UPDATE: Voegele’s dominating performance sends Columbia into state championship game

Garen Vartanian
·2 min read
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Columbia’s baseball team is one win away from the third state championship in school history.

On Friday afternoon, the Eagles dismantled Chicago DePaul College Prep High School 9-0 in the semifinals of the IHSA Class 2A state tournament at Dozer Park in Peoria.

Columbia now plays for the state championship at 5:30 p.m. Saturday against Joliet Catholic Academy (25-8-1). The Eagles — who finished third at state in 2022 — improved to 34-4.

“I think we feel good,” Eagles coach Neal O’Donnell said of his team’s mindset heading into the title game. “Being up here last year, we’ve kind of had the feeling of unfinished business. Fortunately, we get an opportunity to try to finish it. Any season when you have the opportunity to win the last game, that’s a great season. I’m super proud of our guys and we’ll be ready to go tomorrow.”

The Rams finished at 23-15 and will play in the third place game against Quincy Notre Dame at 3 p.m. Saturday.

University of Kansas commit Dom Voegele was spectacular on the mound, firing a complete game while fanning nine. Voegele improved to 10-0 this spring while lowering his 1.17 earned run average entering action today.

“They were a good hitting team and he kept them off balance,” O’Donnell said. “And we had some timely defensive plays that were big for us that kind of stopped the momentum for them. But Dom was good like he always is.”

The Eagles got off to a quick 1-0 start in the bottom of the first and led 3-0 heading into the bottom of fifth when they erupted for six runs to effectively secure victory.

“We played, overall, a really solid contest. We talk about getting off to a good start, so it was a good start to the game for us,” O’Donnell said. “It ended up being 9-0, but when it’s 3-0 in fifth and we’re facing the capable bats DePaul has, we certainly didn’t feel comfortable. We were able to extend the lead, but you never feel comfortable until the final out.”

Columbia previously won state titles in 1987 and 2007.

Members of Columbia’s baseball team root on their teammates during the IHSA Class 2A state semifinals at Dozer Park in Peoria. The Eagles defeated Chicago DePaul College Prep High School 9-0 to advance to the state championship game.
Members of Columbia’s baseball team root on their teammates during the IHSA Class 2A state semifinals at Dozer Park in Peoria. The Eagles defeated Chicago DePaul College Prep High School 9-0 to advance to the state championship game.
The Columbia baseball team poses after capturing the IHSA Class 2A Carbondale (SIU) Super-Sectional on Monday, May 29. The Eagles now will play for the state championship at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, June 3.
The Columbia baseball team poses after capturing the IHSA Class 2A Carbondale (SIU) Super-Sectional on Monday, May 29. The Eagles now will play for the state championship at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, June 3.