Trojans' state dreams dashed

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Dwight’s baseball team hoped that it could make some school history on Monday.

The Trojans had never advanced to the state semifinals in any sport, but they were just one win away from accomplishing that.

But Eastland had other ideas about Dwight’s hopes of earning a state trophy when the teams met in the Class 1A Benedictine University Supersectional.

The Cougars jumped out to a 5-0 lead after one inning and stretched their advantage to 9-0 an inning later as they rolled to an 11-1 win in five innings.

Dwight (15-20), which won its first sectional championship in the sport, only managed two hits and didn’t score until the final inning.

Eastland (25-5-1) advances to Friday’s state semifinals at Silver Cross Field where it meets up with Marissa at 1 p.m.

It was a disappointing ending for a Trojan squad that had put together a series of exciting victories during their playoff run.

Assistant coach Chuck Trainor filled in for head coach Dan Kaiser, who wasn’t on hand for the game for undisclosed reasons.

“Eastland came out and hit the ball,” Trainor said. “Our pitchers have been strong for us through the tournament but it was a game where the other team put the ball into play.

“Our record really didn’t show how much heart was in our team. I’ve seen these kids all through their playing days and they love this game. It has been just a wonderful ride.”

Trojan senior starter Kyle Cahill served up a towering home run to left field to Tony Dunlap on his first pitch of the game.

The Cougars had three runs on the board through their first four hitters and added two more runs before the initial frame ended.

It was more of the same in the second inning as Eastland scored four times on four hits to build up a commanding 9-0 lead.

Drew Carroll went 3-for-3 and scored three runs while Dunlap and Zach Truckenmiller each had two hits and two runs for Eastland.

Meanwhile, Cougar starter Ben Delp didn’t allow a hit during the first three innings and only gave up two hits while fanning three.

The Trojans didn’t collect their first hit until there was one out in the fourth when Cahill reached on an infield single.

Senior Noah Trainor did a good job in relief for Dwight, allowing two runs and three hits in 2 1/3 innings of work.

“They came out hitting and that was the key,” Noah Trainor said. “They were sitting on first-pitch fastballs against us.

“We came here thinking that whatever happens since we made it this far.”

With Eastland up 11-0 going into the fifth, Dwight did its best to try to extend the game for at least another inning.

Travis Roeder reached on a two-base throwing error to open the frame and he came home on a two-out single by Trainor.

But Delp got the next hitter to ground out and Eastland celebrated as it assured itself of its first trophy in the sport.

The other three Trojan players who were in the starting lineup for the game were Dan Grubbs, Joe Briner and Blake Becker.

“This was a tough way to end the year,” Briner said. “They hit the ball hard and they’re going to be a tough out at state.

“We didn’t have our coach here today but we wished we did. Nobody expected us to be here but we had a great run at the end.”