By Jacob Mayer
The Sparta Jr. Legion team came home from the state tournament without a win after it lost 11-4 to Wheaton in the first game Thursday and 16-3 Friday against Fairview Heights.
However, head coach Tim Baum said the experience was valuable and something that everybody involved will look back on with pride.
“(The players) will never forget the moment,” Baum said. “They will be able to relive going to state for the rest of their lives.”
Sparta (24-14) drew Wheaton in the first game and went into the fifth inning tied 4-4, but Wheaton came on strong at the end to put the game out of reach.
Trevor Morgan through the first four innings, but the Wheaton bats started to catch up to his pitches as the game progressed.
On offense for Sparta, Nathan Hinkle led the way with a hit and two runs batted in. Jordan Thompson and Darius Jackson each doubled, and Dalton Robert had a hit and an RBI.
Baum said he knew the team was in for a tough battle when he saw the matchup.
“This was our first time at state so we did not know what to expect,” he said. “Wheaton is a bigger town and I thought we might be overmatched, but we came in with nothing to lose.”
In the second game, Fairview Heights got to starting pitcher Jordan Thompson with six runs in the first and were off and running.
After the first, Baum chose to have several pitchers throw an inning and give them the chance to pitch in the state tournament.
Sparta cut the deficit in half in the third, but Fairview Heights pulled away late to put the game out of reach.
Hinkle once again had a big day at the plate, going 2-for-2 with two RBI. Morgan also drove in a run with a base hit and Thompson added a double.
From the first day of tryouts, Baum told his team that the main goal was to win the district tournament, and everything else would be icing on the cake. Even though the team lost both games, Baum said the tournament had a positive effect on his players.
“The experience was great,” he said. “I think the kids’ confidence really went up from this trip.”
Baum said the success of this team will be a measuring stick for all future teams to work toward.
“The 2010 team set the bar for every other team for as long as there is a Jr. Legion program in Sparta,” he said.
Overall, Baum is happy everyone involved with the team was able to reap the rewards of their hard work throughout the season.
“Everybody worked so hard to make this happen,” he said. “It’s exciting that it paid off with a trip to state.”