and RF Charlie Mullen (2024) followed with an RBI single to give the Cru the 1-0 lead.
At Dozer Park:
— Prep Baseball Illinois (@PrepBaseballIL) June 1, 2024
OF Charlie Mullen (2024) breaks the tie in the top of the fifth, slapping a single to CF to plate a run for Ottawa Marquette.
To the ⬇️5️⃣, the Crusaders lead Altamont 1-0. pic.twitter.com/MBtGjMLfkj
Marquette began the top of the sixth inning with back-to-back-back singles from Zellers, 1B Sam Mitre (2025) and LF Keaton Davis (2025), with all three later scoring on an error from the Indians’ shortstop. They added one more run in the inning on a well-hit ball to the right-center gap from Mullen, who tallied an RBI triple.
At Dozer Park:
— Prep Baseball Illinois (@PrepBaseballIL) June 1, 2024
Ottawa Marquette scores four runs in the ⬆️6️⃣.
The Crusaders scored three runs on an error and another on this triple from ‘24 OF Charlie Mullen.👇
Ottawa Marquette extends their lead to
5-0 and is three outs away from their second state title. pic.twitter.com/LzoAwgMskG
They added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning as OF Grant Dose (2026) reached base on a walk, SS Alec Novotney (2026) followed by ripping an RBI single to the left side, and they both advanced bases on a sacrifice bunt from Zellers. Mitre stepped to the plate and drove the first pitch he saw to center field for a sacrifice fly, giving the Crusaders the 6-0 lead heading to the bottom half of the seventh.
Altamont scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning on a two-RBI single from LF Eli Miller (2024). Zellers produced an infield pop-up with the Indians’ next hitter, giving the Crusaders their second state title, winning the game 6-2.
Zellers tossed a complete game for Marquette, striking out five, walking three, allowing two runs on four hits.
THIRD PLACE GAME
Routt Catholic defeated Gibson City Melvin-Sibley 3-0 to finish third place in the 1A state finals. LHP Conrad Charpentier (2024; Lincoln Land CC) threw a complete game shutout for the Rockets, striking out 10 in the process. They crossed all of their runs in the top of the fifth inning, highlighted by an RBI single from SS Nolan Turner (2024; Lincoln Land CC).
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