'EARN ANOTHER DAY.' After ten years, Sullivan's baseball team will return to the Class 4 Final Four. The Eagles three-peated the district championship, then rallied to beat Lutheran South 3-2 in sectionals and Perryville 11-5 in the quarterfinals. Sullivan kicks off the Final Four against Logan-Rogersville on Jun. 4. The following day, the Eagles will play in either the third-place match at 4 p.m. or the state championship at 7 p.m. The Class 4 Final Four is being held at the Ozark Mountain Sports Complex. Photo by Extra Innings Photography
SHOT HEARD ‘ROUND THE WORLD. Raiden Redd is pictured rushing home towards his teammates after a grand slam. His moon shot across the fence tied the score 5-5 for Sullivan in the quarterfinal. It ignited the Eagles to score six more runs, bouncing Perryville. Photo by Extra Innings Photography
COMING IN THE CLUTCH. Seth Valley slides across home against Perryville. Photo by Extra Innings Photography
DYNASTY IN THE MAKING. Mahlon Foster joins his father, Glen, and brother, Matt, as Eagles who had gone to the Final Four. Mahlon shut the door on Perryville, pitching Sullivan to the semifinal in Ozark. Photo by Extra Innings Photography
RAIDEN REDD hit a grand slam that saved the Eagles from elimination. Photo by Extra Innings Photography
CHASE BLUE pictured at the plate. Photo by Extra Innings Photography
Sullivan Breaks Decade-Long Drought To Final Four
A story years in the making for Sullivan will wrap up on the high note it deserves.
The Eagles (18-9) beat the brakes off Perryville (13-10) 11-5 in the Class 4 Quarterfinal. Their comeback victory on Thursday, May 29, broke a ten-year drought to the Final Four.
But when heading into the bottom of the third, Sullivan’s dream of going to Ozark was hanging on the ropes. The Pirates seized a 5-0 lead after capitalizing on wild pitches and errors.
Despite their deficit, the Eagles refused to let their chapter come to a close. Landen Doza turned the page with an RBI that gave Seth Valley a chance to put Sullivan on the board.
The Eagles later loaded up the bases when Drake Gawer and Nate McReynolds singled, and Mitchell Garner walked. Raiden Redd then fired a moon shot past the fence, driving all three runners in for the grand slam.
Mahlon Foster kept up Sullivan’s momentum by making a double, and Valley bunted a single. Foster then stole home, and Valley capitalized on the same error, sliding across the dish for a 7-5 lead.
Chase Blue kicked off the bottom of the fifth with a two-bagger, followed by Gawer reaching first base on a line drive. Kaden Smith came in as a pinch runner for Gawer and then followed Blue home when Garner doubled.
In the sixth inning, Valley bunted into fielder’s choice, allowing courtesy runner Josiah Tanner to clutch third base. Alex Toews then ripped the ball to center field for Tanner and Doza to seal an 11-5 victory.
Head Coach Ian Whitson believes that Sullivan’s ability to claw back from deficits could play a crucial part in the Final Four. “I think we just never get too high or too low during a game,” he explained. “We’ve had several games, especially during the late regular season, where we were down early but were able to chip away and take the lead and then win the game. These guys know that regardless of who we play and the situation we find ourselves in during a game, we have the talent and ability to come out with a win.”
Whitson and his nine seniors are excited to finish their story together in Ozark. They are looking to cap off this journey, which has been four years in the making, with a bang. “These are the final games I’ll have coaching these [senior] boys, and first and foremost, I cannot tell you how proud I am of all of them,” he shared. “The growth, both athletically and on a personal level, has been nothing short of fantastic to watch and be a small part of. Their parents and this community should be so proud of them because they will all go far in this life.
“For me, I just hope the boys take in these moments and really live in the moment. Don’t take any of these experiences for granted because most high school kids don’t get to experience this type of run. I hope that just the experience gained by those who will return next year will build that hunger, determination and confidence to know that we can and will be back.”
Gawer led Sullivan with three singles at the plate against Perryville. The senior also racked up a run and a walk.
Redd topped the Eagles with four RBIs, hitting a grand slam.
Foster doubled, singled and also punched it home.
Garner was lights out with 2 RBIs, a run, a double and a walk.
Doza picked up an RBI, a run, a single and a walk.
McReynolds made it on the scoreboard and landed a base hit.
Smith and Tanner both also clutched a run for the Eagles.
Toews drove in two RBIs on a single.
Blue made a double and crossed the dish.
Valley tallied two runs and two singles.
Lucas Parsons was the first to pitch against the Pirates. He pounded four strikeouts while giving up four hits, three earned runs and two walks.
Foster came out of the bullpen in the top of the fourth. He shut the door on Perryville with three strikeouts, only allowing two walks and a hit.
Foster’s story to the Final Four had been 36 years in the making. His father, Glen, was Sullivan’s third baseman when they placed fourth at state in 1989. Then Mahlon’s brother, Matt, continued the tradition in 2015 when he pitched for the Eagles in their last quarterfinal win.
The Eagles will make their return to the Class 4 Semifinal after ten years on Wednesday, Jun. 4. They will battle Logan-Rogersville (30-7) at 4 p.m. for a championship spot.
The following day, Sullivan will wrap up their season in either the third-place matchup (4 p.m.) or the state championship (7 p.m.).