Tuesday, August 7, 2007 11:02 PM CDT
Better-rested Belleville back again
BY BRIAN NIELSEN Sports Editor
bnielsen@jg-tc.com
BELLEVILLE – In its second straight American Legion baseball state tournament appearance, the Belleville Post 58 Hilgards might be even be awake to see this one.
About last year. . .
“We played on a Sunday after midnight and (the state) started on a Tuesday,” assistant coach Glenn Boeker said. “We got there dead tired and we were out of pitching. How do you think we did? We think we convinced the people in our division not to do that again.”
This time the Fifth Division title was determined on Friday.
So after going two and out in last year’s state tourney, Belleville, 34-6, is looking to make amends at Mattoon where it is to play St. Charles, 22-16, in the state opener set for noon today at Grimes Field.
“We’ll find out if we belong,” Boeker said. “You’re not going to ruin our guys’ year if we don’t win it but we’re just prepared better than last year.”
Seven players return from last year’s Fifth Division champion which won its repeat title with a 5-4 decision over New Baden, which spoiling an early return to Coles County for Richie Derbak and Tyler Kehrer before their sophomore years at Eastern Illinois.
Belleville has a left-handed pitcher John Flanagan who was chosen by the Chicago White Sox in this year’s amateur baseball draft but chose to instead attend junior college in Texas.
But Boeker said Flanagan, who 2-1 with two saves, a 4.63 ERA, 24 strikeouts and three walks in 11 ½ innings, will not likely pitch until Saturday.
Springfield College recruit Randy Hoelscher, 6-2 with a 2.36 ERA, 63 strikeouts and 12 walks in 53 1/3 innings, is to start on the mound Wednesday and Lewis & Clark’s Jonathan Scheppe, 7-0 with a 1.80 ERA, 35 strikeouts and nine walks in 40 innings, to throw on Thursday.
Hitting leaders include John A. Logan recruit Tony Matecki, who is batting .452 with four homers, four triples and six doubles; John Mueth, batting .405 with seven doubles; and Marcus Hustedde, hitting .400 with eight doubles, three triples and two homers.
With a near even mix of players from Belleville West and Belleville Althoff high schools, Post 58 has players to play college ball McKendree, Rend Lake and Southwestern Illinois as well as those mentioned earlier.
This Belleville team is looking to end its drought of state titles.
“Last time we won it was 1975,” Boecker said. “We’ve got a colorful history. e won it in the 30s and 40s but that’s a different era.”
Contact Brian Nielsen at bnielsen@jg-tc.com or 238-6856.
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