Teutopolis topples Walther for title

Updated: June 4, 2011 9:46PM

PEORIA – Walther Lutheran battled two seemingly immovable forces in the Class 2A state championship game Saturday night at O’Brien Field.

Mother Nature finally budged. Teutopolis ace Derek Thompson didn’t.

The Broncos, who had conquered some top-level pitchers and teams during their surprising playoff run, couldn’t create their magic against Thompson, falling 4-0 to finish runner-up in Class 2A. Teutopolis (33-2), who entered the tournament as the favorite, claimed its second consecutive state crown.

“The one thing we got against some of those other really good pitchers was that big hit,” said Walther Lutheran first-year coach Matt Tuomi. “We just couldn’t come through today.”

Thompson (11-0), a 6-foot-3, 175-pound senior who is arguably the best left-handed prospect in the state, had a lot to do with Walther Lutheran (18-15) not delivering. After all, Thompson allowed only one earned run all season long.

In the end, Thompson allowed six hits, struck out nine and walked two to earn his second straight victory in the Class 2A championship game. Thompson finished the game with a flourish, striking out three straight on nine pitches, the final one registering at 91 mph.

“It feels really good to win two state championships, and I have been fortunate enough to pitch in both championship games,” said Thompson.

Scoreless through two-and-a-half innings, the game was zipping along before a weather delay forced the teams off the field at 6:13 p.m. Forty-five minutes later, Teutopolis quickly pushed across three runs in the top of the fourth inning behind three hits and an error. Centerfielder Damon Hoene delivered the big blow with a two-run double, and shortstop Dillon Hardiek also had a run-scoring single.

The damage could’ve been much worse had Walther Lutheran senior right fielder Jon Lomnicki not made two incredible diving catches in the fourth inning. Lomnicki also made a SportsCenter-worthy sprawling grab on Friday in centerfield.

“We weren’t (expected) to win any of this,” said Lomnicki. “We were the underdogs. No once knew who we were and thought they could walk all over us. I’m really proud of this team.”

One player who had Thompson’s number was Broncos shortstop Chris Stevens, who smashed a triple to dead-center field for a triple in the first inning, but was stranded after a groundout to shortstop ended the threat. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Stevens also had a leadoff double off the base of the right-center wall in the sixth. Stevens enjoyed quite a state tournament, producing five extra-base hits in six at-bats. On Friday, Stevens went 3-for-3 with three doubles.

“That kid is a great hitter,” said Thompson. “He probably hit me the hardest of anyone all year.”

Tuomi said the Broncos’ run is something to build on for next year.

“Our core is mostly juniors,” Tuomi said. “Second place sounds good, but it still probably leaves a bad taste in their mouths.”

In the Class 2A third-place game, DuQuoin and Prophetstown played to a 4-4, six-inning tie before the plug was pulled on the game to beat the impending storm. Carrollton won the Class 1A state championship, defeating Eastland 8-1.

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