HEATER ON THE MOUND. Pitcher Drake Gawer led the Eagles to a 5-0 district semifinal win over St. Clair. His no-hitter propelled Sullivan to the title matchup, which they three-peated. Gawer is pictured with his Most Valuable Player Belt for his clutch performance. Photo by Extra Innings Photography
WARM WELCOME HOME. Chase Blue (3) homered for Sullivan’s first score against the Bulldogs. He received a warm welcome home from his teammates and is pictured celebrating with Nate McReynolds (1). The junior was lights out in the district semifinal, leading the Eagles with two runs and two walks. Photo by Extra Innings Photography
MITCHELL GARNER tags a runner out at first base. Photo by Extra Innings Photography
NATE McREYNOLDS is pictured making a bunt. Photo by Wyatt Hardy
SURF THE TURF. Chase Blue slides into home plate. Photo by Extra Innings Photography
Drake Gawer Bounces Rival Bulldogs In District No-Hitter
When rivals collided, the Eagles (15-9) rose to the top, with Drake Gawer coming in the clutch again. He silenced St. Clair (12-12) from the mound on their home field with zero hits. D. Gawer threw a heater, mowing down seventeen batters while allowing just a walk. Head Coach Ian Whitson awarded the senior the Most Valuable Player Belt after the game.
His second no-hitter of the season led Sullivan to bounce the Bulldogs in the Class 4 District 4 Semifinal. The Eagles blanked St. Clair with five runs on May 19, punching their ticket to the championship.
Chase Blue first put his team on the board by homering in the fourth inning. He belted a moon shot across the fence, which ignited Sullivan to fire on all cylinders.
Nate McReynolds followed by smoking a grounder to center field, and Kaden Smith blazed his way to home plate.
The Eagles soared ahead to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth. Seth Valley capitalized on a wild pitch to cash in their third score. Blue later stole the dish for the fourth to lead his team with two runs.
Alex Toews hammered the final nail in the coffin on a line drive single. He brought courtesy runner Josiah Tanner in for Sullivan’s final score.
D. Gawer shut the door on Sullivan’s rival in the top of the seventh. The senior fired a hat trick of strikeouts to clinch his team’s spot in the championship.
Blue topped the Eagles with two walks, while Landen Doza, Mitchell Garner and Lucas Parsons had one.
Brothers Drake and Brody Gawer both made a hit.