Galesburg High School

East Peoria scored four runs in the third inning and added two more in the fifth to defeat Galesburg 6-2 on May 27 in a Class 3A Galesburg Regional semifinal.

With the win, East Peoria advanced to face Washington in the regional championship game. Washington defeated Limestone 3-1 in the other semifinal.

Galesburg head coach Jeremy Pickrel, center, and the Silver Streaks await the start of their Class 3A regional semifinal against East Peoria on May 27 in Galesburg. East Peoria defeated Galesburg 6-2 to end the Silver Streaks’ season. (Photo by Loran Lewis/GCN)

“It was a tough way to go out,” head coach Jeremy Pickrel said. “I told the team after the game that it seems that our seasons have come full circle over the past few years. The struggles that cost us games early, and that we spend all season trying to correct and get to playing better baseball, always seem to come back and bite us in the end.”

Galesburg was held scoreless through six innings before scoring twice in the seventh. The Silver Streaks finished with two runs on four hits and committed four errors. East Peoria had six runs on eight hits and one error.

Galesburg’s Hayden Ralston, left, reaches first base safely as the throw sails over the glove of East Peoria first baseman during a Class 3A regional semifinal on May 27 in Galesburg. East Peoria defeated the Silver Streaks 6-2. (Photo by Loran Lewis/GCN)

Dalton Oakman earned the win for East Peoria, pitching a complete game. He allowed two runs on four hits, walked one and struck out seven.

Caden Riley took the loss for Galesburg. Riley allowed four runs on six hits in three innings, walking two and striking out five.

TJ Heatherly pitched the final three innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on two hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

Although played in Galesburg, the Silver Streaks were designated as the visiting team.

Will Kimmitt, Drew Hickey, Heatherly and Henry Ikrami had hits for Galesburg. Kimmitt and Hickey each drove in a run. Nicolas Ojeda and Easton Pickrel scored the Silver Streaks’ runs.

Galesburg’s Will Kimmitt had one of the Silver Streaks’ four hits and drove in a run during a 6-2 loss to East Peoria in a Class 3A regional semifinal on May 27 in Galesburg. (Photo by Loran Lewis/GCN)

For East Peoria, Breyon Maroney went 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Eli Martin and Oakman each drove in two runs. Auggie Lohnes added a hit, an RBI and a run scored. Jackson Ahrens, R.J. Duncheon and Jordan Marsh also had hits for the Raiders.

The loss ended the Silver Streaks’ season with an overall record of 16-20 and 8-6 in the Western Big 6.

“After a 2-13 start, it would have been easy for some to jump ship or cash it in, but they continued to work and ended 14-7 in our last 21 games,” Pickrel said. “Had we not dropped so many games early, this team could’ve been a 20-game winner.

“We thank all nine of our seniors for the contributions they made to the program and wish them luck as they move on to their next step. We hope that the returners learned something that they are able to use or improve on for next year, and they come into the offseason with a hungry mindset.”