Whips-Purs win first sectional

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A leadoff batter is usually the table-setter, the one who starts the inning off on the right track and leaves the RBI chances to the heart of the order.

Having already gone 3-for-3 at the leadoff spot with two runs scored, Hampshire junior Bo Price came to bat in the bottom of the sixth inning Saturday in the Byron Class 2A Sectional championship game against Mendota in a much different situation.

With two outs, the game tied at 7 and the go-ahead run at third, Price was asked to be the one who drives in the runs.

After fouling off three pitches, Price choked up on the bat and sent the 2-2 pitch from Mendota reliever Erik Weber into the hole on the left side of the infield for what proved to be the game-winning hit, propelling the Whip-Purs to an 8-7 win and the program's first-ever sectional championship.

"I just knew that I couldn't let anything by me," Price said. "It was an important run and we needed to get that in."

The Whips (18-13) entered the bottom of the sixth down by one, but catcher Tyler Bentley led off the inning with a walk before junior James Goebbert connected on his second double of the day to tie the game at 7.

"I just wanted to make contact and get a hit anywhere I could," Goebbert said. "It was a curveball inside so I just pulled it and took it right down the line. It wasn't a hard hit, but it went past him."

The dramatic win gave Hampshire sophomore starter Ryan Burke yet another victory in a win-or-go-home situation despite not having his best stuff because of flu-like symptoms. Burke (6-2) pitched a complete game, struck out six and once again beat an opposing team's senior starter.

"After Wednesday's game I went home and didn't feel very good," said Burke, who shut down Mendota one-two-three in the seventh. "I felt a little better today, but it still affected me a little bit today."

While the flu may have affected a bit of his command and velocity on the mound, it didn't affect his performance at the plate. After Mendota (12-12) had taken the lead and the momentum by scoring four runs in the top of the fifth to take a 7-4 lead, Burke quickly shifted back the momentum in the bottom half by hitting a long two-run home run over the left-field fence to make it 7-6.

"He didn't have the dominating performance on the mound, but, boy, he gutted it out," Hampshire coach Steve Ream said. "He's just a special player. He really is."

Early on it looked like Hampshire might coast to a sectional championship. The first three batters of the game -- Price, Burke and Zach Crinigan -- all singled off of Trojans' starter Tim Janiak.

The Whips scored four runs on four hits in the inning to take a 4-0 lead. But Mendota scored seven runs -- three in the third inning and four in the fifth -- to take a 7-4 lead before Hampshire regained the advantage late.

"Did anybody think we could go this far this season?" Ream said. "I've told these guys they have the talent to play with anyone and they are starting to believe that with each success we've had."

Hampshire plays Chillicothe Illinois Valley Central at 4:30 p.m. Monday at the Rockford Super-Sectional.