- Details
- Written by: Breese Journal Sports Report
Over to one — Central sophomore infielder Lincoln Radake sends a throw to first base in the second inning of the Cougar’s 11-0 win over visiting Red Bud on Monday. Radake was 2-for-2 with four runs batted in. PHOTO BY JEREMY CHAWGO The Mater Dei baseball team picked up one of their biggest wins of the season on Saturday when they walked off the rival Cougars with five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.
They also beat New Athens while dropping games to Mascoutah and North Clay. They are 14-17 on the season.
MD hosted Civic Memorial on Tuesday before hosting Christ Our Rock on Wednesday and DuQuoin on Thursday.
Before blowing a five-run lead to MD on Saturday, Central had won six games in a row, including wins over North Clay, Red Bud and Waltonville.
Central is now 24-8 overall and were scheduled to play at home with Gibault on Monday and home again with Litchfield on Wednesday. They end the regular season with a home game with O’Fallon on Friday.
Mater Dei 8, Central 7: The Mater Dei baseball team rebounded from a 7-0 deficit to score eight unanswered runs to beat Central on Saturday.
Central scored six runs in the first inning and one run in the second inning to take a 7-0 lead.
Mater Dei pitcher Ethan Wheelan kept the Cougars off the scoreboard the rest of the game.
Mater Dei scored two runs in the third inning, one run in the sixth inning and five runs in the seventh inning for the victory.
Kyler Von Bokel doubled to start the bottom of the seventh inning for Mater Dei. Andrew Sinnock singled and Luke Etheridge was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. With one out, Jack Reynolds singled to score Von Bokel.
Avery Strader reached on an error to score both Sinnock and Etheridge to get the Knights within 7-6. Adrian Rendon singled to score Reynolds and tie the game 7-7. Hayden Melone doubled to score Strader with the winning run.
Central took early command of the game with six runs in the top of the first inning. Bryce Wieter had a two-RBI double with one out to put the Cougars up 2-0. Max Albers had an RBI single to score Wieter. Lincoln Radake was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score Craig Schroeder and put Central up 4-0.
With two outs, Conlan Haar was walked with the bases loaded to score Kaden Henss. Albers scored on a passed ball to put Central up 6-0.
- Details
- Written by: Matt Wilson - Breese Journal Reporter
Matthew Walsh continues to make history with the Central wrestling program.
After a senior season where he became the first Central wrestler ever to qualify for the IHSA state finals, Walsh has now become the first ever Central wrestler to sign a college scholarship.
Walsh made his college decision official on Wednesday, April 29, when he signed to continue his wrestling career at McKendree University, an NCAA Division II school located in Lebanon.
Future Bearcat - Central senior Matthew Walsh, has signed to continue his wrestling career at McKendree University. PHOTO BY MATT WILSON
"I think McKendree is a good school and the coaching is really good," Walsh said. "Overall, it's just a good school for careers."
Central wrestling coach Brian Walsh, who is Matthew's father, said it was a big day for the Central program.
"This is about eight years of hard work and to see it finally come to fruition is incredible," Brian Walsh said. "Four years ago, I didn't think this day was going to happen, but dedication, mat time and being resilient has paid off. It will be fun to see him stay in purple and be right down the road."
Walsh wrestled at 150 pounds during his senior season. After a successful regular season, he opened the postseason by placing second in the regional at East Alton-Wood River. After receiving an opening-round bye, No. 2 seed Walsh beat Wood River's Matthew Woolverton by tech fall in the quarterfinals and beat Salem's Kade Orell by an 11-6 decision in the semifinals. Walsh lost to No. 1 seed Logan Riggs from Roxana by fall in the championship match.
Walsh placed second during the sectional at Vandalia to qualify for state. He beat Taylorville's Lincoln Coffey by a 7-0 decision in the opening round, beat Benton's Peyton Robinson by a 12-0 major decision in the quarterfinals, and beat Sparta's Braxton Glode by a 3-2 decision in the semifinals. Walsh lost to Vandalia's Dade Kleinik by a 7-3 decision in the championship match.
Walsh picked up his historic 100th career win during the sectional.
In his first ever state appearance, Walsh lost to Preston Richards from Dixon by a 8-0 decision in the opening round and lost to Austin Kinser from Olympia by a 2-0 decision in the consolation bracket.
Walsh finished his senior season with a 40-5 record.
"Going to state was bitter sweet," Walsh said. "The amount of support I have gotten throughout all of my years has been amazing. Just the grind that it took, it really meant a lot to get to state this year."
Walsh also qualified for the sectional his junior year after winning the regional at Roxana at 157 pounds.
Walsh was the only Central wrestler his freshman year. The Central program has grown since then and now is a recognized school sport. It was previously a club sport.
Walsh started wrestling his sixth grade year, but it was nothing serious until he came to Central.
"Wrestling at Central for four years has meant a lot," Walsh said. "Nothing is really guaranteed, but being a part of this program means more than what people would think."
Walsh said he is ready for the next step.
"High school was fun, but I'm really excited for a new career, a new facility, just a new everything," Walsh said.
Walsh said he is going to do a lot of private lessons over the summer to prepare for college wrestling. He also will be in the McKendree wrestling room along with getting trained by a couple of coaches.
"I will probably be pretty active this summer," Walsh said.
Matthew's older brother, Justin, is a middle linebacker for the McKendree football team.
Brian Walsh said he hopes Matthew Walsh's signing will be a motivator for other wrestlers in the area.
"These wrestlers can be like 'Hey, if he can do it, there is no reason I can't do it,'" Brian Walsh said. "It will give a lot of other kids another opportunity to try it."
McKendree placed third in the NCAA Super Regional Championships in Oklahoma this past winter. The Bearcats had two regional champions and five national qualifiers. They won the Great Lakes Valley championship after a 22-13 win over the University of Indianapolis in the semifinals and a 20-18 win over Maryville in the championship. They finished with a 16-5 overall record.
Walsh plans to major in education at McKendree.
