Eagles Soar Over To Busch Stadium

The Eagles (16-8) got their opportunity to play under the Busch Stadium lights on Sunday, May 5. 

After seven complete innings, the varsity team fell 7-0 to Lutheran South (14-14) at the home of the St. Louis Cardinals. The JV and C team players got their chance to play afterward for an inning and managed to grab three scores.

Sullivan’s fans bought 672 tickets for the once-in-a-lifetime game that raised over $4,000 for the baseball program. Head coach Ian Whitson was ecstatic to see parents and friends show up in waves and see his team play on the big stage. He said, “It’s definitely a memory that I know that I will hold pretty close. As a guy who loves the game and someone who grew up loving the Birds on the Bat, it was an amazing experience just to be able to be on the field. As a coach, I loved every second of getting to see my players taking in those moments under the big lights. To watch their eyes wander around the stadium as they took the field, it was just special.”

Once the Eagles stepped onto the field for the first time, they raced out to the center field wall and leaped up to touch the top of it like the major leaguers do. They were given the pro treatment with a roaring introduction of their lineup and cameras rolling around them, showing them on the big screen. Even while being star-struck, Sullivan still gave it their all in the stadium fight. 

Varsity

Drake Gawer started as Sullivan’s pitcher in the first five innings. He executed five strikeouts while giving up seven hits, two earned runs and a walk. 

Isaiah Skaggs came in from the bullpen in the bottom of the 6th and made a strikeout. He surrendered an earned run, a hit and a walk.

Grant Halmick finished the game on the mound for the final varsity inning.

The varsity Eagles chalked up four hits and two walks with 24 at-bat appearances.

Landen Doza, Chase Blue, Isaiah Skaggs and Cambrian Koch executed a hit.

Nate McReynolds and Cambrian Koch each took a walk.

Extra Innings

In the top of the 8th, Kaden Smith lit a fire for Sullivan by launching the ball deep into center field for a double. Josiah Tanner came in as a pinch runner for Smith, who returned to the dugout all excited and cheered on by his teammates. Landen Doza then drew a walk, and Braxton Breen switched him out at first. After that, Dylan Parker hammered a single to load the bases. Then, with two outs on the board, McReynolds came to the rescue by smoking a triple that drove the three Eagles home.

Smith and Mahlon Foster were Sullivan’s pitchers on Lutheran South’s final offensive drive.