WASHINGTON — East Peoria’s wait is finally over.
The Raiders hoisted a sectional plaque for the first time since 1974 following a 5-3 win over Dunlap in the Class 3A Washington Sectional championship game on Saturday, June 6. East Peoria (26-13) now faces Geneva (32-7) at 6 p.m. Monday, June 8 in the Geneseo Supersectional.
“We just battle every day,” East Peoria coach Matt Plummer said, “and don’t expect anything. … Our guys never give up because they know no one in this world gives you anything. You have to take it.”
Auggie Lohnes came up to the plate with the game tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning. He took the first pitch he saw to left field. The base hit scored Breyon Maroney, whose two-out single had kept the inning alive.
That was Lohnes’ only hit of the day, but he credits making some adjustments from his previous plate appearance.
“I took a pitch I probably should have hit in the at-bat prior and had a poor at-bat,” Lohnes said, “but I knew how big of a spot we were in … I just had to put bat on ball there. That’s all I was trying to do.”
East Peoria, which had split the Mid-Illini Conference regular-season series with Dunlap, added on a pair of insurance runs off a pair of two-out hits in the sixth. Breckin Parker scored on an RBI single from Roman Moody (2-for-3), who then crossed home plate for a 5-2 lead on Jackson Ahrens’ triple.
East Peoria had not scored in the game until the fourth inning, when Dalton Oakman’s two-run double made it a 2-2 game.
Eli Michanicou had put Dunlap (30-8) ahead 2-0 when he planted a 1-2 pitch over the left field fence for a two-run home run in the top of the third inning. The Bradley commit finished 2-for-4 and added a double.
But that homer didn’t rattle EP ace RJ Duncheon one bit.
“Game’s not over until it’s over,” the senior said. “… I knew my brothers would have my back and it means the most. Runs are going to be given up. It doesn’t matter how far the ball goes, how short the ball goes, runs are going to score and you just got to play ball to win.”
The Illinois State signee scattered seven hits, struck out three and walked four on 118 pitches. After Duncheon had reached the pitch count limit, Eli Martin entered the game with the bases loaded and two outs. He proceeded to give up an RBI single before recording the final out to set off a celebration on the infield of Brian Wisher Field.
Duncheon went 3-for-3 as East Peoria outhit Dunlap, 11-8. Ryder Rennette and Pierce Placher each had two hits for the Eagles.
Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: East Peoria wins first IHSA baseball sectional in 52 years
Reporting by Adam Duvall, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
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By Adam Duvall, Peoria Journal Star | USA TODAY Network
