Chargers defeat Bombers to win regional title behind Carlisle’s 12-strikeout performance

Published 2:35 pm Sunday, May 31, 2026

EUREKA, Ill. — Illini West starting pitcher Ethan Carlisle came through when his team needed him the most.
Carlisle pitched six innings with 12 strikeouts, while allowing just five hits, two walks and one earned run to help the Chargers defeat Macomb 7-2 in the Class 2A Eureka Regional championship game on Saturday.
Carlisle is now 8-0 for the season set the Illini West all-time school record with 23 wins, surpassing Michael Lafferty’s total of 22. Wes Robertson pitched a clean seventh inning to shut the door on the Bombers.
It is the seventh regional baseball championship for Illini West in the school’s 19-year history, and the second in the past three years. The Chargers also had the satisfaction of defeating the team that knocked them out of the postseason last year, Macomb
Both teams traded runs in the first inning before the Chargers put up a three-spot in the second and plated another three runs in the fourth.
Chargers first baseman Cash Jones went 2-for-4 with a run and three RBIs, while Carlisle went 2-for-3 with a double, walk and two RBIs.
Illini West catcher Holton Darbyshire went 2-for-3, while Robertson went 1-for-1 with three walks, a triple, three runs and a stolen base.
Macomb starting pitcher Blaine Eddington lasted just 1.2 innings and had one strikeout, getting tagged with the loss after allowing five hits, four walks and four earned runs.
Tyler Schulz pitched 1.1 innings in relief for Macomb with one strikeout, while allowing four hits, one walk and three earned runs. Nick Elbe pitched the final three innings in relief and had four strikeouts, while allowing two hits, one walk and no runs.
Bombers first baseman Aiden Reynolds went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs, while Elbe went 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs.
Macomb finishes the 2026 season with a 22-12 record.
Up next for Illini West (27-7) is the Class 2A Chillicothe Sectional semifinal game against Monmouth-Roseville (16-15) at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday.