Tribune high school baseball reporter Dave Surico sees a lot of games all over the Chicago area. Wherever he goes, he files a special report for Chicagosports.com readers. Be sure to check in here for periodic reports on what he saw.
June 3
Semifinal 2
Driscoll vs. Chillicothe IVC
D 000 022 0--4 IVC 230 100 x--6
WP-Chris Razo, (13-1) 7 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, 5 K, 2 BB, 110 pitches
LP-Bob Simmons (8-1) 3 1/3 IP, 6 ER, 6 H, 3 K, 2 BB, 3 HBP
Driscoll (35-4): David Schwabe, SS, so.; Frank Tenuto, DH, sr./Kyle Ulaszek, CF, jr.; Bob Simmons, P, sr.; Ryan Leahy, LF, sr.; Adam Davis, C, so.; Kevin Palermo, RF, so.; Casey Savatski, 3B, jr.; Tom Parker, 2B, sr.; Mike Echeverria, 1B, jr.
Illinois Valley Central (39-2): Joel Perez, 2B, sr.; Josh Parr, SS, so.;
Tyler Anderson, 1B, sr.; Zach McAllister, 3B, sr.; Mark McIntyre, DH,
sr./Chris Razo, P, fr.; Adam Sperry, CF, sr.; Tim Ladd, LF, sr.; Chris
Shindley, RF, sr.; Andy Semtner, C, sr.
Game notes
The big IVC bats carry the day again. Perez walked, went to second on a error on a pickoff try by Davis, went to 3rd on a sacrifice bunt from Parr. He scored on a sacrifice fly to left by Anderson. McAllister singled to left, went to second when McIntyre was hit bay a pitch and scored on Sperry’s ground double inside the third base bag. With one out in the third Semtner and Perez were hit by pitches. Parr tripled in courtesy runner Trevor Whalen and Perez. Parr scored on McAllister’s 2-out double to center. Perez manufactured the last run. He singled to right center, stole second and third and scored when Davis’ pickoff throw went into left field. Razo retired 9 of the last 10 batters he faced. The freshman recorded his third strikeout of the 1st with two Driscoll runners on base. He K’ed four strikeouts against the first 8 batters he faced. Driscoll got on the board in the 4th. Leahy singled to center and Davis hit a ground double down the third base line. Leahy scored on Palermo’s groundout to short and courtesy runner Pete Pulkownik scored from third on a wild pitch. The Highlanders scored their final two runs in the 5th. Schwabe led off with a single to right, followed by Tenuto’s RBI double to left. Tenuto took third on a heads-up play when the throw to the infield got away. He scored on Simmons ground out to 3rd for the final Highlander run. Driscoll’s sophomores flashed some glove in the semi. Catcher Davis made a terrific diving catch of a foul bunt popup in the 4th and shortstop Schwabe gloved a ball headed to second base spun 360 degrees before throwing out the runner.
More Top Picks Best Bed Sheets
They said it:
Driscoll coach Sean Bieterman: They jumped on us early and I proud how our kids fought and clawed the whole ball game. We were a couple hits away from busting that game open in our favor. We just talked about winning our last game so we’re going to go out there and do this one more time.
Driscoll’s Bobby Simmons: I wasn’t hitting my spots as well as I like to. We made too many little mistakes early. I think that’s what did us in. I was really happy how we fought back. It showed a lot of heart.
IVC coach Jerry Rashid: Probably his greatest asset is how really composed he is. He has done this all year long. He’s not the most vocal guy and he’s not real emotional. But he keeps everything in check.
IVC’s Chris Razo: I got roughed up a bit and they kept me up. It really helped when Zach (McAllister) and all the seniors told me to stay up. I just kept on my game. We got some breaks on some hard hit balls that went right to our guys.
