Valmeyer sophomore Philip Reinhardt went 6-3 with a 1.81 ERA on the mound and led the Pirates in hitting at .431. (John Spytek photo)

Valmeyer’s Philip Reinhardt was selected last week to the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 1A All-State Team for his amazing sophomore season on the mound and at the plate.

Philip, the son of Valmeyer head baseball coach Greg Reinhardt, hit .431 with a .503 on base percentage, 34 RBIs and 35 runs, and posted a 6-3 pitching record with a 1.81 ERA to lead the Pirates to their second straight state runner-up showing. 

In March, Reinhardt threw a seven-inning no-hitter in a 3-0 victory at Steeleville. In the super-sectional win over Illini Bluffs on May 28, Reinhardt threw six innings with just one earned run allowed and eight strikeouts.

The Pirates finished with an overall record of 31-10 this season.

“You want to win the state championship, but it’s cool to see the work you put in pay off,” Reinhardt said of the all-state honor. “I have to give credit to the team and coaches.”

Last season, Valmeyer’s Easton Wallace was named to the IHSBCA Class 1A All-State Team following the team’s state runner-up finish. He remains the all-time career hits leader at the school.

As a freshman on the 2017 Pirates squad, Reinhardt hit .360 with 27 RBIs and went 9-1 with a 0.95 ERA on the mound, including a victory in the state semifinal game at Peoria.

“You can’t really draw it up any better,” Reinhardt said about being able to play in the state tourney each of his first two seasons. “We were pretty disappointed because we wanted to win it all. It’s hard to get second and try to accept it. But looking back, it’s been fun.”

Reinhardt said he’ll miss playing with the eight seniors who were a vital part of the success over the past two seasons.

“I still get to play ball with them this summer, but I’ll miss them. It’s going to be hard next year without those guys.”

Reinhardt said he will keep working on his swing and pitching mechanics for further improvement, and hopes to continue to learn the game this summer.