IHSA baseball playoffs 2022: Predicting the Class 1A and 2A Illinois state finals
The Illinois High School Association Class 1A and 2A baseball state finals are scheduled for June 3-4 at Dozer Park in Peoria.
Here is information about each of the matchups, including top players and predictions on which teams will make it to the championship games and who will ultimately leave Peoria with a state title.
IHSA baseball: What to know about the Class 1A and 2A state finals
CLASS 1A
Mount Sterling Brown County vs. Ottawa Marquette
First pitch — 10 a.m. Friday
Records — Brown County (27-4); Marquette (31-3)
State finals appearances — Brown County none; Marquette 2019 (1st, 1A), 2018 (4th, 1A), 1999 (4th A).
Top Brown County players — Sr. RHP-OF Gabe Blakeley (.430, 12 2Bs, 44 RBIs; 9-2 W-L, 2.90 ERA, 82 Ks, 16 BBs, 58 IPs), Sr. LHP-1B Mason Henry (.444, 12 2Bs, 40 RBIs; 7-0 W-L, 1.00 ERA, 64 Ks, 13 BBs, 42 IPs), Jr. OF-RHP Sam Carr (.379, 12 2Bs, 36 RBIs).
Top Marquette players — Fr. 1B-3B-RHP Sam Mitre (.469, 11 2Bs, 38 RBIs), Jr. SS-RHP Logan Nelson (.382, 48 Rs, 32 RBIs; 5-0 W-L, 2.22 ERA, 59 Ks, 15 BBs, 41 IPs), Sr. OF-INF-RHP Brady Ewers (.407, 11 2Bs, 29 RBIs), Jr. RHP Taylor Waldron (10-2 W-L, 0.98 ERA, 91 Ks, 14 BBs, 50 IPs), Jr. RHP Aidan Thompson (7-1 W-L, 1.75 ERA, 86 Ks, 18 BBs, 56 IPs).
Semifinal prediction — Marquette 10, Brown County 6
Louisville North Clay vs. LeRoy
First pitch — 12 p.m. Friday
Records — North Clay/Clay City (31-6); LeRoy (24-9)
State finals appearances — North Clay none; LeRoy none.
Top North Clay players — Sr. 2B-3B Collyn Ballard (.360, 37 RBIs, 10 2Bs), Sr. 1B-3B Holden Clifton (.380, 40 RBIs, 11 2Bs, 4 HRs), Sr. OF Bryton Griffy (.419, 41 RBIs, 9 2Bs), Sr. C Brady Ingram (.327, 45 RBIs), Sr. RHP-1B Carson Burkett (.337, 34 RBIs; 7-3 W-L, 2.91 ERA, 44 Ks, 7 BBs, 53 IPs),
Top LeRoy players — Sr. OF-RHP Blake Roundtree (.444, 30 RBIs, 10 2Bs, 3 HRs; 6-2 W-L, 2.83 ERA, 72 Ks, 42 IPs), Sr. LHP-OF Porter Conn (.374, 29 RBIs; 3-0 W-L, .074 ERA, 80 Ks, 38 IPs), Sr. RHP-3B Calvin Crawford (5-2 W-L, 3.32 ERA, 39 Ks, 28 IPs), Sr. SS Tanner Holoch (.320, 34 RBIs, 3 HRs).
Semifinal prediction — North Clay 6, LeRoy 4
Championship prediction — Marquette 8, North Clay 7
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CLASS 2A
Richmond-Burton vs. Maroa-Forsyth
First pitch — 3 p.m. Friday
Records — Richmond-Burton (31-5); Maroa-Forsyth (32-1)
State finals appearances — R-B 2006 (A); M-F 1995 (A), 1990 (A), 1985 (A); 1982 (A).
Top Richmond-Burton players — Sr. C-OF Hayden Christiansen (.553, 50 RBIs, 16 2Bs, 11 HRs), Sr. OF Jason Miller (.378, 39 RBIs), Sr. LHP-INF Joseph Mrowiec (7-1 W-L, 2.29 ERA, 81 Ks, 55 IPs; .309, 37 RBIs, 4 HRs), Sr. RHP-INF Kaden Neuman (6-2 W-L, 2.33 ERA, 58 Ks, 42 IPs; .434, 32 RBIs), Sr. RHP-INF Connor Wallace (8-1 W-L, 2.85 ERA, 50 Ks, 54 IPs).
Top Maroa-Forsyth players — Sr. RHP-1B Jaxson Grubbs (11-1 W-L, 2.23 ERA, 77 Ks, 69 IPs; .400, 50 RBIs, 12 2Bs, 8 HRs), Sr. SS Ethan Willoughby (.432, 46 RBIs, 12 2Bs), Jr. LHP-OF-1B Evan Foster (7-0 W-L, 1.71 ERA, 72 Ks, 45 IPs), So. RHP-INF-OF Kaiden Mauer (3-0 W-L, 0.33 ERA, 30 Ks, 21 IPs; .430, 48 Rs).
Semifinal prediction — Maroa-Forsyth 5, Richmond-Burton 4
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Joliet Catholic vs. Columbia
First pitch — 5 p.m. Friday
Records — Joliet Catholic (21-11), Columbia (26-7-1)
State finals appearances — JCA 2013 (1st, 3A), 2010 (4th, 3A), 2009 (1st, 3A), 2008 (3rd, 3A), 2004 (2nd, AA), 2004 (2nd, AA), 2000 (2nd, AA), 1994 (1st, AA), 1990 (2nd, AA), 1988 (AA), 1981 (AA), 1980 (AA), 1977; Columbia 2007 (1st, A), 2006 (4th, A), 1987 (1st, A).
Top Joliet Catholic players — Sr. OF Luka Radicevich (.321, 35 RBIs, 10 2Bs), Sr. OF Jackson Cullen (.352, 22 RBIs, 9 2Bs), Jr. OF Trey Swiderski (.307, 29 RBIs, 6 HRs), LHP Jake Gimbel (6-2 W-L, 2.89 ERA, 47 Ks, 46 IPs), Jr. LHP TJ Schlageter (8-2, W-L, 2.52 ERA, 63 Ks, 50 IPs), Sr. RHP Jake Spotofora (2-0 W-L, 1.06 ERA, 37 Ks, 33 IPs).
Top Columbia players — Jr. RHP-SS Dom Voegele (8-2 W-L, 1.78 ERA, 91 Ks, 59 IPs; .387, 32 RBIs, 13 2Bs), Sr. RHP-INF Logan Mueller (6-0 W-L, 2.88 ERA, 50 Ks, 51 IPs; .365, 29 RBIs, 5 HRs), Jr. 2B-OF Alex Schreckenberg (.371, 24 RBIs), So. RHP Lucas Riebeling (6-0 W-L, 0.70 ERA, 37 Ks, 30 IPs).
Semifinal prediction — Joliet Catholic 8, Columbia 1
Championship prediction — Joliet Catholic 3, Maroa-Forsyth 0
Wes Huett is Journal Star sports editor. Email him at whuett@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @WesHuett.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA baseball playoffs 2022: Predicting the Illinois state champions
