Appleknockers advance to state Class 1A finals

The Cobden High School baseball team defeated Neoga 5-4 to win a Class 1A super-sectional title in a game which was played Monday, June 1, at Itchy Jones Stadium on the campus of Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

The Appleknockers, who improvd to 25-6, advanced to play in the Class 1A state tournament finals in Peoria.

Cobden is slated to take on the Lisle super-sectional winner at 3 p.m. Friday at  Dozer Stadium in Peoria. 

The Lisle super-sectional game between Westmont and Lisle Benet Academy was postponed because of wet field conditions Monday. The game was to have been played on Tuesday.

It's the first time in 28 years Cobden has advanced to the state tournament. 

The 1987 team, the first Appleknocker baseball team to compete in the state tourney series, finished with a 38-1 record and earned a second-place trophy. 

Cobden built an early 2-0 lead in the opening inning in the super-sectional. 

Logan Spalt had a one out single and Sam Cohen followed with a two-out single. Theron Sweitzer then drove in both runs.

The Appleknockers added another run in the 2nd inning when Dylan Duty tripled and scored on John Russell's fielder's choice.

In the 5th inning with the game tied 4-4, Cohen had a two-out single and then scored the winning run on a fly ball that was misjudged by the Neoga right fielder and bounced off the wall.  

Cohen was 2-for-2 at the plate to lead the Appleknockers.  

Sweitzer was 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs. Spalt was 2-for-4 with a double. Duty was 1-for-3. Russell added an RBI.

J.T. Moore, 4-0, the winning hurler, pitched the first four innings, giving up four runs on five hits, to go with two walks and four strikeouts.

Spalt, who pitched in relief in Cobden's sectional championship win over Century Saturday, pitched the final three innings and struck out the first seven batters he faced.

Spalt, a junior, entered the super-sectional as one of the top pitching leaders in the state with a 0.56 ERA. He has posted a 12-1 overall mark this season.

Cobden advances to the state tournament finals with an eight-game winning streak.

<p><strong>Cobden's Cayden Childers connects for a hit, with his teammates and fans watching.</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p>



<p><strong>Cobden's Logan Spalt applies a tag to Neoga runner during a play at second base.</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p>



<p><strong>Cobden's Theron Sweitzer slides safely into third base. He went on to score a run for Cobden.</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p>