BACK-TO-BACK DISTRICT CHAMPS. The Sullivan Eagles rallied to a 3-2 comeback victory over Owensville in the Class 4 District 4 Championship on Wednesday, May 15. Drake Gawer's walk-off RBI in the bottom of the 7th drove Seth Valley home for their second consecutive title. Photo via Sullivan Eagles X
ONE LAST RIDE. From left to right, seniors Gavin Schmidt, Cambrian Koch and Dayton Skaggs celebrate their final district title. They hope to make the most of their last ride as Sullivan Eagles at state. Photo by Wyatt Hardy
COMEBACK KID. The Eagles surround and cheer Drake Gawer after reeling in the game-winning RBI against Owensville. Photo by Wyatt Hardy
WALK-OFF VICTORY. Seth Valley lands on home plate and clinched the Class 4 District 4 title. Photo by Wyatt Hardy
ROCK ON. Diehard Eagles fan Matt Doza celebrates with the baseball players after the district championship. Photo by Wyatt Hardy
BIG MITCH. Mitchell Garner prepares to take a big hit at the ball. Photo by Wyatt Hardy
ALEX TOEWS swings. Photo by Wyatt Hardy
ONE MORE GAME. Nate McReynolds hugs Alex Toews before the first pitch. Photo by Wyatt Hardy
Eagles Baseball Rallies To A Back-To-Back District Title
Sullivan (18-9) rallied to a 3-2 walk-off win over the Dutchmen (14-13) in the Class 4 District 4 Championship on Wednesday, May 15 in St. Clair. The Eagles seized their second consecutive title in comeback fashion, showing that despite the odds stacked against them, they would ultimately find a way to win.
Sullivan trailed 2-1 in the middle of the 7th inning, and Owensville was on track to clinch their first district title since 2022 when they beat the same Eagles team.
Head coach Ian Whitson huddled with Sullivan before they took the bat for possibly the final time this season. He told them that despite the setbacks from earlier, “We will win this game,” and “this was their inning.” Whitson said “we will pull it out” if we “go up to the plate with confidence and take a great at-bat.”
Cambrian Koch took Whitson’s message to heart and ignited the Eagles’ rally with a pop-fly single. He stole second base immediately afterward, seized third on Valley’s risky bunt and tied the game on an error. Gawer then drove Sullivan past the finish line and Valley home to seal the walk-off victory. The Eagles rushed onto the field and hugged Gawer for sending them to the state tournament.
At-bat, Gawer powered 2 RBIs, including the game-winner, and had three hits. He also pitched the first five innings and hurled ten strikeouts. Gawer also gave up five walks, three hits and an earned run on the mound.
During the top of the 6th, Gavin Schmidt came out of the bullpen and shut the door on the Dutchmen with two strikeouts. He surrendered three hits and an earned run.
Valley, Koch and Landen Doza each scored a run and made a hit.
Chase Blue, Dayton Skaggs and Alex Toews all took a walk.
Nolan Ulrich executed a hit.
The Eagles tallied seven hits, three walks and two RBIs with 27 batting appearances.
After beating Owensville, Sullivan punched their ticket to the Class 4 Sectional round against MICDS (16-6). They played the game at home on Tuesday, May 21, at 5 p.m. Stats were unavailable at press time.
When Whitson was asked about his team’s new objectives after winning districts, he stated, “We hope to make a deep run into the state playoffs, but we also just need to take it one game at a time. MICDS is a great team. We will have to play a clean game to beat them. So, the next couple of days, we just need to keep focusing on executing what we can and only worrying about the things we can control. We’re looking forward to the opportunity to play on this stage.”
If Sullivan advances to the quarterfinals, they will play again on Thursday, May 23. At press time, times and locations were still to be determined.
The semifinals will be held on Tuesday, May 29, at 10 a.m. at Ozark Mountain Sports Complex. The third-place game will be held at the same location the following day, at 10 a.m., while the Class 4 State Championship is scheduled for 1 p.m.