GIFFORD — Buckley’s Dutch Masters won a baseball game on Sunday that was historic in significance.
A 6-1 triumph over Royal enabled Buckley to win the 80th Eastern Illinois Baseball League tournament championship and secure a tie for the most E.I. postseason titles won with 13.
“Buckley has had a rich tradition, and we hope to continue that for a long time,” said Dutch Masters player-coach Brock Niebuhr, who pitched the final inning to ensure that right-hander Kyle Pool became the E.I.’s only seven-game winner this summer.
The Dutch Masters swept the first two games in the best-of-three championship series, joining Gifford-Flatville for the most E.