Team first leads to Trojan success

The Fairfield varsity baseball team recently gathered to remember their successful 26-5 season that saw the Trojans share the Southeast Conference title and claim another Class 3A district championship before falling to No. 2 ranked Davenport Assumption, 3-2, in the substate-4 final on July 24.

'We just wanted to remind them of the success they had during their five years in the program,” skipper Josh Allison said. 'That was the big point to make with them.”

Allison is in his 17th season leading the baseball program and while FHS had a bit of a rough patch 10 years ago, the Trojans have recorded seven consecutive winning seasons with a 186-62 mark since the beginning of the 2013 season.

Although Fairfield has just one state tournament appearance in Allison's tenure, area school Pekin just made it for the first time in their program history after decades of close calls.

'You have to be good, you have to catch a break and you have to be lucky,” Trojan assistant coach Jeff Eeling perfectly explains, 'We've hit some hard balls and come up against some pretty tough competition,” added Allison.

Now that the season is over, the Trojan staff is, 'just relaxing,” Allison explains. 'It's a grind to go through that season and we have a few more weeks before school starts, again. It's a good time to spend with family.”

While the elders rest, the kids are still collecting accolades with seniors Kosta Papazoglou and Austin Simpson both being selected to the Class 3A Southeast District team.

'Being recognized is good for them and it sort pays dividends on the work that they do,” Allison said. 'They spend a lot of time on baseball, even out of season they are working out and getting stronger and doing lots of different things to improve.”

Four of the Trojans will continue their athletic careers in college with three playing baseball and Tristin Waugh headed to Iowa Central to play football.

Austin Simpson is headed to Southeast Community College, Cooper Drish is going to Upper Iowa and Kosta Papazoglou was headed to Mt. Mercy but is reconsidering his options.

'I think it's really the leadership that they have passed down to the younger guys,” concluded Allison when pondering the Class of 2019's legacy. 'How to go about your business and work hard while having fun every day at practice.”

Class 3A Southeast District

First team

Pitchers

Nick Gottilla, Sr., Davenport Assumption

Lucas Bixby, Sr., Central DeWitt

Brandon Schlichting, Sr., Davenport Assumption

Catcher

Kosta Papazogolou, Sr., Fairfield

Garrett Finley, Sr., Central DeWitt

Infield

1B Austin Simpson, Sr., Fairfield

2B Chris McSweeney, Sr., Solon

SS Devin Hurdle, Sr., Central DeWitt

3B McCain Oden, Jr., Centerville

Outfield

Cade Hennigan, Sr., Washington

Nate Schlichting, Jr., Davenport Assumption

Brady Kauzlarich, So., Centerville

Utility

Merrick Mathews, So., Centerville

Cam Miller, Jr., Solon

Alex McAleer, Jr., Central DeWitt

Second team

Pitchers

Kole Hinrichsen, Sr., Washington

Jayson Willers, Sr., Davenport Assumption

Jaxon Hoyle, Jr., Mt. Pleasant

Catcher

Adam Bock, Sr., Solon

Dalton Boecker, Sr., Keokuk

Infield

1B Jack Kragenbrink, Jr., Mt Vernon

2B Kayden Kauzlarich, Jr., Centerville

SS Luke Turner, Jr., Washington

3B Camden Smyka, Sr., CCA

Outfield

Blake Booth, Sr., Mt Vernon

Chase Williamson, So., Mt. Pleasant

Luke Anderson, Jr., Central DeWitt

Utility

Seth Adrian, Sr., Davenport Assumption

Tyler Elliott, Sr., Mt. Vernon

Matt Martin, Sr., Mt Vernon