Gibault High School freshman baseball player Jordan McFarland is this week’s Republic-Times Athlete of the Week.

McFarland blasted himself into the Illinois state record books last week with a home run and hit streak unlike any freshman before him. Here is the article about McFarland’s accomplishments in this week’s edition of the RT:

McFarland’s streak in state record books

All streaks must come to an end. For Gibault freshman Jordan McFarland, Monday’s extra inning, 7-6 home victory against Cahokia marked the first time in four games played that he did not hit a home run.

Jordan will now grace the Illinois record books as one of eight players in IHSA recorded history who have hit four home runs in four consecutive at bats.

“After looking at the records, I think it is safe to say he is the only person to do it as a freshman on that list,” Gibault baseball coach Andy Skaer said.

McFarland began his streak April 1, stepping up to the plate in the team’s second game of their double header against Alton-Marquette. The following game, McFarland did not hit, but then made himself known two days later against Valmeyer, hitting a walk-off home run to seal the deal for the Hawks. Friday, McFarland hit two home runs against Pinckneyville to blast himself into the record books.

“That’s a pretty impressive feat,” Skaer said, also referring to McFarland’s hit streak, which ended in his last at bat at Pinckneyville.

Up until that point, the Hawks freshman had gone six consecutive at bats with a hit. That makes two Illinois records for McFarland in just two and a half weeks.

Before McFarland, only two people had accomplished a similar feat with four hits in four consecutive AB’s and only one with five. Only five players stand before McFarland with greater than six hits in six at bats, with Don Toole hitting seven in a row in 1947, according to the IHSA records.

McFarland came to Gibault from St. James Catholic School in Millstadt, where his family says he grew up with a hot bat.

“I knew he was a good hitter growing up,” Skaer said. “It was just how does that translate to the varsity level?”

Well, it certainly has for the 6’2”, 185-pound freshman.

“Jordan, as a freshman, is physically mature,” Skaer said, adding that his size gives him an advantage and that he is a smart baseball player on top of that.

McFarland has definitely earned himself a spot in the Hawks’ everyday lineup.

“When he’s performing like that, how can we not?” Skaer said with a laugh.

But McFarland is not the only local slugger hot on the metro east baseball scene.

Columbia senior Brendan DePoy is among the area’s top plate leaders, helping CHS to six wins in the team’s past seven games.

According to the St. Louis Post Dispatch’s cumulative area statistics, DePoy is seventh among batting average leaders with a .567 average; tied for third on the home run leader board along with fellow Eagles senior Evan Dake — each with three home runs; DePoy is tied for fifth with two triples; he leads the area with 11 doubles; DePoy is tied for fourth with 21 RBIs, (Dake has 18); and he is tied for second with a .1000 slugging percentage.

Both Gibault and Columbia were scheduled to play Tuesday, with Gibault hosting Waterloo and Columbia taking on Wesclin at home, but both games were cancelled due to rain.

Congrats Jordan, keep up the good work!

Illinois State Batting Records according to IHSA:

Most Consecutive Hits

[1.] 11, Joe Zimmerman, Bushnell (B.-Prairie City), 2006
[2.] 10, Mark Uhles, Benton, 2010
[3.] 9, Blake Durfinger, Biggsville (West Central), May 8 thru May 17, 2010
[4.] 8, Gabriel Adams, Park Forest (Rich East)), 2010 (home run, triple, double, 5 singles)
[5.] 7, Don Toole, El Paso vs. Eureka, 1947
[6.] 5, Brandon Scheffler, Burlington (Central) vs Maple Park (Kaneland), May 8, 2004
[7.] 4, Brandon Scheffler, Burlington (Central) vs. Palatine (H.S.), 2004
[7.] 4, Jo Jo Malldanado, Oak Park (O.P.-River Forest) vs. Wheaton (North), June 6, 2008

