Gibault baseball team perseveres through regular season, now 2 wins from state crown

The Gibault baseball team’s run to the IHSA Class 1A state tournament nearly got derailed essentially before it started.

In the opening round of the Valmeyer Regional, the Hawks — who entered the postseason at 17-14 — were tied with Dupo at 1-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth. But Gibault plated two runs, shut the door in the seventh and now, a couple weeks later, are two wins from a state championship.

The Hawks (22-14) open play at state against Goreville at 10 a.m. Friday, June 2, at Dozer Park in Peoria.

Gibault coach Andy Skaer — who guided the team to the state title in 2013 and a second place finish in 2019 — is proud of his team’s perseverance through some turbulent times in the regular season.

Skaer also noted a strong schedule — which included Class 4A programs such as Belleville East and Belleville West, along with Class 2A powers Columbia, Father McGivney and Nashville, among others — helped prep the Hawks for this moment.

“It’s satisfying to get to state on a lot of different levels,” he said. “It’s been a few years for us as a baseball program to be in this situation and go deep in the postseason. It’s also satisfying because this state team, we had 14 losses. We had a lot of struggles in the regular season — some of which was our own doing because we try to play a very competitive schedule. In the part of state we’re in, we have a lot of competition.

“It’s all part of the prep to get us deep in the 1A playoffs. And having had some of those struggles we had — especially in early April we had some growing pains — it’s all been in preparation for this weekend.”

If the Hawks win Friday, they’ll play for the state title at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, June 3. If Gibault loses, it plays in the third place game at 9 a.m. Saturday.

However, first things first: Skaer’s club faces a Goreville program that’s making its sixth state appearance.

The Blackcats are 25-13 and also have been to seven-consecutive sectional championship games.

“Goreville is a traditional strong-strong southern Illinois program. I know they’ve been to sectional finals seven years in a row — that’s not by accident,” Skaer said. “Pitching-wise they’ve got all their guys ready and available. So we’ll see the best they’ve got. On the other side, they have some guys who can swing it pretty well. I know they’re well-coached. They’re going to come out ready to play.”

Gibault senior pitcher Kameron Hanvey — 9-3 on the season with a 2.85 earned run average — is ready for this weekend and will take the mound Friday.

“Obviously, we’re pretty confident,” said Hanvey, also batting .398 on the season with 19 RBI. “We made it this far, so there’s no reason not to be confident. They’re a good team, too, if they made it this far. I think if we make our plays and get some timely hits, we’ll have a good chance to win.”

People might remember Hanvey from Gibault’s run to the Class 1A boys basketball championship this winter, as his buzzer-beating 3-pointer in the super-sectional helped send the Hawks to state. Hanvey — who has two wins this postseason — added how the boys basketball playoff experience has helped him in baseball.

”It helps me stay calm and not let my heart get racing and stay loose. That helps me not get tight in big situations,” he said.

Teammate Daniel Darin, a senior center fielder, also is confident heading into the weekend — but not overconfident.

“We know that they’re solid,” he said. “We just know that if we play our game, field the ball, the lineup at the top and bottom hits the ball ... I think we’ll be pretty good.”

After Hanvey on Friday, Skaer said junior Brady Biffar — 4-4 with a 3.28 earned run average and three wins this postseason — is penciled to start Saturday’s contest. And the longtime Hawks coach is confident in both hurlers and the entire team.

“We have as a good chance to win the game Friday as Kameron gives us. It’s the same situation Saturday with Brady on the mound,” Skaer said. “They’re the ones who have gotten us this far and given us a chance to win this weekend. We just have to find the right time to be aggressive, find the right spot in lineup to get us going and see where it takes us.”

Super-sectional recap

The Hawks defeated Jacksonville Routt 7-3 in the Springfield Lincoln-Land Community College Super-Sectional on Monday, May 31, to advance to state.

A seven-run fifth inning wiped out a 1-0 Jacksonville Routt lead and helped guide the Hawks to victory. Ty Frierdich’s three-run home keyed the game-shifting uprising.

Meanwhile, Biffar fired a complete-game, five-hitter and allowed no earned runs while fanning five.

“It did feel pretty good,” Darin said of the victory. “We lost in regionals last year and hadn’t made it this far in a while. It’s been really big that both of our starters (Hanvey and Biffar) have thrown complete games every game throughout the postseason. And we’ve been making all of our plays and getting timely hits, which has been really helping us.”

Added Hanvey, “It was definitely a cool feeling. Nothing really compares to it.”

Meet the Gibault Hawks

Record: 22-14.

How they got to Peoria: The Hawks defeated Jacksonville Routt 7-3 in the Springfield Lincoln-Land Community College Super-Sectional.

Previous state appearances: This is Gibault’s 4th state appearance. The Hawks lost in the Class A quarterfinals in 1997; won the Class 1A title in 2013; and placed 2nd in Class 1A in 2019.

Players to watch: Pitcher/shortstop Kameron Hanvey (senior; 9-3; 2.85 ERA; .398 batting average; 19 RBI); Catcher/outfielder/infielder Hudson Blank (junior; .396 batting average; 2 home runs; 35 RBI); 3rd baseman Ty Frierdich (junior; .323 batting average; 3 home runs; 33 RBI); and center fielder Daniel Darin (senior; .382 batting average; 5 home runs; 30 RBI).

Enrollment: 204.

Coach: Andy Skaer; 18th season; 294-302 overall record.

Meet the Goreville Blackcats

Record: 25-13.

How they got to Peoria: The Blackcats defeated Effingham St. Anthony 6-5 in the Carbondale (SIU) Super-Sectional.

Previous state appearances: This is Goreville’s 6th state appearance. The Blackcats finished second in Class 1A in 2010; placed 3rd in Class 1A in 2011; won the Class 1A state championship in 2016; placed 3rd in Class 1A in 2017; and placed 3rd in Class 1A in 2018.

Players to watch: Catcher/pitcher Ian Sopczak (senior; .312 batting average; 5 home runs; 40 RBI; 4-2; 2.51 ERA; 64 strikeouts in 39 innings pitched); pitcher Dawson Cloud (senior; 5-1; 1.70 ERA); and pitcher Drake Moss (junior; 5-1; 2.49 ERA).

Enrollment: 171.

Coach: Shawn Tripp; 20th season; 411-209 overall record.