Class A Semifinal 1
Wesclin vs. Columbia
W 100 000 02--3 C 000 010 00--1
WP-Tyler Kehrer (7-3), 8 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 12 K, 4 BB, 2 HBP, 130 pitches
LP-Trent Blank (8-2), 8 IP, 3 R, 1 ER, 8 H, 2 K, 3 BB, 103 pitches
Starting lineups in batting order
Wesclin (25-6): Matt Davis, DH, sr./Rob Meyer, RF, jr.; Paul Ritzheimer, CF, so.; Richie Derback, SS, sr.; Eric Gentz, 1B, sr.; Justin Dunning, C, jr.; Justin Litteken, 3B, jr.; Tyler Kehrer, P, sr.; Jason Heinzmann, LF, jr.; Jim Ritzheimer, 2B, sr.
Columbia (28-11-1): Dusty LePere, CF, jr.; Joel Greatting, 3B, fr.; Patrick Davis, SS, sr.; Ben Thoma, C, jr.; Eric Hosler, 2B, sr.; Trent Blank, P, so.; Brandon Weisenborn, LF, jr.; Tyler Kleinschmidt, 1B, sr.; Aaron Floarke, RF, so.
Game notes
Litteken and Kehrer came through with two-out RBI singles in the top of the eighth ? Kehrer was clocked at at 92 MPH in the sixth. He made things interesting in the bottom of the eighth. After two outs, he hit Thoma and Hosler before getting Blank looking to end the game ? Gentz, Litteken and Kehrer each had two hits and an RBI for the winners. Davis and Floarke singled for Columbia ? Winner Kehrer is bound for Eastern Illinois along with teammate Derbak ? Cahokia Conference showdown goes to Wesclin. The two schools are 20 miles apart in the St. Louis area ? Columbia beat Wesclin 1-0 in 9 innings May 8. Derbak had a perfect game for 8 1/3 before Columbia’s Kleinschmidt singled and LePere doubled him in. In that game Blank pitched a complete game, four-hitter.
They said it
Wesclin coach John Groennert
“Tyler’s great. He was throwing 92 MPH and spotting the curve ball. He kept them off balance and was able to get ahead and throw the ball by some kids.”
Wesclin’s Tyler Kehrer
On hitting two batters in the bottom of the eighth: “I overthrew and I got a little out of hand. I should have stayed in myself. I don’t think that should happen. Adrenaline was getting out of control a little bit.
Columbia coach Dusty Nail
“I think in the sixth I looked over at John (Gronnert) and said if it wasn’t like this it wouldn’t be us playing. Almost every year we play it’s a dogfight and this time they came out on top.
June 2
Class A Quarterfinal 4
Richmond-Burton vs. Illinois Valley Central
R-B 000 31 - X4 IVC 006 53 -- 14
WP-Zach McAllister (12-1), 5 IP, 4 ER, 8 H, 8 K, 2 BB
LP-Pete Lesnewski (5-2), 3 1/3 IP, 10 R, 9 ER, 10 H, 2 K, 1 BB
Starting lineups in batting order
Richmond-Burton (26-9): Anthony Pontarelli, SS, jr.; Ben Thomas, DH, jr./Brian Dittmar, 2B, jr.; Nate Roberts, LF, jr.; Steve Massoth, 3B, sr.; Pete Lesnewski, P, so.; Kevin Krajewski, 1B, sr.; Jimmy Hay, RF, jr.; Chris Suchomski, CF, sr.; Jake Vetter, C, jr.
Illinois Valley Central (38-2): Joel Perez, 2B, sr.; Josh Parr, SS, so.; Tyler Anderson, 1B, sr.; Zach McAllister, P, sr.; Mark McIntyre, DH, sr./Chris Razo, 3B, fr.; Adam Sperry, CF, sr.; Tim Ladd, LF, sr.; Chris Shindley, RF, sr.; Andy Semtner, C, sr.
