Northfield rallied for four runs in the top of the seventh inning and won the Class 2A state championship, 4-2, over Speedway.

The Norsemen (28-5), making their initial appearance in the baseball state finals, won the first state title in the school’s history in any sport.

Trailing 2-0 going into the seventh, Northfield’s rally began when Jason Stanley launched a one-out double over the leftfielder that rolled to the wall, scoring Eric Highley and Shawn Smith to knot the game at 2-2. Highley was a pinch runner for Nich Good, who reached on a fielder’s choice, and Smith walked. Chad McWhirt delivered the winning hit, a two-out single hit sharply up the middle to score Josh Merrick and Stanley.

The Sparkplugs (23-9) scored a run in the first inning and again in the sixth. B.J. Grove singled to rightfield scoring Jimmy Rust who led off the game with a single and stole second base. Speedway took a 2-0 lead in the sixth inning when Mark Gonzales singled scoring Eric Mattingly. Mattingly had reached on a fielding error and stole second base.

Stanley earned the victory (10-0) striking out six in six innings or work before Smith came on in the seventh for the save. Mattingly suffered the loss (9-4) after coming on in relief of Trevor Nelis, who had pitched the first 6 1/3 innings. Stanley was the first batter that Mattingly faced in the seventh.

Northfield reached the championship game with a 2-1 semifinal victory over Leo on Friday, while Speedway advanced with a 2-1, eight inning decision over Eastern (Pekin).

Northfield was coached by Tony Uggen and Speedway by Bruce Hutchings.