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player ready...Montini right fielder Joe Winckowski couldn’t catch a break for the first eight innings of Monday’s Class A supersectional at Oakton Community College in Des Plaines.
Winckowski was 0-for-4 with a strikeout, a lineout to the pitcher and two double plays.
However, in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded and one out, Winckowski redeemed himself by lofting Matt Engelhardt’s 1-2 pitch to deep right-center over the head of right fielder Andy Padilla to score Joe Rondinelli as the Broncos rallied to defeat Yorkville 5-4.
“Everyone told me to keep my head up, just keep swinging,” Winckowski said. “It came down to two strikes, so I just choked up and put the ball in play.”
Winckowski wouldn’t have had his chance if it were not for Montini pitcher Dan Mueller.
Yorkville roughed up Mueller for four runs in the top of the second to take a 4-1 lead. The Broncos (22-9), who advance Downstate for the first time, cut the deficit to 4-2 in the bottom of the second and tied the game in the fifth on Kevin Tyrrell’s RBI single and Joe Howard’s run-scoring triple off Yorkville starter Scott Weeks.
Yorkville (22-17) threatened in the top of the sixth, putting runners on first and third with two outs, but Mueller, after a conference with coach Bill Leeberg, struck out Bryant Ekwinski.
“[Leeberg] told me `Relax, you’ve got defense behind you now,'” Mueller said. “I relaxed and came back with the strikeout.”
Mueller retired the final 10 batters he faced to earn the victory. He pitched all nine innings, allowing two earned runs and striking out eight.
Rondinelli was hit by an Engelhardt pitch to start the ninth. Ryan Cavanaugh reached on a throwing error, putting runners on second and third. Tyrrell, who walked four times, received an intentional walk to load the bases. Engelhardt struck out Howard looking, but gave up Winckowski’s drive to end the game.
Mike Pankow.
Class AA regional finals
Naperville Central: Chris Gruber’s RBI bunt single in the third inning and three-run double in the sixth helped Joliet Catholic knock off Joliet 5-0.
Gruber’s two hits were the only hits allowed by Joliet pitcher Mark Novak, and all five Joliet Catholic runs were unearned. Hilltoppers senior left-hander Chris Ericksen took a no-hitter into the sixth before giving up two singles.
Reavis: Sandburg exploded for five runs in the sixth to defeat the host Rams 7-2. Mike Marshall and Jason Olson each had two RBIs for the Eagles (21-9).
St. Joseph: Matt Evans, Brett Kellam and Dan O’Brien each went 1-for-2 with an RBI for Mt. Carmel (26-11), which scored all of its runs in the bottom of the fifth to top St. Patrick 4-3.
Thornwood: Mike Foster and James Augustine had three RBIs apiece to spark Lincoln-Way Central (17-13) to an 11-7 win over Thornwood (16-14).
Waukegan: Travis Myers singled with two outs in the 10th inning to drive in Gregory Zage and lift Lake Forest to a 2-1 victory over Niles West. Myers also drove in a run in the eighth to give the Scouts (20-14) a 1-0 lead.
Softball
Class AA regional finals
Oak Forest: Brittany McIntyre struck out 12 and had the game-winning hit as No. 2 Sandburg (28-3) topped Oak Forest 3-2.
Joliet Catholic: Laura Severson struck out 16 to lead No. 4 Lincoln-Way Central (26-4) past Joliet Catholic 6-0.
Deerfield: Elissa Wisniewski had 10 strikeouts and Erin Murtha drove in the game-winning run as Stevenson edged the host Warriors 3-2.
Glenbard East: Kristey Vanek singled in Kristen Kratky in the third as Downers Grove South (26-8) edged Glenbard East 1-0.
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Hinsdale South: Shannon Walker had two RBIs to help Downers Grove North (18-12) defeat Benet 8-4.
Lake Park: Elk Grove (28-7) slipped past Lake Park 1-0 in 11 innings as Megan Huitink went the distance and struck out 21.
New Trier: Katie Spence fired a no-hitter to lift New Trier (21-11) to a 1-0 victory over Regina.
Riverside-Brookfield: Dana Cebular and Sandy Vojik each had two RBIs as the host Bulldogs (30-6) overcame a three-run deficit to defeat Nazareth 7-5.
Thornton Fractional North: Marian Catholic (30-6) rolled past Bloom 10-0 in five innings behind Angelica Esponosa’s perfect game with 10 strikeouts.
Warren: Crystal Lake Central (26-5) bested Antioch 4-3 to capture its first regional title since 1989.
Woodstock: McHenry (20-10) edged the host Blue Streaks 3-0 as Ashley Wilson went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
Zion-Benton: Tiffany Reid’s three RBIs led Zion-Benton (24-6) to a 5-2 win over Vernon Hills (22-10).
Class A supersectional
Shabbona Indian Creek: Illiana Christian (27-9) downed Richmond-Burton 4-0 behind Deb DeGraff’s one-hit, 10-strikeout effort.