Knights advance to Super-Sectional behind Keller arm, Seipp bat
By Ray Popkess
Kade Rocca is amped up after hitting his first home run of the season to put the Knights up 7-2 over Mascoutah. (Photo by Anthony Jones)
It might be fair to say that the best iterations of the Mississippi Valley Conference athletic seasons came near the league’s demise but what better way to go out than with a bang?
Two MVC teams met for the Sectional Championship last weekend as Triad hosted the Mascoutah Indians for the final matchup, not only between the two schools as conference foes, but also as the last time the MVC will be represented on any athletic field.
The Knights came into the game with a 33-5 overall record while the Indians boasted a record of 30-6. Triad had previously beaten Mascoutah twice earlier in the season to claim the final MVC title.
On Saturday, June 3, Darren Klein took the mound for the Indians in the top of the first despite the game being played at Triad High School. Braxton Yates took the first pitch of the game off his body and was granted first base to become Triad’s first baserunner. Nolan Keller pushed Yates over to third with a one-out single two batters later. Carter Gaskill pushed the first run across with a fielder’s choice in the following at-bat. Initially, Gaskill was called out on a double play where the Mascoutah first baseman tagged Gaskill out before reaching the bag, nullifying the run. After a discussion between the umpires, it was ruled that Gaskill avoided the tag and reached first safely, putting Triad up 1-0.
Keller took the bump for Triad in the bottom of the first and sent the Indians down in order.
Kade Rocca got the second inning started for Triad with a double on a 1-2 count and was pinch run for by Brock Becker. Maddox Hunt brought Becker around to score with a single in the next at-bat.
Mascoutah came clawing back in their half of the second with a double to lead off the inning by Nathan Walker. David Schulte traded places with Walker on a double two batters later, plating the Indians’ first run. Mason Bennett evened the game with a single to left field in the following at-bat, but that was all the damage Mascoutah would do.
Triad celebrates their 10-2 victory by mobbing Nolan Keller and dogpiling on top of the pitcher’s mound at the conclusion of the game. (Photo by Anthony Jones)
Yates led off the third inning by getting plunked again, but Triad’s big bat of Keegan Seipp broke the 2-2 tie in the next at-bat with a blast over the center field wall. The Knights weren’t done there, as Keller reached base on a single on the very next pitch. Nathan Klucker put runners on first and second with a single two batters later. After the Knights accumulated two outs in the inning, Cohen Horst came in as a courtesy runner for Keller at second base with Rocca at the plate. On the fourth pitch of his at-bat in a 2-1 count, Rocca cranked his first home run of the season, a three-run shot to bust the game open with a 7-2 lead.
Keller got some support from his defense in the bottom of the third to work through another scoreless half inning.
Seipp added another insurance run in the top of the fourth with a solo home run, making the score 8-2.
Bats on both sides began to slow down between the bottom of the fourth and the bottom of the sixth.
Nolan Keller has been Triad’s ace all season. He struck out eight batters in the complete game victory over Mascoutah to claim the Sectional Championship. (Photo by Anthony Jones)
In the top of the seventh and final frame, Seipp launched his third home run of the game and second solo shot on an 0-1 count. Keller followed him up with a home run of his own, giving Triad an even 10 runs.
Keller finished off the game on the mound with a flyout and a 6-4-3 double play, and the celebration ensued. He gave up six hits and two earned runs while striking out eight in the process. He also picked up three hits in four at-bats.
The Knight victory marked their eighth Sectional title in program history and second consecutive Sectional plaque in the trophy case.
At our deadline on June 8, Triad is slated to take on Normal-University High on Tuesday, June 9 at Mt. Zion High School with a 6 p.m. start after the game was postponed on Monday, June 8. The winner of that Super-Sectional game will take on the winner of Crystal Lake (South) and Oak Park (Fenwick) in the State Semifinals on Friday, June 12 at Slammer Stadium in Joliet.
