Darren Kinnard/River Radio Sports Central
CARBONDALE — Hardin County and Waltonville/Sesser-Valier advanced to the championship of the Goreville 1A Baseball Sectional with a pair of hard fought semifinal victories in games moved to SIU’s Itchy Jones Stadium.
In the opener, the Cougars rallied from a 5-1 deficit to beat Steeleville 7-5. Brandon Dutton got the win in relief and was 4-4 at the plate, including a two-run single in the sixth to tie the game 5-5. Morgan Fricker’s two-run triple capped a five run outburst in the sixth to give the Cougars their first lead of the day.
The Warriors got the leadoff man on in the seventh to bring the tying run to the plate, but Dutton retired the next three batters without a ball leaving the infield to finish off the win for Hardin County.
The Cougars improve to 22-3 and advance to play for the program’s first sectional championship. Steeleville’s season ends at 13-8.
The nightcap was a pitchers’ duel as WSV starter Brandon Menser and Goreville starter Drake Buffington piled up zeroes on the scoreboard.
The Blackcats’ best chance to score came in the fifth when Drake Moss hit a shot to deep left, but it bounced over the wall for a ground rule double. Grant Krack, who was on first base, would’ve scored, but had to go back to third base. Menser then struck out Buffington to end the inning.
Sophomore Garrett Church relieved for Goreville working a 1-2-3 sixth inning. After Menser worked a quiet top of the seventh, Spartans loaded the bases with two outs, and Liam McMurray scored the game winner on a passed ball.
The Spartans improve to 19-7 and advance to face Hardin County at 1:00 Saturday. The game will be played once again at SIU.
Goreville finishes the season 19-10.
