Hornets finish off Blakeley’s record-setting victory with faith, belief in each other

PEORIA, Ill. — After a bunt single loaded the bases with one out in the top of the seventh inning, Ottawa Marquette freshman center fielder Julian Alexander thought the Crusaders had put Brown County in a precarious spot.

He even told Hornets shortstop Colby Wort so.

“I thought it was pretty funny,” Wort said. “He’s a very good player, and he said to me, ‘You guys are in a tough position right here.’”

Wort disagreed.

“I looked at him and said, ‘We’ve been here before,’” Wort said. “I think that just kind of set him back. I think he realized we’re confident. I knew (Mason) Henry was going to do the job and our defense was going to do the job. We were going to get out of it as a team.”

They wanted to save the lead for Gabe Blakeley, each other and the community that has made this historic postseason run all the more special.

After Blakeley, the senior right-hander, struck out seven and allowed just one run over 6 ⅓ innings in Friday’s Class 1A state semifinal at Dozer Park, the left-handed Henry recorded the final two outs and stranded the bases loaded to preserve a 2-1 victory.

“Honestly, and I don’t know why, but for some reason, I was the most calm I have ever been,” Henry said. “I was super confident in my defense behind me. And I caught a glimpse of my parents in the stands and everyone that was here from Brown County, and I just knew this was for them.

“The whole county was backing me. It’s just such an amazing feeling to have all that support, and I couldn’t let them down.”

Nor did he want to let Blakeley down.

“I wanted him to finish it,” Henry said. “I felt like it was his game. He’s been pitching great all year and especially this game, where he was scattering hits and working counts. It was really a beautiful thing to watch.

“That’s the last time he’s ever going to get to pitch in high school, and I wanted him to have that complete game. But the fact he had the confidence in me to step in there and save the win for him, that’s something special.”

Blakeley knew it was time to turn the ball over.

“We had been talking about it the inning before that if I happened to get into trouble I’ll have to get out,” said Blakeley, who allowed two of the first three Marquette batters in the seventh inning to reach safely. “I said to Mason, ‘Hey, man, I trust you and you’ve got it.’ He said right back to me, ‘I don’t want it. You need to finish it.’

“We have so much belief in each other. It’s special.”

This one was just a little more special.

The victory improved Blakeley to 10-2 this season, setting the Brown County single-season record for pitching victories.

“He was in total command,” Brown County coach Jared Hoots said. “I think we should have let him grow the goatee and shave his head sooner in life. I think he might have been a more dominant pitcher. That just helps with that mystique, and he’s just rolling with it.

“He’s a kid who has done it the right way for four years.n You could tell he was just in the moment. He wanted this one as much as anyone.”

With a little help from his friends, Blakeley got it.