Game notes
Richmond-Burton touched McAllister for the most earned runs (4) and hits (8, including 3 doubles) of the season, but the Rockets couldn’t overcome the IVC bats ? The Grey Ghosts pounded out 15 hits, including five extra base hits. Ladd hit a 2-run homer over the left field fence in the third inning ? Nebraska signee McAllister threw in the low 90s early in the game ? Thomas and Lesnewski paced the R-B offense. Thomas went 3-for-3 and scored 2 runs. Lesnewski had 3 hits in 3 at bats and 3 RBIs ? McAllister, McIntyre, and Sperry had 3 hits for IVC. McIntyre knocked in 4 runs; Anderson, McAllister, Sperry and Ladd each drove in 2. Courtesy runner Trevor Whalen scored 3 times for McAllister.
They said it
Richmond-Burton coach Mike Giese
“You can take the scouting report and read it upside down, sideways and backwards and it pretty much says the same thing: They’re good. They can flat out rake, every single one of them. There’s not a weak spot out there.
Richmond-Burton’s Ben Thomas
On how he got 3 hits off McAllister: “Um, prayed? Coach told us to go up there and be aggressive and treat him like anybody else. I got the pitches I wanted at times, and put the ball in play and good things happened.
“You know who he is and it’s kind of like ‘Whoa.’ But once you get out there were all on the same playing field and we all want the same thing. I glanced up there (at the scoreboard radar), it was kind of like ‘Wow.’ The cool thing was after I put the ball in play I looked around to see what it (the speed) was. It was just neat. It was a neat experience that I’ll remember forever.
Richmond-Burton’s Pete Lesnewski
“Even when I kept the ball down they were able to hit. Give them credit, they’re a good team. Our goal was to get four runs and somehow see if we could hold them. They’re a better team than us.
I’m holding my head high. It was a great season, first sectional and supersectional winners for the first time in history.”
IVC’s Zach McAllister
“I was getting pitches up. They’re a good hitting team and they put the ball in play and hit the ball hard. I was getting frustrated, but I was able to make some quality pitches to get out of the (fourth) inning.”
June 2
Class A quarterfinal 3
Sherrard 000 000 0--0 Driscoll 010 100 x--2
WP-Casey Savatski (12-0)
LP-Jordan Christensen (10-1)
Starting lineups in batting order
Sherrard (31-5): Jeff Gauley, CF, sr.; Sean McCollum, LF, sr.; Brandon Miller, 2B, sr.; Brandon Oelmann, SS, sr.; Nick Heiar, RF, sr.; Jordan Christensen, P, sr.; Ren Epperly, 1B, sr.; Trent Galvin, DH, sr./Neil Brown, C, jr.; Aaron Devolder, 3B, so.
Driscoll (35-3): David Schwabe, SS, so.; Frank Tenuto, DH, sr.; Bob Simmons, 3B, sr.; Ryan Leahy, LF, sr.; Adam Davis, C, so.; Kevin Palermo, RF, so.; Casey Savatski, P, jr.; Tom Parker, 2B, sr.; Mike Echeverria, 1B, jr.
Game notes:
Game started after approximately an 1 1/2 hour rain delay ? Sherrard’s Nick Heiar made all three putouts in the Driscoll 5th, none bigger than the leaping grab with his back to the infield that robbed Simmons of a 2-out, 2 RBI extra base hit ? Tough luck for Sherrard in the top of the sixth, mohawked speedster Gauley appeared to have beaten out a sharp grounder to short. Devolder advanced to third on the play. He went for home on contact after McCollum’s grounder to third. The throw beat him far in advance and he was called out. However it appeared he was tagged high on the slide and slid in safe was and appeared to score on the slide after a high tag ? Most entertaining play of the game came in the 6th. With Driscoll’s Leahy on first, Davis popped up a bunt inside the third base line, pitcher Christensen appeared to have an easy play, but it bounced off his glove. Alert third baseman Devolder grabbed the ball in foul territory and fired a one hopper to second that shortstop Oelmann grabbed for the force out. Driscoll rightfielder Palermo moved up to the varsity when Kyle Jenkins went down with ACL surgery in mid-April. It’s his first stint in the outfield. He hit a 2-out double in the fourth. He then advanced to third and scored on two wild pitches. The win was Driscoll’s 19th straight. Game was played in a snappy 1:18.
