Colton Gatton homered and scored a run on a heads up base running play as the Taylorville Tornadoes picked up a huge Apollo Conference win on Thursday evening as they beat the Mt. Zion Braves 11-5 in Taylorville. Isaac Repscher took the mound for the Tornadoes and after getting two quick outs gave up a couple walks, but got Davis Venters to fly out to end the inning.  

In the bottom of the first, the Tornadoes quickly went 1-2-3. In the top of the second, AJ Miller got a base hit for the Braves followed by a base hit from Landon Workman.  A sacrifice fly from Keegan Durbin followed by a fielders choice from Creighton Weigler scored a run and Mt. Zion led 1-0 heading into the bottom of the first. 

The Tornadoes quicly responded in the bottom of the second with a double from Kason Pembroke and a walk from Zaydyn Donaldson.  A base hit from Drew Morgan led to Pembroke scoring, and a walk from Fallon Turner scored Nollen Polley who was running for Donaldson.  Taylorville led at the end of 2 2-1. 

The lead would be short lived, as the Braves would get a triple from KWeellen Bolhorst on a shot that would ricochet off the right field fence followed by a hit by pitch on Davis Venters.  Landon Workman would get a huge base hit out to right field but would get tagged trying to extend the hit into a double but not before scoring two runs. The Braves would lead 3-2 going into the bottom of the 3rd. 

Taylorville would have a huge bottom of the third, scoring six runs courtesy of a error by Connor Fox on a Maxx Grieme hit.  Colton Gatton would homer scoring both of them.   Kason Pembroke and Zaydn Donaldson would both get base hits, Fallon Turner would double, and Carter Hennings would get a base hit.  Repscher would add a base hit as well and when the dust cleared, Taylorville led 8-3.  They wouldn't give up the lead the rest of the day. 

The Braves would add two more runs in the fourth courtesy of back to back doubles from Keegan Durbin and Creighton Weigler.  Both would score on a base hit from Connor Fox. This would cut the lead to 8-5.  Taylorville would add three more runs in the bottom of the fifth with a base hit from Carter Cappelin, Maxx Grieme and a double from Colton Gatton.  Gatton would score on a bang bang play from a base hit from Drew Morgan that saw a ground ball that went up the middle and allowed Gatton to score just behind the throw in.  The Tornadoes would head into the 7th with a 11-5 lead. 

In the top of the 7th, with Carter Cappellin on the mound, Kellen Bollhorst struck out, Davis Venters got a base hit, and AJ Miller struck out looking.  Landon Workman came up to the plate and hit a line drive base hit out to left center but a throw home from Fallon Turner nailed a sliding Venters to end the game with the tag being made at the plate giving the Taylorville Tornadoes the 11-5 win.  Taylorville improves to 11-12 and 4-6 in conference. They will take on Williamsville on the 19th. Colton Gatton was named the Nicole Patrick Country Financial Player of the Game. 

Gatton spoke with Taylorville broadcaster Leroy Kleimola a bit after the game about his home run and about picking up the Apollo Conference win on Thursday evening.

The Taylorville Tornadoes took a 9-0 lead at the end of the first inning but couldn't hold it, but somehow survived a furious comeback by the visiting Auburn Trojans to put up an 11-10 win on Senior Night on a windy Thursday evening in Taylorville. 

After honoring, Peyton DeMichael, Mia Lyons, and Ella Reiss, the Tornadoes went to work.  DeMichael took the circle and got a quick 1-2-3 inning as the offense poured on the runs as batters 1-7 scored including Carsen Corzine, DeMichael, Grace Rogers, Macey Richardson, Olivia Gray, Hope Kietzman, and Ella Reiss all scored.  Corzine and DeMichael would score again and the Tornadoes would take a 9-0 lead going into the second inning against the Auburn defense and pitcher Emmie Womble.  

The Trojans would fight back with with runs scored by Madison Hackett, Womble and Torii Thomas to cut into the deficit 9-3. The Tornadoes added a run in the 2nd with a run from Olivia Gray to extend the lead back to 10-3. The bats from Taylorville would stay silent until the 6th. Auburn would tighten things up with two more in the 5th and three more in the 6th to cut the lead 10-8.

In the bottom of the sixth, Neveah Wiley would get a base hit.  Carsen Corzine would add on a base hit.  Peyton DeMichael would fly out to third.  Grace Rogers would fly out to left field which would bring up Kenzley Heimsness.  Pticher Jenna Arenz would throw a pitch that would go through the legs of catcher Addi Jones allowing Nevaeh Wiley to score putting Taylorville up 11-8.  This would prove to be the difference. 

In the 7th, Auburn's Kendall Lynch walked, Hadley Root got a base hit, Amelia Hayes got a base hit scoring Lynch, and Root which made it 11-10.  Jones got hit by a pitch sending the tying run to second and her the go ahead run at first.  Carsen Corzine shut the door though striking out Jenna Arenz, Skylar Meats flew out to left, and Madison Hackett flew out to Olivia Levault out in center to end the game and give the Tornadoes the win improving their record to 14-9. Taylorville will take on Mt. Zion on Friday on the road. 

