Massey Basketball: 1988 Streaks Baseball- State Champions- “The Record Speaks for Itself”

While Galesburg HS had a rich tradition in athletics, going into the 1987-8 school year only three Silver Streaks had ever won an IHSA Team State Championship. The 1913 boys basketball team, 1963 boys golf, and 1972 boys golf teams were GHS’s only 3 State Champs. The 1988 Streaks boys baseball team became the 4th Illinois State Champs.

Season Preview

The 1987 Silver Streaks surprised everyone by going to State. The surprise was because the ‘87 Streaks were mainly sophomores and juniors. For the 1988 season, the Streaks returned every starter and their top three pitchers.

The Streaks top returning pitchers were Corny Stanley, Kelly Healey, and Scott Vanier. The opening day lineup for the Streaks was C Toby Davis, 1B Guy Goodman, 2B Bret Bruington, SS Jeremy Kleine, 3B Jaimie Taylor, LF Lance Aten, CF Stanley/Healey, RF Mark Probst, and DH Dusty Rhoades.

In addition to the returners, Galesburg had two transfer players. Jake Libby from ROWVA was to become a pitching ace, and Doug Sholtis from Texas was to become a hitting star. A great team just got a little better.

Coach Gary Bruington captured the feelings going into the season when he said, “This team has more ability than any team I have every coached.”

Regular Season

The Streaks had a 25-5 regular season, which set a school record for most wins in a season. Galesburg’s 5 losses were twice to Limestone, once each to East Moline, Rock Island, and Peoria Spalding.

Galesburg started the season by winning 5 in a row, then going 1-3 with losses to Limestone and UT. In the non-conference games vs. Limestone, in a touch of gamesmanship, Coach Bruington elected not to use his top two starters, Stanley and Libby. Limestone had future MLB HOFer, Jim Thome.

After losing to UT, Galesburg went on another 10 game winning streak before losing back to back to Rocky and Spalding. The Streaks then finished the season with a 9 game winning streak.

To accommodate the hitting of Doug Sholtis and to make some defensive adjustments, by the time the Streaks reached the IHSA Tourney Series, Coach Bruington had adjusted the lineup to look like this-

C Davis, 1B Goodman, 2B Bruington, SS Kleine, 3B Al Satunus, LF Doug Sholtis, CF Mark Probst, and RF Jamie Taylor. When Stanley was not pitching, he played left field.

The Streaks were WB6 Champs and placed 6 players on the All-Conference team- Pitchers Corny Stanley and Jake Libby, 1B Guy Goodman, 2B Bret Bruington, RF Mark Probst. Six players on the all-conference team was the most ever in WB6 history.

Galesburg Regional Tourney

Galesburg opened tourney action by beating UTHS 6-3 behind the pitching of Corny Stanley. Corny went 7 innings, gave up 5 hits and struck out 14 batters. Stanley and Sholtis each homered to give the Streaks enough runs for the win.

Jake Libby had a masterful regular season, jumping out to a 5-1 start to the season. He seemed to only get better and stronger. In succession, he had thrown a no-hitter, 1-hitter, and two 3-hitters. But Jake was diagnosed with mono and appeared to be done for the season.

It turned out he indeed was able to come back in the last week of the regular season, he pitched two innings. Coach Bruington scheduled him to pitch the Regional Championship game. The hope was to get 4 innings out of him. It turned out Jake thru 6 2/3 innings and struck out 14 batters at Galesburg beat Rock Island 6-3.

Limestone Sectional

Galesburg was matched up to play Ottawa. The favorite, Limestone was to play Woodruff. Woodruff upset Limestone 8-7.

Galesburg defeated Ottawa 8-3 with Corny Stanley hitting his 10th homer of the year and scoring his 47th run. Jamie Taylor hit a three run home.

Galesburg scheduled Jake Libby to go against Woodruff. Libby tossed a 5-hitter with 13 K’s on 145 pitches. Stanly hit his 11th HR and Goodman also homered. Sholtis had 3 hits while Stanley, Taylor and Goodman each had 2 hits.

During the Regional and Sectional run, Doug Sholtis batted .500 going 7-14. As a new kid on the team, transferring from Texas, Sholtis did not have his first at bat for the Streaks until the 6th game of the season.

State Tourney at Springfield

Coach Bruington summed up the Streaks mindset as they headed to State, “The kids are expecting to win this year, I am too.”

GHS had made six previous trips to State in the 40+ years of the IHSA tourney. Only once before had Galesburg ever won a game at State. The 1966 Streaks won their Elite 8 game before losing in the semi-finals. So the 1988 Streaks headed to Springfield with GHS holding an all-time State Tourney record of 1-6.

In the opening round, Corny Stanley was matched up to face Glenbrook South (19-14). Seeking redemption from the previous year’s outing, Corny threw a 1-hitter, while striking out 7. Galesburg won a close game 3-0. Galesburg scored in the first on a 2-run single by Sholtis, and then added an unearned run in the second. Glenbrook South’s only threat came in the 5th when they put runners on first and third with only one out, but Stanley pitched out of the inning.

It was Libby’s turn vs Marist in the semi-finals. Libby got the job done in a 6-1 win. Galesburg scored two runs in the first on a 2-run single by Toby Davis. With Galesburg ahead 4-0 in the 7th, Sholtis hit a 2-run HR. Marist produced a token run in the bottom of the 7th.

Galesburg faced Barrington in the championship game. The Broncos have a been a perennial power in Illinois baseball. The game quickly turned into more of a celebration than a competitive game. The Streaks won 21-4 while setting 17 offensive records. Sholtis went 4 for 5 with 6 RBI’s to earn the tourney’s MVP Award. Others on the All-Tourney were Toby Davis, Guy Goodman, and Corny Stanley.

Galesburg’s #1 reliever, Eric Gillenwater drew the start and pitched the first 3 innings. Junior, Lance Aten came on in relief in the 4th inning and pitched the last two innings to collect win. Aten lived out every young players dream by striking out the last batter to end the game and being the celebration of the State Championship.

In over 120 years of athletics at Galesburg HS, the ‘88 Silver Streaks baseball team is only the 4th team to ever win a State Championship.

Coach Gary Bruington reflected on the State Championship game by saying, “I don’t know what other win could be bigger in Galesburg sports.”

And Bru went onto to reflect on the Streaks not just winning State but establishing themselves as one of the greatest teams in IHSA history by saying, “There have been a lot of great ballplayers who have played in the Illinois State Tournament that have gone on to the big leagues. Without question, we would have to be considered one of the best teams to have ever played down there. The record speaks for itself.”