Father McGivney baseball wins at Pleasant Plains Showcase IL

The Griffins pushed their winning streak to seven games behind strong hitting and late scoring in both games.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 4:04am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball game, with the players and field broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in a vibrant color palette.The Father McGivney Griffins' resilience and offensive firepower were on full display during their two-game sweep at the Pleasant Plains Showcase.Pleasant Plains Today

The Father McGivney High School baseball team won two games at the Pleasant Plains Showcase in Illinois on April 10. They defeated Mount Pulaski 5-3 in the first game and came back to beat Pleasant Plains 11-9 in the second game, which was called after five innings due to a time limit. With the two wins, the Griffins extended their winning streak to seven games and improved their overall record to 11-3. They are currently ranked 15th in Class 2A by MaxPreps.

Why it matters

The Griffins' strong performance at the Pleasant Plains Showcase demonstrates their ability to compete against tough opponents and maintain their winning momentum as the season progresses. Their success could help them gain recognition and potentially improve their ranking as they aim for a deep playoff run.

The details

In the first game against Mount Pulaski, the Griffins broke open a close 2-1 game with two runs in the fourth inning and one in the fifth. Mount Pulaski, ranked fourth in Class 1A, made a late push but fell short 5-3. In the second game, the Griffins rallied from a 9-7 deficit in the fifth inning, scoring four runs to take the 11-9 victory. Several Griffins players had strong offensive performances, including Omar Avalos, Isaac Wendler, and Brendan Kayser.

  • The Griffins played their first game against Mount Pulaski on April 10.
  • The Griffins played their second game against Pleasant Plains on April 10, which was called after five innings due to a time limit.
  • The Griffins will face Columbia at noon on April 11 to close out their stay in central Illinois.

The players

Omar Avalos

A player for the Father McGivney Griffins who had a strong offensive performance, going 3 for 4 with a double and three RBIs in the second game.

Isaac Wendler

A player for the Father McGivney Griffins who had a standout game, going 3 for 3 with two doubles and an RBI in the first game, and 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI in the second game.

Brendan Kayser

A player for the Father McGivney Griffins who had a 2 for 3 performance with an RBI in the second game.

Aiden Willis

The starting pitcher for the Father McGivney Griffins in the first game, going five innings and allowing one run on two hits with eight strikeouts and three walks.

William Heinz

The relief pitcher for the Father McGivney Griffins in the first game, pitching two innings and allowing two runs on two hits with three strikeouts and three walks to close out the 5-3 victory.

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What they’re saying

“Time was on Father McGivney's side to allow the Griffins to complete a sweep on the first day of the Pleasant Plains Showcase.”

— Matt Kamp, Author

What’s next

The Griffins will face Columbia at noon on April 11 to close out their stay in central Illinois.

The takeaway

The Father McGivney Griffins' strong performance at the Pleasant Plains Showcase, including two come-from-behind victories, demonstrates their ability to compete at a high level and maintain their winning momentum as the season progresses. Their success could help them gain recognition and potentially improve their ranking as they aim for a deep playoff run.