Warriors Play for State Title

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ For the first time since 2001's runner-up finish, Du Quoin (Middle School) will play for the Southern Illinois Junior High School Athletic Association (SIJHSAA) Class L State Baseball championship.

Thursday afternoon, the Warriors pounded Highland (Junior High School) 14-3 in a game called after six innings by the ten-run rule.

At 3 o'clock Friday, DMS (18-2) plays undefeated Harrisburg (Malan Junior High School) for the title. The game is played on Rigdon Field at the Perry County Fairgrounds in Pinckneyville.

"We are right where we want to be and that's playing for the state championship, " Warriors coach Tim Craft said. "The kids really seemed ready to play from the very start. They were pretty excited. Maybe a little too excited early, but after we settled down the game seemed to really go our way."

Highland (18-5) kept things close until DMS exploded for six run frames in the fifth and sixth innings.

DMS trailed 3-2, while stranding six baserunners, entering the decisive fifth.

Nate Boss and Garrett Dorsey led off with singles and Jonah Spencer promptly tied things with an RBI double to score Boss.

Austin Mansker then tripled home Dorsey and Spencer to push DMS in front 5-2. John Erwin doubled in the sixth Du Quoin tally before seventh-grader Camden Youngman bopped a two-run home run for an 8-2 edge.

Highland then used three pitchers in the sixth, but couldn't slow the Warrior onslaught.

Mansker and Travis Chapman smacked RBI triples during the fray and Chapman doubled home another tally.

All totalled, DMS had 18 hits, stretching its state tournament total to 40.

Youngman and Boss enjoyed three-hit days. Mansker was 3-for-4.

Spencer doubled twice and was perfect in four trips to the plate, boosting his state finals batting average to .875 (7-of-8).

Dorsey and Chapman added two hits.

Mansker (5-1) pitched the first five innings, scattering five hits and striking out five.

Brenden Fred finished up.

"Austin Mansker gave us a solid five innings," Craft said. "He struggled a little early, but got better as the game went on. Austin threw strikes and we played good defense behind him. I knew we would score plenty of runs, it was just a matter getting a big hit or two and breaking through. Austin, Cody Youngman and Jonah Spencer all had great days at the plate."

Du Quoin and Harrisburg played last month in the Du Quoin Jaycees Invitational Tournament. The Bullpups won, 9-7.

"Anything can happen," Craft said. "The pressure's on them now."

Highland and Carterville play for third place at 1 p.m.

DMS 14, Highland 3

DMS 002 066-14 18 1

Highland 012 000-3 6 3

Mansker, Fred (6) and Chapman. Heberer, Diesselhorst (4), Carringer (5), Stieb (5) and Holzinger. WP-Mansker, 5-1. LP-Heberer. TOP HITTERS-DMS: Youngman 3-5 (2B, HR, 3 RBI), Fred (RBI), Boss 3-4 (2B, RBI), Dorsey 2-4, Spencer 4-4 (2-2B, RBI), Mansker 3-4 (3B, 4 RBI), Chapman 2-4 (3B, RBI), Erwin 1-3 (2B, RBI), Donoghue 0-2, Baxter 0-0. RECORDS-DMS 18-2, Highland 18-5.