3A State Championship: Springfield Comes From Behind, Takes Down Prairie Ridge
June 18, 2021
On Thursday, June 17th, the Springfield Senators took home the 2021 IHSA 3A State title after rallying late for a 8-7 victory over the Prairie Ridge Wolves. The championship game took place after a day of semifinals play at Wintrust Field in Schaumburg.
Prairie Ridge took an early 6-0 lead, scoring three runs in both the first and second innings. After another run came in the third, the scoring ended there for the Wolves. The Senators’ bats heated up later in the game, as their runs came in the third, fourth and fifth innings.
Entering the top of the fifth while down 7-4, Springfield’s Ben Hartl (Heartland CC) hit a triple down the right field line with bases loaded to tie the game. Hartl was able to score on Joseph Crum’s ground out to first.
3A State Finals
— PBR Illinois (@PBRIllinois) June 18, 2021
‘21 Ben Hartl (@HCC_Hawks commit) continues to do it all for Springfield.
His bases clearing triple ⬇️ just tied the game at 7. @SHSSports still hitting with one out in the T6. pic.twitter.com/v6fhLC9VRz
With four different pitchers combining for the first two innings, Springfield couldn’t find their groove on defense. It wasn’t until RHP Richie Snider (Illinois-Springfield commit) entered the game in the third that the Prairie Ridge lineup started to struggle. Snider was lights out on the mound, changing the complexion of the game, striking out nine and only allowing one hit in five innings of work. Snider, a 6-foot-6, 195-pound, senior, challenged hitters throughout with alively fastball that sat 88-90 mph, early, settling in at 87-88 mph.
3A State Finals@ridge_baseball leads @SHSSports 7-4 heading to the T6.
— PBR Illinois (@PBRIllinois) June 18, 2021
Springfield has turned to RHP Richie Snider (@Baseball_UIS commit) out of the bullpen and he’s pumping FB’s at 88-90. Just struck out the side in the B5. pic.twitter.com/OvpOPUNaK2
Tyler Vasey’s base hit in the bottom of the fifth for Prairie Ridge nearly tied the game, but the Senators were able to preserve their lead by throwing out the tying run at home. The Wolves combined for seven hits, with Vasey and 1B Jack Tobin having two each.
3A State Finals@ridge_baseball gets a rally going in the B5 but the tying run gets thrown out at the plate on a Tyler Vasey base hit and then Snider gets a K to end the threat ⬇️.@SHSSports 8, Prairie Ridge 7 | T6 pic.twitter.com/oMHwtT2M99
— PBR Illinois (@PBRIllinois) June 18, 2021
The Springfield offense was led by Hartl, along with fellow seniors Adam Passmore and Luke Flesner. They all had two hits, making up over half of the Senators’ 10 hits in the game. Hartl, was 2-for-4 with a triple, three RBIs and two runs scored.
Prairie Ridge starter, sophomore Trace Vrbancic went 3.2 innings, then Nathan Koteras and Jake Larson entered the game from the bullpen. Larson pitched the final 2.2 innings for the Wolves with one hit and two strikeouts.
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