Players, coaches, and school officials from St. Matthew School in Champaign pose with the IESA Class 1A state championship hardware following the Raiders' 9-2 win over Jacksonville Our Saviour on Oct. 7 at the EastSide Center in East Peoria. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

St. Matthew School in Champaign is celebrating a state championship earned by its baseball team on Monday with a 9-2 victory over Jacksonsville Our Saviour at the EastSide Centre in East Peoria.

Pitcher Cole Kemper was among the stars of St. Matthew’s state championship win, hurling a complete game in the Raiders’ 9-2 victory over Jacksonville Our Saviour for the IESA Class 1A title on Oct. 7. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

The title win followed a dramatic come-from-behind, extra inning victory on Saturday over Springfield St. Agnes in a semifinal game during the Illinois Elementary School Association Class 1A state tournament.

Pitcher Cole Kemper was among the stars of the championship game, hurling a complete game and allowing only five hits. The Raiders’ Tim Oliver went 3-for-3, including a double during a key 3-run rally in the fifth inning.

The team, which finished its historic season with an 18-2 record, will be recognized during an all-school assembly on Friday.

Pictured in the team photo above are: (front row) Reid Craddock, Patrick Kennedy, Luke McClure, Cole Kemper, Wilson Kirby, and Brenden Damore; (back row) Head Coach Mike Stilger, Coach Mike Kennedy, Toby Kreps, Coach Lance Oliver, Grant Evangelisti, Eli Schmitt,, Robbie Vavrik, Jason Ballard, TJ Woods, Ben horn. Joe Clavey, Luke Monahan, Jimmy Henderson, Father Lee Brokaw, and Coach Scott Runyan.