They said it
Driscoll’s Casey Savatski: “The guys on the team laugh. They know if they play “D” behind me, if they want to go out after the game they’ll be out on time,” said Savatski, who knocked in Driscoll’s first run with a two-out double in the second. “I pitch fast. I work quick. I don’t let the hitters adjust to what I’m doing. I make them come to my pace.
“I like to think of (White Sox pitcher) Mark Buehrle. I know he pitches quick and he doesn’t have the most overpowering stuff either.”
Driscoll’s Kevin Palermo: “Coach (Sean Bieterman) has been telling us to read the ball if it’s in the dirt, and if it’s (a) go, just go. You’ve got to run,” said Palermo, who moved up to the varsity when three-sport star Kyle Jenkins went down with a season-ending knee injury. “So I just took off and didn’t look back. Just get a good jump and you’ll make it most of the time.”
Class A quarterfinal No. 2
Danville Schlarman vs. Columbia
Schlarman 010 00-1 Columbia 225 4X-5
WP-Joel Greatting (4-0), 4 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 3 K, 3 BB
LP-Travis Jaggers (7-3), 1 2/3 IP, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 H, 1 K, 3 BB
Starting lineups in batting order
Schlarman (27-6): Jacob Trimble, 3B, sr.; Jared Lazzell, CF, jr.; Chris Lewellyn, SS, sr.; Travis Jaggers, P, sr.; Ryan Franklin, 1B, sr,; Cameron Hazel, RF, sr.; Pete Goodwin, C, jr.; Michael Kasper, 2B, so.; Darin Wisecup, DH, sr./Zac Olson, LF, sr.
Columbia (28-10-1): Dusty LePere, CF, jr.; Joel Greatting, P, fr.; Patrick Davis, SS, sr.; Ben Thoma, C, jr.; Eric Hosler, 3B, sr.; Trent Blank, 2B, so.; Brandon Weisenborn, LF, jr.; Tyler Kleinschmidt, 1B, sr.; Aaron Floarke, RF, so.
Game notes:
Play of the early tournament so far: Columbia third baseman Eric Hosler charged towards his dugout and reached over the railing for a backhand snag of a foul ball. It was ESPN’s loss they didn’t have a camera here, they missed a guaranteed top 10 play … If there’s a better high school coach’s name in the state than Columbia’s Dusty Nail, I want to know about it … Columbia never let off the pressure and left Schlarman looking dazed in the field … Three cheers for the Cahokia Conference: Columbia will meet its fellow conference tri-champ Wesclin in the 9 a.m. semifinal Saturday … Offensive stars for Columbia: LePere, 1 hit, 4 runs; Greatting, 2 hits, 4 RBIs; Davis, 1 hit, 3 RBIs; Floarke, 3 runs, 3 hits, 2 RBIs … For Schlarman Hazel tripled and scored the lone Hilltoppers … third quarterfinal was delayed approximately 1:30 due to rain.
They said it:
Columbia coach Dusty Nail: (On telling freshman Joel Greatting 15 minutes before the game that he was going to start): I didn’t want him thinking about it all last night. Even though we had confidence in him, being a freshman at this stage … heck I was nervous. So I knew he would be. We had a scouting report. We went over that with him and that’s all he needed. He didn’t need tpo think about it for 2 or 3 days. We wanted until game time because we also wanted to see if Trent (sophomore Blank, 8-1). If he was good enough to go he probably would have thrown this game. He said he was sore this morning. It was normal muscle soreness. He threw more pitches Monday then he usually throws. We’re pretty sure he’ll be ready to go tomorrow.
Columbia’s Joel Greatting: I didn’t really get to think much, they told me before the game. It was a lot better so I wouldn’t have to worry all last night.
