1A State Semi-Finals: Ottawa Marquette, Gibault Catholic advance to 1A title game

Game 1

Ottawa Marquette - 10
Harvest Christian - 8

In the opening game of the 1A/2A State Finals at Dozer Park, in Peoria, Ottawa Marquette faced off against Harvest Christian. The 1A Semi-Final matchup, was a one-sided contest until the final innings and Marquette held on for a 10-8 win.

The game seemed out of reach until, Harvest Christian (26-4) catcher, Jack Nohava, made things interesting in the bottom of the sixth inning with one swing of the bat. With the bases loaded, and one out, Nohava launched a deep drive that bounced off the top of the wall and over, for a grand slam. The big blast cut the Marquette lead to 8-6 at the time.

Marquette (32-1) answered with two runs in the top of the seventh, extending the lead to 10-6 heading to the bottom half of the inning. Harvest Christian rallied once again, scoring two runs and getting the tying run to plate but a flyout to left field ended their chances. Nohava, who had seven RBI’s on the day, delivered the big hit in the seventh as well, a two-run single. Nohava finished 3-for-5 on the day.

The game was all Marquette for the first five innings. The Crusaders of Marquette scored two runs in the first, two in the third, three in the fourth and one more in the fifth to jump out to a 8-0 lead heading to the bottom of the fifth. Jack Snook seemed to be in the middle of all the offensive action for the Crusaders. Snook doubled in a run in the first, singled and scored in the third, singled in a run in the fourth and singled again in the seventh. Snook finished 4-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored on the day.

Along with Snook, the top three hitters in the Marquette order collected two hits on the day. Nate Melvin went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a walk. Luke Couch finished 2-for-4 with three runs scored and Logan Komater went 2-for-3 with two RBI, two runs scored and a walk.

Besides Nohava’s big day for Harvest Christian, Gil Duran and Grant Young had impressive days in the loss. Duran went 3-for-5 with a double and three runs. Young went 2-for-5 with two runs scored. Young, a Cornerstone commit, also impressed on the mound. The athletic right-hander got the start and despite taking the loss there was a lot to like. Young has an athletic, quick arm, spins a sharp breaking ball and sat 85-88 mph, touching 89 with his fastball early on.

In the offensive affair the two teams combined for 26 hits.

With the win, Ottawa Marquette faces at 11 a.m., with the 1A State Championship on the line.

Game 2

Gibault Catholic - 12
Steeleville - 4

Led by three multi-run innings, Gibault Catholic (27-8) downed Steeleville (23-6), 12-4, in the 1A IHSA State Finals. Win the win, the Hawks will meet Marquette who won a 10-8 contest again Harvest Christian Academy earlier on in the day.

Steeleville pulled ahead in the second on a two-run homer by Jordan Wilson. The ball sailed over the wall just beyond the 310-foot marker in left. This would be the only lead Steeleville would obtain in the contest.

The Hawks would respond in dominating fashion in the third by posting six runs. Austin Sweeney singled home two to start the inning. Immediately after, Mark Branz tripled home Sweeney with a knock into right-center. Tim Reinholtz contributed to the scoring with a single of his own and an RBI, and Tate Schilling plated a run on a fielder’s choice. At the end of the inning, the Hawks led, 6-2, and would hold a convincing lead the rest of the game.

Steeleville’s Owen Gross doubled in the fourth and came in to score on a passed ball to cut the lead to three, but the Hawks would respond again by posting two in the top half of the fifth. Steeleville bounced right back by posting a run to cut the lead, again, when Mel Mulholland scored on a fielder’s choice.

Heading into the top of the sixth, the Hawks held a four-run lead, 8-4, until they doubled that lead in the following frame.

The Hawks put the finishing touches on their well-deserved victory by posting four in the sixth in large part to Cameron Kincheloe’s three-run double. Kincheloe went 1-for-3 on the day driving in four. After the sixth, the Hawks held a 12-4 lead that would hold steady with the help of relievers Reinholtz and Mithc Nolan.

Reinholtz tossed 1.1 innings and allowed only two baserunners, striking out three. Nolan pitched a perfect 1.2 innings to close the door and help the Hawks secure their spot in the 1A championship game.

Highlights for both clubs include:

Sweeney: 2-for-5; 2RBI, R
Schilling: 2-for-3; 2RBI, R
Reinholtz: 2-for-2; 3R, 2BB
Austin Hagel: 2-for-4
Wilson: 1-for-2; HR, 2RBI, BB

First pitch for the 1A title game is set for 11 a.m. The third-place game will feature Steeleville and Harvest Christian Academy – game time set for 9 a.m.