PEORIA, IL – The nightcap of the 2A state semifinal contained little scoring, yet an entertaining matchup as a pair of aces took the ball for their respective teams. The Red Devils of Hall (29-3) sent senior right-hander Ty Rybarczyk (Parkland commit) to the hill; Sophomore Logan Tabeling got the nod for the Tuscola Warriors (37-4). Both starters pitched deep into the night and into extra innings. After a three-hour delayed start time, the extra-inning affair didn’t disappoint, as Hall pulled away in the eighth with a 2-1 victory in front of a raucous crowd of 1,896 at Dozer Field.

The two teams remained knotted into extras until Hall’s half of the eighth. With two outs, freshman Trez Rybarczyk grounded to second to a diving Warriors Tyler Meinhold. Meinhold flipped to second for a force out, but the runner slid in safely, allowing Brant Vanaman (Kent State commit) to score from second. Vanaman’s run represented the go-ahead run and would eventually be the game-winner, sending the Red Devils to the 2A state title game.

Tuscola snagged the first run in the third after catcher Andrew Erickson (Heartland commit) singled to center plating Dalton Hoel (2-for-3; R). Despite just one run, the Warriors seemed to be in command with Tabeling allowing just one hit up until the sixth. The Red Devils, however, capitalized off Warrior miscues, setting the table for a game-tying Jimmy DeAngelo (1-for-3; RBI) single in the sixth.

Rybarczyk allowed a single and a hit-by-pitch in the home half of eighth, but a failed bunt attempt and a double play got the Red Devils out of the inning and into a meeting with Teutopolis.

Runs, hits and baserunners were few and far inbetween for the majority of the contest with both starter’s stellar performances.

Tabeling tossed 7.2 IP, striking out 14 Red Devils (an IHSA State Finals record). He allowed just one earned and walked two. Despite Warrior miscues and adversity, Tabeling never faltered, battling through his 118-pitch performance.

Senior Rybarczyk tossed a complete game (eight innings) and picked up the win in his last start in the Red and White. He allowed just one earned on six hits, striking out six.

The Warriors will meet Herscher in a rescheduled start time of 3 p.m. in the third-place match. The Red Devils advance to play Teutopolis for the right to be crowned 2A state champs. Game time is scheduled for 11 a.m.

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