‘Best game ever’: Normal Community thrilled to keep on playing after first sectional title in 21 years

Normal Community celebrates after its Class 4A sectional title win on Saturday. Jonathan Michel/Clutch Sports Media

BLOOMINGTON — It wasn’t easy for Normal Community, but it wasn’t supposed to be.

The pendulum was heavily swung — twice — in favor of O’Fallon in Saturday’s Class 4A Illinois Wesleyan Sectional title game. But the Ironmen were just that: grizzled, tough and confident competitors that came out of a seven-inning gauntlet with a 10-8 victory.

The win marked Normal Community’s first sectional title in baseball since 2004 and when the four-class system started in Illinois, sparking an ecstatic celebration at IWU’s Jack Horenberger Field.

“I was so excited just getting that out, I've never been more happy in my life,” Normal Community’s Max Heineman said. “It was just awesome seeing all the guy’s smiles on their faces lit up. This is awesome.”

Normal Community, who won its program-record 35th game, looked like a consensus favorite on paper against 24-10 O’Fallon. But the Panthers, coming off a 2-1 win over state title contender Edwardsville, gave the Ironmen all they could handle until the final out. 

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