Henry baseball team makes history with trip to Class 1A state finals in Peoria
Adam DuvallBLOOMINGTON — A state trophy is coming home to Henry.
The Mallards beat Milford, 3-2, in a Class 1A baseball supersectional Monday at Jack Horenberger Field on the Illinois Wesleyan University campus. Henry (23-6) is back at the state finals for the first time in 30 years, where it was eliminated in the state quarterfinals.
Now, the baseball team — which faces Sterling Newman (22-8) at noon Friday in the second semifinal at Dozer Park in Peoria — will become the school's first athletic team to earn a state trophy.
Colton Williams and Mason Johnson both had RBIs as part of a three-run third inning for the Mallards. This was enough run support for pitcher Lance Kiesewetter, who struck out the side in the second along with a 1-2-3 third.
CLASS 2A: Joliet Catholic 14, Hall 4 (5 inn.)
GENESEO — Hall jumped ahead early but couldn't overcome the reigning state champs, suffering a 10-run rule defeat at the Class 2A Geneseo Supersectional.
The Red Devils were making their first super since winning the 2018 2A state championship. Hall, which scored three runs off four hits in the top of the first, ends its season 23-9.
IHSA baseball state finals
All games at Dozer Park, Peoria
Friday, June 2
- Class 1A semifinal — Waterloo Gibault vs. Goreville, 10 a.m.
- Class 1A semifinal — Sterling Newman vs. Henry, 12 p.m.
- Class 2A semifinal — Columbia vs. Chicago DePaul, 3 p.m.
- Class 2A semifinal — Joliet Catholic vs. Winner of Bloomington Central Catholic/Quincy Notre Dame, 5 p.m.
Saturday, June 3
- Class 1A third-place game, 9 a.m.
- Class 1A championship, 11:30 a.m.
- Class 2A third-place game, 3 p.m.
- Class 2A championship, 5:30 p.m.