Most Consecutive Home Runs

[1.] 9, Mick Gray, Bridgeport (Red Hill), vs. Albion (Edwards County), April 5; vs. South Knox, Ind. (2 games), April 7; vs. Palestine, April 9; vs. Louisville (North Clay), (2), April 12; vs. Hutsonville, April 16; vs. Fairfield, April 17; vs. Oln
[2.] 5, Mike Lemons, White Hall (North Greene) vs. Bluffs, 1 in 1st game (6th inn.), 4 in 2nd game (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th inns.) May 9, 1987
[2.] 5, Jason Richardson, Elgin (Larkin), 1999; vs. St. Charles (H.S.), May 24; vs. Elgin (H.S.), May 25
[2.] 5, Curtis Parrish, Odin vs. Mulberry Grove, April 19; vs. Woodlawn, April 20, 2002
[2.] 5, Tylor Hedge, Donovan vs. Crete (C.-Monee), Mar. 26, 2010 (4-in 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th), vs. Watseka, Mar. 29, 2010 (1-in 1st)
[6.] 4, Mark Genthe, Wheaton (W. Warrenville South) vs. Naperville (North), Apr. 15, 1997
[6.] 4, J.D. Fye, Lena (L.-Winslow) vs. Elizabeth (River Ridge), Apr. 23, 1997, vs. Mt. Carroll, Apr. 25, 1997
[6.] 4, Kyle Young, Greeenville, 1999; vs. 3 vs. Altamont, 5-6 ;1 vs. Stauton, 5-10, (1st inning)
[6.] 4, Jake Foor, Gridley vs. Lexington, 4-11; and vs. Mackinaw (Deer Creek-M.), 4-14, 2003
[6.] 4, Dan Lipp, Huntley vs. Wheeling,
[6.] 4, Alex Renner, Urbana (University) vs. Fisher (3), April 9; vs. Decatur (Christian), April 14, 2005
[6.] 4, Mark Uhles, Benton vs. Murphysboro, April 10, 2010 (4 ab)
[6.] 4, Connor Clifton, Paxton (P.-Buckley-Loda) vs. Clifton (Central), May 13, 2010
[14.] 3, Jerad Pruitt, Piasa (Southwestern) vs. White Hall (North Greene); vs. Pana (2)
[14.] 3, Corey Case, Clinton vs. Argenta (A.-Oreana), 1986
[14.] 3, Scott Farlow, Mendon (Unity) vs. Quincy (Sr.) (4th & 6th inn.), 5-13-97, vs. Hamilton (1st inn.), May 15, 1997
[14.] 3, Nathan Anderson, Woodhull (AlWood) vs. Toulon (Stark County), 1999 (1st, 2nd, 3rd inn.)
[14.] 3, Zach Miller, Effingham (St. Anthony) vs. Vandalia (2 HR), vs. Newton (1 HR), April 2 & 5, 2005
[14.] 3, Matt Hamann, Northbrook (Glenbrook North) vs. Palatine (Fremd), April 22, 2006 (3rd, 5th, 6th inn.)
[14.] 3, Josh Manley, Lawrenceville vs. Albion (Edwards Co., ), Mt. Carmel, Flora), April 17-20, 2007
[14.] 3, Josh Manley, Lawrenceville vs. (Bridgeport Red Hill), Vincennes, Ind., 2), April 26-28, 2007
[14.] 3, Andy Schultz, Herscher vs. Grant Park, April 23, 2008
[14.] 3, Drew Bosgraaf, Shelbyville vs. Tuscola, May 12, 2009
[14.] 3, Jordan Manuel, Noble (West Richland) vs. Newton, April 8, 2010
[14.] 3, Malik Steward, Richton Park (Rich South) vs. Crete (C.-Monee), May 4, 2010
[14.] 3, Blake Durflinger, Biggsville (Central-West) vs. East Moline (United), (2) 5-14; vs. Ridgewood, May 17, 2010
[14.] 3, Tyler House, Olympia Fields (Rich Central) vs. Park Forest (Rich East) on May 10, 2011