Marissa-Coulterville scored three runs in the first inning and that was all starting pitcher Logan Tabor needed.
The junior standout tossed all seven innings allowing no runs on just five hits, while striking out nine to lead the Meteors to a 3-0 lead over Trico in the Marissa 1A Regional championship game Tuesday.
Trico’s ace pitcher Dylan Witthoft took the loss despite allowing just six hits.
Joey Martin paced the Meteor offense with two hits, while Logan Tabor helped his own cause with an RBI double in the first inning.
A Trico error allowed Marissa-Coulterville leadoff man Kyle Sinn to reach safely in the first. Witthoft then hit Elijah Burton with a pitch and  Tabor delivered an RBI double down the left-field line for the game’s first score.
Tabor scored on a wild pitch and Matt Ervin's RBI groundout pushed the Meteor’s lead to 3-0.
The Meteors advance to the Goreville Sectional, where they will play Goreville Thursday at 4:30.
Trico 6, Chester 3
After falling behind 3-0 in the top of the first inning, the Trico Pioneers scored six unaswered runs for a 6-3 victory over Chester in the semifinals Saturday.
“Chester can score a bunch of runs,” said Trico coach Josh Higgerson. “We didn’t expect to shut them out, we just wanted to keep them away from the big innings.”
The Yellow Jackets got to Trico starting pitcher Matt Bunselmeyer for three runs on three hits and an error for the early lead. Sophomore Caleb Arbeiter picked up a RBI, while Greg Rowold drove in two with a two-out double.
However, the lead would be short-lived, as the Pioneers answered with three runs in the bottom half of the first inning to tie the game.
Trico scored the three runs  on two hits, an error and a walk. All three runs came with two outs, as Matt Bunselmeyer drove in one run with a single and Klayton Bunselmeyer scored two with a double.
“By answering right back, I think we took some of the wind out of their sails,” added Higgerson.
“We had a good start to the game,” said Chester coach Jeremy Blechle. “But Trico responded and took the momentum right back.”
The Pioneers came through with another two-out RBI in the second inning to take the lead for good. This time it was junior Dylan Witthoft who came through in the clutch.
Witthoft picked up his second RBI in the fourth inning as he drove a run home with a one-out groundout to give his squad a 5-3 lead.
Chester’s best chance to get back in the game came in the fifth inning. A walk and singles from Justin Eggemeyer and Matt Heberlie loaded the bases, but Bunselmeyer was able to work out of the jam by getting the next batter to groundout.
“Zach Lochhead tried to knock Trico off for the third time this season but errors played a big part in this game,” added Blechle. “We had it going early, and Trico retook the momentum and kept it.”
Trico added an insurance run in the sixth off two hits and an error. However, Matt Bunselmeyer was ejected from the game after making a remark to the umpire after a called strike.
Following the ejection, Witthoft came in to the game and got the final three outs for the save.
“Matt did a really good job of gathering himself after that tough first inning,” said Higgerson. “He started throwing more strikes and he adjusted to the batters. Dylan came in and just shut the door, it’s pretty good to have an option like that to turn to.”
With the win, Trico advanced to the regional title game against Marissa-Coulterville Tuesday.
With the loss, Chester finished its best season since 2003 at 14-10.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better season,” said Blechle. “We doubled our wins from last year and we were the Steeleville tournament champions.