Rocket senior Routt baseball takes 4th at States recap postseason run
By Ryne Turke
Photos/Special to The Source
The Routt Catholic High School Rockets capped another memorable postseason run with a fourth-place finish at the IHSA Class 1A State Baseball Tournament, closing the book on a senior class that has helped produce historic numbers over the last four years.
With more than 100 wins and a third-place finish in 2023 under their belts, the Rockets marched into the postseason with confidence and experience. Routt’s journey to Champaign included victories over Rushville-Industry and Liberty in regionals, Abingdon-Avon and Monmouth United in sectionals, and Nokomis in the super sectionals. In each win, Routt took command early on the scoreboard and backed it up with dominant pitching and solid defense.
While the trip to the final four didn’t go Routt’s way, a 10-3 loss to Riverton and a 10-0 loss to North Clay, outfielder Samuel Long, a career .342 hitter, said the Rockets accomplished something truly special this year, on and off the field.
“This group had a lot of leadership,” Long said. “We have nine seniors and we’re all friends, which is rare. We spent so much time together hitting early, playing cards and swimming — we’re like brothers.”
Outfielder Ben Burger echoed that sentiment, saying this is the best group of guys he could’ve asked to play alongside.
“We stuck together through every good, bad, and ugly moment,” Burger said. “The coaches were truly the reason we were so together. It felt like a family.”
Pitcher Brady Turner, who will play for Quincy University next year, finishes his career with 19 wins, a .369 batting average and WIVC Player of the Year honors. Turner said this team will leave behind a “legacy of success,” showing how strong the Routt baseball program has been.
He also said he’ll cherish the moments he shared alongside his father and head coach, Ryan Turner.
“It’s been really fun being on this journey with my dad,” Brady Turner said. “He has led us to four super sectionals and two state runs. I’m happy that I got to be a part of all these moments with him.”
Outfielder Bryson Mossman, who will be suiting up for Quincy University in basketball next season, said the Rockets’ success stemmed from belief in one another throughout the year.
“We knew coming in we had a chance to make it deep,” Mossman said. “But the best part was all the time we spent together as a team. Baseball takes a whole team, and everyone stepped up when it mattered.”
Infielder Jacob Brown, a .316 career hitter, played a pivotal role in helping Routt reach the final four, earning the win on the mound and notching three hits in the Rockets’ victory at the Lincoln Land Super Sectional.
“We’ve taken down and competed against so many great teams this year, some even at the 2A and 3A level,” Brown said. “The end of the season doesn’t mean the end of everything, because I made countless memories, friends, and lifelong lessons I’ll carry throughout my life.”
Shortstop Dalton Brown, who collected five hits at Champaign and hit .270 for his career, said he was “hunting fastballs and adjusting to off-speed pitches” against the best of the best.
“I was seeing the ball well this weekend, which gave me a ton of confidence,” he said. “The biggest advantage for our team this postseason was the confidence we built over the years, because we’ve been there before. We knew what to expect pressure-wise with all the fans watching.”
Catcher Talon Thompson, a .377 career hitter for Routt, said he’s proud of his teammates for battling their way back to state and giving Rocket fans a few more weeks of baseball. Thompson added that the realization of his final high school game didn’t fully set in until after the tournament ended, but he’s excited to see what the future holds for Routt.
“Next year’s seniors will be good leaders,” Thompson said. “They all got into big moments over the playoffs. Anson Butcher will lead the team with the bat, Jonas Brown and Teagan Rives will take over on the mound, and Owen Smith will take on a lot of responsibility in the infield. I have confidence in all the guys to make another run, they just have to believe it as well.”
Outfielder Oliver Smith said with every win, this team helped solidify itself as one of the best in the state.
“It’s been a special year,” Smith said. “The atmosphere was great and we had each other’s backs no matter what.”
Outfielder Gameli White added that representing the area on the biggest stage in baseball was a “pretty cool experience.”
The Rockets finish their season 24-14.