Taylorville Senior Colton Gatton signed his letter of intent to play baseball at college for John Wood Community College in Quincy, Illinois on Wednesday evening.  The Senior pitcher plays several different positions and swings the bat quite well also. He says baseball has been his life and says that John Wood has a great program but also has trades which is what Gatton wants to do. 

Find out more information on John Wood baseball by visiting https://www.johnwoodblazers.com/sports/bsb/index 

The Central A&M softball team produced a dramatic 3-2 win over Warrensburg-Latham after eight innings on a windy Monday night.  The two teams came into the game with similar records and in neighboring positions in the Central Illinois Conference. 

Warrensburg-Latham started strongly, putting up two runs in the first inning.  CAM responded when Riley Hazelwonder led off the bottom half with a home run.  They equalized in the fourth when Broklin Justice singled home Brookelyn Jackson, who herself reached on a one-out double.  Their hits were the Raiders' first in the game from someone not named Riley Hazelwonder. 

In the ensuing normal innings, each team let slip an opportunity to score with the bases loaded and one out.  With the game still deadlocked in the seventh, Shelby Younker singled with one out and then attempted to steal second.  Her hesitancy in doing so meant the throw to second could easily beat her, but an error allowed her to reach safely.  She could not score, though, as Syra Sims' strikeout and Kayla McPeek's flyout sent the game into extra innings.

Riley Hazelwonder - still in the circle having started - dismissed the Cardinals in order in the eighth.  Callie Robertson led off the bottom half with a double.  She advanced to third on the next play with Brookelyn Jackson's fly-ball dropped in between on-rushing outfielders.  Wesleigh Cochran stepped up and hit a grounder to short which skipped past the infielder, allowing Robertson to cross for the winning run. 

Hazelwonder threw 14 strikeouts, including two innings in which every out took that form.  Combined with a two-for-two performance at the plate, she was named the Seitz Funeral Homes Player of the Game.  Her counterpart Kelsey Oakley also went the distance, giving up eight hits and no unintentional walks while picking up five strikeouts. 

Central A&M's record now stands at 12-10 overall and 6-2 in the conference; they host Clinton tomorrow.  Warrensburg-Latham drops to 11-12 overall and 3-4 in the conference.  Their roadtrip continues with a game against Sullivan. 

Carter Cappellin struck out 10 batters and Isaac Repscher hit a long solo shot to right field as the Taylorville Tornadoes beat Springfield Southeast Spartans 7-0 on a windy overcast Monday afternoon for Senior Night in Taylorville. 

Austin Dunphy took the loss for the Spartans as he pitched the distance but struggled especially in the second inning giving up four runs. Taylorville took advantage of a miscue in the first inning scoring as Cappellin got walked than reached third on a pickoff attempt throw that went errant.   Maxx Grieme than scored him on a base hit. 

In the second inning, Fallon Turner, Kason Pembroke, and Kade Schimmelpfenning all walked, while Carter Cappellin and Isaac Repscher both reached as well and when the dust settled the Tornadoes had a 5-0 lead. 

The Tornadoes would add more damage in the 4th with a homer from Repscher and another run from Cappellin.  Speaking of Cappellin he would pitch beautifully, only giving up a couple base hits: one to Will Tucker and one to Austin Dunphy, along with a hit by pitch to Aaron Bly.  

Grayden Hughes would come in to pitch the last few innings in relief.  Cappellin was named the Nicole Patrick Country Financial Player of the Game for his hitting and his 10 strikeouts. Taylorville will take on Mt. Zion on Tuesday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30.  

Congratulations to the Taylorville baseball Seniors!!!

As heard on Genuine Country 94.3 WMKR...

The Central A&M softball team easily overcame Shelbyville 13-1 in five innings on Friday evening.  The Raiders proved effective on both sides of the ball to complete the regular-season sweep over the Rams. 

Shelbyville got off to a bright start when Alexis Jokisch homered with one out in the first.  A&M responded with a run of their own in the bottom half and scored in each subsequent inning.  That included eight runs in the third inning, with many of them coming with two outs.

Riley Hazelwonder stole the show with 11 strikeouts in five innings of work.  That, plus no walks and four hits, earned her the title of Seitz Funeral Homes Player of the Game.  Wesleigh Cochran made her own case, though.  She went 3-4 with an RBI and two runs.  For the away side, Kenzie Jones hit 2-2, which included a triple. 

Central A&M is now at 11-10 overall and 5-2 in conference games.  They host Warrensburg-Latham on Monday.  Shelbyville's record now stands at 6-8 overall and 2-3 in the conference ahead of a trip to Teutopolis.