Regional championship gives Henry, Brown County’s seniors perfect sendoff

MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — Mason Henry’s last day as a high school senior received the perfect punctuation.

Moments after exiting Brown County High School for the last time as a student, the left-hander pitched the Hornets baseball team to a Class 1A regional championship — on his home field, no less.

Henry was in complete control from start to finish, tossing an easy-does-it 6-0 shutout against Winchester West Central. He scattered five hits with one walk while striking out seven.

“I’ve been playing baseball since I was 3 years old, and today ranks right up there with the best games I’ve ever been involved with,” Henry said. “This was a great win.”

The victory lifted Henry to 6-0 and improved the Hornets to 24-4.

“Mason has the ability to change speeds,” Brown County coach Jared Hoots said. “He’s that crafty lefty.”

Henry sliced through the Winchester order with relative ease.

“I had a good curve working early with my fastball,” he said. “I’d call myself a bulldog (on the mound). I do what I need to persevere.”

Brown County advances to sectional semifinal play Thursday, facing Lewistown at 4:30 p.m. at Jacksonville Routt. Lewistown ousted Bushnell-Prairie City 4-1 in the Havana Regional on Friday.

Brown County struck early and often in support of Henry, building a 3-0 lead in the first inning and led 6-0 after four. The outcome was never in doubt.

“Our offense has carried us much of the year, and it set the tone today,” Hoots said.

Henry agreed.

“It’s so good to know our offense will put up runs and that our defense will do its job,” he said.

Henry and right-hander Gabe Blakely have handled the brunt of the Hornets’ most-important pitching duties all spring. 

“They’ve shared the (ace role) this season,” Hoots said.

Although Blakely did not step on the mound Friday, he was a key contributor with the bat.

Blakley stroked three hits, including a double, and scored two runs.

The regional championship had been a goal all season, according to Hoots. He talked in-depth about the letdown a year ago at this time when Liberty defeated Brown County for the regional title.

“We have used that for motivation all year,” said Hoots, who is in his 14th season as Hornets coach and now owns three regional championships. The Hornets’ previous regional titles under Hoots came in 2015 and 2011.