Mahomet-Seymour Clinches Third Straight Apollo Conference Title with Doubleheader Sweep Over Mount Zion

By Fred Kroner

Behind the pitching exploits of Mason Orton and Finn Randolph, the Mahomet-Seymour baseball team annexed its third consecutive Apollo Conference championship on Saturday (May 11).

The Bulldogs swept a doubleheader from visiting Mount Zion, 2-0, and 10-2.

Orton (6-0) fired a two-hit shutout in the opener, He walked four and struck out nine.

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the sixth when Nolan Johnson drove in Gavin Bailey with the first run. M-S added an insurance run when Noah Butler knocked in Johnson.

The Bulldogs’ five hits were by Randolph, Bailey, Johnson, Matthew Orr and Butler. They also had hits in the second game.

In the nightcap, Randolph (7-1) threw five innings. He fanned six hitters and issued two walks.

Kody Ackman and Cade Starrick each had one-inning stints in the mound. Starrick struck out two batters and Ackman fanned one.

M-S expanded a 3-0 lead with a five-run fourth inning outburst.

Bailey, Butler and Camden Heinold all recorded two hits. Johnson, Orr, Randolph and Cade Starrick all ended with one hit.

Heinold delivered three RBI and Long knocked in two runs. Driving in one run each were Bailey, Johnson and Starrick.

Scoring the runs were Starrick (three), Butler (two), Orr (two), Bailey (one), Heinold (one) and Randolph (one).

Butler and Starrick both stole three bases in Game 2. Bailey swiped a base in each game.

The Bulldogs concluded Apollo Conference play with a 10-0 league record. During the past three seasons, coach Nic DiFilippo’s squads are 31-3 in league contests.

On Thursday (May 9), M-S overcame an early deficit at Downs and rallied to post a 13-5 victory.

M-S trailed, 5-1, after four innings.

Miles Woolsey (2-0) recorded the pitching win with 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. He walked two and struck out five. Max Young worked the first 3 2/3 innings and registered six strikeouts to go with two walks.

Johnson (3-for-4) hammered two doubles and paced the offensive attack. Butler, who also hit two doubles, Heinold, Long and Starrick all ended with two hits.

Contributing one hit apiece were Randolph and Bailey. Heinold and Starrick each had one RBI.

Bailey, Butler, Johnson, Long and Randolph all drove in two runs.

Starrick tallied three runs. Scoring twice each were Butler, Johnson and Long. Bailey, Heinold, Orr and Randolph all touched home plate once.

M-S (23-7 overall this spring) returns to action on Monday (May 13) at home against Normal Community.