Members of the 2011 Carrollton Hawk State Championship Baseball Team gathered for a 10-year reunion photo Dec. 18 at the Carrollton Knights of Columbus Hall. Front row, left to right: Asst. Coach Reg Pohlman, Jordan Kallal, Ryan Palan, Mike Fraley, Head Coach Greg Pohlman, Kurtis Weber, Sam Coonrod, Matthew Henson and Brenton Walls. Back row: Jordan Harr, Joey Coonrod, Tanner Krumwiede, Cody Kraut and Ethan Frye. Missing from the photo but members of the 2011 team are Dylan Barnett, Danny Williams, Kyle Kesinger, Asst. Coach Luke Pohlman, and Colton Lovel. (Submitted photo)
By Carmen Ensinger
Members of the 2011 Carrollton Hawk State Championship Baseball Team along with their family, friends and fans gathered for a reunion on Dec. 18 at the Carrollton Knights of Columbus Hall to relive the momentous day when Carrollton took top honors in the State in baseball.
The Hawks, led by Head Coach Greg Pohlman ended the season with a record of 31-1-1 with their only loss coming to Jersey early in the season. The tie was with Brown County and the Hawks defeated Lanark-Eastland, 8-1, in Peoria in the Championship game to claim the State title.
Pitching for the Hawks in the Championship game was none other than Sam Coonrod, now a relief pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies.
After high school, Coonrod attended Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. After college, he was a fifth round draft pick by the San Francisco Giants where he was a relief pitcher until last year, when he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies.
