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Fairfield knocked out in semis
Trojan baseball team battles, but falls, against 2nd-seeded Assumption
ELDRIDGE — A slow start to Fairfield’s Class 3A Substate 5 baseball semifinal proved to be the Trojans’ ultimate demise on Tuesday night.
Fairfield fought hard against second-seeded Daveport Assumption in a game that was played at North Scott High School, but in the end, the Knights had too much, eliminating Fairfield 6-3.
The Trojans had to start the night with a deficit after a rough first inning. Fairfield’s bats went quietly in the top half, and Assumption scored three in the bottom, capitalizing on four singles and one error to grab a 3-0 lead.
“We came out and battled, but that first inning kind of got away from us a little bit,” said Fairfield head coach Josh Allison. “I don't know if we just weren't quite prepared for the situation, but they just put some balls in play that we couldn't get to.”
Fairfield starter Dainburkhart settled in after the early onslaught and the Trojans did get one run back. Luke Konczal and Aiden Weestercamp had back-to-back hits with one out in the second, and Westercamp’s double brought home Konczal for the Trojans’ first run.
Fairfield trailed 3-1 until another three-run Assumption inning. The Knights plated three in the fourth, including two plays at the plate, both that barely went Assumption’s way.
Fairfield entered the sixth down 6-1, but the Trojans had some fight left in them. Burkhart singled with two outs, and Tallon Bates came to the plate and delivered a two-run shot to left field, his second home tun of the season.
After Bates’ big blast, another senior came through, this time on the mound. Konczal, who came in to relieve Burkhart in the fourth frame, finished out a perfect two and two-thirds inning stretch by holding Assumption scoreless in the bottom of the sixth.
“The seniors were really big with everything they did for the whole entire season,” Allison said. “The leadership and the culture change and shift we had this year is all because of them.”
Trailing 6-3 into Fairfield’s final at-bat, Luke Konczal gave the Trojans some more life with leadoff double. The Trojans, however, couldn’t bring him home, and the game was over.
Bates finished 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs. Luke Konczal was 2-for-3 with a double. Westercamp was 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI, and Burkhart had the team’s only other hit.
The loss dropped the Trojans to 22-12. Fairfield weent 12-3 in the conference, winning their last four games in league play to earn a Southeast Conference championship.
“That's kind of the goal, is to be playing your best baseball at the end of the season,” Allison said. “I thought we did that.”
The Trojans’ 22 wins is their most since 2019. It was also Fairfield’s highest winning percentage since that season.
Assumption (26-13) moved on to play at Central DeWitt (24-12) in the Class 3 Substate 5 final.
