Logan Nine win GRAC title

BY JOHN D. HOMAN

CARTERVILLE – The John A. Logan College baseball team is the undisputed Great Rivers Athletic Conference champion after the Vols notched a 7-1 win over Southeastern Illinois Friday and Lake Land rallied past Southwestern Illinois, 14-13.

The Vols wrap up conference play with a 16-8 record. They are now 22-14 overall. The league title is Logan’s 11^th in Coach Jerry Halstead’s 32 years as head coach.

Against the Falcons, Logan scored two runs in the first inning; two in the fourth; two in the seventh; and one in the eighth.

Leading the charge offensively were Kyle Schneider, Jake Carpenter and Tyler Robertson with two hits each. Both of Schneider’s hits were doubles. One of Carpenter’s hits was a double and he also drove in two runs. Robertson and Schneider each scored two runs.

Also collecting hits were Nate Tholl, Culver Plant and Jeff Hahs. Doug Parks contributed an RBI.

Winning pitcher was freshman Bobby Pennington (4-1). He worked seven innings, allowing one run on six hits. He also struck out six and walked only one. Freshman Matthias Dietz worked two scoreless innings to finish out the game and struck out two in the process.

“I thought our pitching both today and in the series was very good,” Halstead said. “Anytime you only give up one run in three games you have to be pleased. Our pitchers did a great job of pounding the strike zone these last two days.”

Once 6-10 overall, Logan has now won 16 of its last 20 games, including eight of the last 10 and six in a row.

“I think we’re definitely peaking at the right time,” Halstead said. “it’s quite a tip of the hat to our players to bounce back like they have. I wouldn’t say we were dead in the water a while back, but we were definitely struggling and were having to deal with some injuries to key players. Now that we’re getting healthy, things have started to fall into place like we had hoped.”

Logan hosts a non-conference game with Three Rivers, Mo. Tuesday and will then host the opening round of the Region 24 tournament Saturday. Time and opponent has yet to be determined.