BACK-TO-BACK! Sandburg Repeats as Arrowhead Conference Champ, Can Win Outright Title Saturday
Aaron Frey
Thursday, April 25, 2019 7:46 PM
Athletics
Galesburg, IL
The Carl Sandburg College baseball team clinched at least a share of its second straight Arrowhead Conference championship Thursday, sweeping Sauk Valley 14-4 and 7-3 at the Bill Hungate Baseball/Softball Complex.
Sandburg (23-11-1, 15-1) needs just one victory in its two remaining conference doubleheaders to win the outright championship. The Chargers’ first chance will be at noon Saturday at home against Illinois Valley. The teams will meet again at 2 p.m. Tuesday at IVCC.
It’s the Chargers’ seventh Arrowhead title (1974, 1982, 1987, 1989, 2008, 2018) and the first time in program history they’ve repeated as conference champs.
Sandburg has outscored league opponents 189-60 in its 16 Arrowhead games. The Chargers’ only conference setback this spring was a 12-9 extra-inning loss to Highland on April 16.
GAME 1
Sandburg 14, Sauk Valley 4 (5 innings)
Sauk Valley 000 22 — 4 4 5
Sandburg 233 51 — 14 11 0
W: Tyler Baysingar 4 IP, 5 K, 1 BB
L: Ethan Hafner 1 IP, 1 K, 2 BB
Key Moment
The Chargers scored in every inning and built an 8-0 lead after the third. Jordan Chandler gave Sandburg an early advantage just three batters in as he poked a two-run homer to the opposite field.
Sandburg Standout
Freshman second baseman Isaac Riegler (McLean, Ill./Olympia) drove in a team-high four runs out of the No. 9 spot in the order. Riegler finished 2 for 3 as he collected a two-run single in the the second and added a two-run double to left in the third to push Sandburg’s lead to 8-0.
Other Top Chargers
- Chandler 1 for 1, home run, three RBIs
- Devon Ballard (Fulton, Ill./Fulton) 2 for 4, home run, two runs, three RBIs
- Koy Smith (Revere, Mo./Canton) 1 for 2, walk, two runs, RBI
- Tyler Baysingar (Brimfield, Ill./Brimfield) 4 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 H, 5K, 1 BB
GAME 2
Sandburg 7, Sauk Valley 2
Sauk Valley 002 000 1 — 3 5 2
Sandburg 001 006 x — 7 8 2
W: Ethan Jehle 4 IP, 5 K, 2 BB
L: Jake Williams 5.2 IP, 5 K, 5 BB
Key Moment
The Skyhawks took a 2-1 lead into the sixth before Sandburg finally came alive against Sauk Valley starter Jake Williams. The Chargers sent 12 batters to the plate and collected six runs on four singles, four walks and a hit batter against three Sauk Valley pitchers. Braedon Blackford (Peoria, Ill./Notre Dame) tied the game with a bases-loaded single, and Noah Hoepfner (East Moline, Ill./United Township) followed with a walk to bring in the go-ahead run. Cacey O’Brien (Moline, Ill./Moline) delivered a two-run single two batters later to give the Chargers some insurance.
Sandburg Standout
Freshman Ethan Jehle (Elmwood, Ill./Elmwood) kept the Skyhawks at bay until Sandburg staged its late rally. The righthander threw the final four innings in relief, allowing only a seventh-inning run on two hits and two walks while striking out five.
Other Top Chargers
- O’Brien 2 for 3, double, run, three RBIs
- Wynn Takacs (Tipton, Ind./Taylor) two walks, run, RBI
- Khyri White (Rock Island, Ill./Rock Island) 3 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 H, 4 K, 1 BB
UP NEXT
The Chargers can win the outright Arrowhead title with one victory in their doubleheader against Illinois Valley at noon Saturday.
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