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It was a season like no other for the Centralia Orphans golf team.
From a perfect 15-0 record in regular season matches to six tournament championships as well as conference, regional and sectional titles, capped off by a second lace finish at state, it was a year to remember for the Orphans in 2008.
It began with high hopes as coach John Sallee greeted a trio of returning state qualifiers in Jeffery Miller, Michael Fowler and Kenny Evischi.
"It's a good group," Sallee said at the start of his 14th - and final season - as CHs golf coach. "I hope they understand -
and I think they do - what they're capable of doing. Hopefully they can realize
their potential."
Right from the start the Orphans were ready to go at the Alton Tee-off Classic where Centralia tied Edwardsville for team honors and would up second based on the fifth score. The Orphans followed that up with a fourth place finish at the prestigious Quincy
Invitational where Miller was medalist in a sudden-death playoff and Fowler placed third.
After a first-place finish at the Tee Off Classic at Carbondale the Orphans rang up a 146 on the back nine at Greenview Golf Course for a 27-stroke win over Belleville West in their home dual match opener.
Following three more dual match wins, Centralia won the Carbondale Invitational for a third straight year with a record score of 194 in the unique best-ball format on the front nine and scramble on the back as Jeffery Miller and Will Miller combined for a 62 to post medalist honors.
Four more wins in dual and triangular matches and a second-place finish at the Salem Match Play Invitational brought the Orphans back to Greenview where they won their own invitational with a record 11-under 199 and by a 19-shot margin over runner-up Collinsville.
Bo Cook and Kenny Evischi combined for a bogey-free 65 while Michael Fowler and Trevor Devore and Jeffrey and Will Miller both tied for second with 67's.
The following week Centralia broke a 27 year old school record for a nine-hole team score with a 133 at Bent Oak GC in Breese as Bo Cook had a 32, Jeffery Miller 33, Will Miller and Kenny Evischi posted 34s each.
That led to the South 7 Conference Tournament where the Orphans took home the top prize for the fifth straight year.
Their 310 was good for a winning margin of 17 shots as Centralia made a 16-stroke improvement on the back nine (holes 19 and 27) on the course at Rend Lake.
All six Orphans earned all-conference honors, led by Evischi who took second with a 74 after a sudden-death playoff. Cook was third at 77, Jeffery Miller was fifth at 79 and Will Miller, Fowler and Devore all had 80s.
Centralia wrapped up the regular season by winning the Mascoutah Invitational by 20 strokes as Cook
won medalist honors on a scoreboard playoff with he and teammate evischi both having 72.
The Orphans charged into the postseason with a resounding first-place finish in the Class 2A regional held at Greenview.
Centralia totaled a 4-over 284 to take first place going away by a 35-stroke advantage behind a 65 from Cook who burned up the back nine with a 4-under 31.
Jeffery Miller added a 69, Evischi 74 and Fowler 76 for the Orphans' scoring.
From there it was on to the sectional at Salem Country Club and Centralia won its first sectional title in the program's history with a 294, good for a 17-shot margin of
victory
Cook carded a 2-under 70 to lead Centralia while Fowler had a 74 and DeVore and Jeffery Miller had 75s each.
The Orphans then turned their sights on the state tournament at the D.A. Weibring Golf Center in Normal after posting state-best team scores in both the regional and sectional.
"If they can go out there and just play like they are capable of playing they'll have a chance," Sallee said of his team on the eve of the tournament. "But the key is the first day. They have to get themselves off to a good start and put themselves in contention. I really don't think the pressure of the situation will bother them. The seem to play better with more on the line."
And the Orphans were right there. Centralia grabbed an early lead on the first day before five-time defending champion Normal U. High edged ahead 301-303.
Jeffery Miller led the Orphans with an even par 71 and was tied for second individually.
The battle continued into the second day with Normal U. High -playing on its home course - fending off the Orphans 600-609.
Fowler and Jeffery Miller earned All-State honors after each totaled 149s to tie for fifth. Other state scores were Evischi 156, Cook 159, Will Miller 160 and Devore
161.
It's disappointing," said Jeffery Miller. "But we had a really good season." "Not winning is disappointing but I think we all played as
well as we could," said Fowler. "We had a great season and if you would have told me at the start of the year this was where we would be I would have taken
it."
Fowler,Cook, Evischi and Jeffery Miller were named All-South by the Southern Illinois Coaches Association and Sallee was selected as Coach of the Year.
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