The Summit Hill Junior High baseball team capped off its 2024 season with a fourth-place finish at the Illinois Elementary School Association 3A State Tournament this weekend. It was the program’s 10th state tournament appearance since 2008.
The Spartans defeated Mokena Junior High 6-3 in their IESA 3A Regional Semifinal before defeating Martino Junior High 7-6 in walk-off fashion in an IESA 3A Regional Championship contest that took ten innings and two days to complete. Summit Hill then defeated Chicago Heights Middle School 10-2 in their IESA 3A Sectional Championship to advance to the state tournament, which took place on October 4 and 5 at the Eastside Centre in East Peoria.
In their Elite Eight contest on Friday, the Spartans found themselves down late to Normal Chiddix Junior High, but a three-run bottom of the seventh inning highlighted by Matt Roth’s walk-off sacrifice fly to score Tyler Molitor advanced the Spartans to Saturday’s Final Four with a 4-3 win. The Spartans struggled defensively in the Final Four round, losing 11-1 to Edwardsville Liberty Middle School then dropping a 12-5 decision to Homer Junior High in the third place game. Summit Hill finished the 2024 season with a 19-7 overall record.
Team Photo
Front row (left to right): Christian Bargas, Danny Dwyer, Matt Roth, Tommy Palmer, Jake Nielson, Grayson LaRocque, Logan Brigando, Kole Forlenzo, and Mason Petrey.
Back row (left to right): Coach Michael Deutchser, Aiden Kauth, Mateo Ortiz, Charlie Nielson, Justin Les, Caleb Adams, Cooper Yott, Mikey Valdivia, Charlie Wagner, Evan Stewart, Jake Griffin, Tyler Molitor, and Coach Fred Pufahl.