Class A quarterfinal No. 1
at Silvercross Field, Joliet
Wesclin (Trenton) 200 011 2--6 Carmi-White County 200 000 0--2
WP-Richie Derbak (6-1), 7 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 10 K, 2 BB
LP-Tyler Choate (8-2) 7 IP, 10 H, 4 ER, 4 K, 2 BB
Starting lineups in batting order
Wesclin (24-6): Matt Davis, DH, sr./Rob Meyer, RF, jr.; Paul Ritzheimer, SS, so.; Richie Derback, P, sr.; Eric Gentz, 1B, sr.; Justin Dunning, C, jr.; Justin Litteken, 3B, jr.; Tyler Kehrer, CF, sr.; Jason Heinzmann, LF, jr.; Jim Ritzheimer, 2B, sr.
Carmi-White County (29-6): Clay Kittenger, 2B, so.; Lincoln Talley, SS, sr.; Tyler Choate, P, sr.; Chase Kittenger, C, sr.; Keegan Dennis, 3B, sr.; Jim Kress, 1B, sr.; Tony Blankenberger, LF, sr; Jerry Holman, RF, jr.; Matt Blankenberger, CF, jr.
Game notes
Wesclin leadoff man Matt Davis and Paul Ritzheimer do damage with three runs, four hits and three RBI between them. Davis ran through a stop sign and recorded a leadoff triple. Paul Ritzheimer singled him in. Both contributed hits for seventh-inning insurance runs ? Richie Derback and Jason Heinzmann each contributed two hits to the Wesclin attack ? Jim Ritzheimer scored twice for the Warriors ? CWC one-hitter Clay Kittenger went 3-for-3 with a run scored. CWC had only three base runners after the first inning.
They said it
Wesclin coach John Groennert
“We knew coming in that they were pretty much mirror images of each other. We told our kids the team that made the fewest mistakes and got the clutch hit would probably be the team that won. Great pitching on both sides, [and] they made a few more defensive miscues that helped us open it up a little bit and give us a little cushion.
Wesclin’s Richie Derbak
“When we went up 2-0 I just wanted to go out there and shut them down. It didn’t happen. Walked a couple guys—that’s my fault. You can’t be doing that. I’m glad we got out of it. After the first inning I started feeling really good out there.
“Freshman year I came up here and that first [game] loss was not a good feeling. We wanted to come up here and get that first win and guarantee that we’re bringing something home and it feels really good.
Wesclin’s Matt Davis on his triple
“The umpire made a great call. The tag was a little high. I knew going to second it was going to be pretty close. I tried to do what I could and hustle down to third.”
Carmi-White County coach Craig Winter
“I thought we played our hearts out. They came out right off the bat, Tyler was challenging them with fastballs and they responded. They scored some runs in some key situations. I don’t think they think they hit the ball real hard on him after the first inning. They got those seeing-eye hits, but they count just as much as the ones that are hit hard.”
On the lead-off triple: “We’ve worked so hard on our double relays. Our guys responded big time. I thought we had him, but he was called safe. That was a big turning point. Then the ground ball [single] and there’s the go-ahead run. We weren’t wanting to give up that go ahead run.”
June 2
Mount Carmel sectional semifinal
St. Ignatius vs. Harlan
SI 221 43--12 H 200 00 --2
WP-Patrick Hayn (4-4), 5 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 5 K, 3 W, 1 HBP
LP-James Shell (10-1), 3 IP, 7 R, 6 ER, 7 H, 3 K, 4 W, 1 HBP
Starting lineups in batting order
St. Ignatius (19-17): Dan Goldrick, CF, sr.; Joe Crisanti, SS, sr.; Craig Willert, 1B, sr.; James Lynch, 2B, sr.; Dan Hamilton, C, sr.; Drew Homyk, 3B, sr.; Nikolas Gomez, DH, fr.; Patrick Hayn, P, so.; Matt Riordan, so., LF; Ryan Sullivan, RF, jr.
Harlan (26-6): Antoine Ryan, CF, jr.; Ronnie Chester, RF, jr.; Elliot Armstrong, 2B, jr.; Anthione Shaw, SS, sr.; Sterling McKinley, LF, sr.; James Shell, P, sr.; Kyle Hollis, 3B, jr.; Brendan Edmon, 1B, jr.; Jimmele Ridley, C, jr.
Game notes
To beat St. Ignatius you need to keep its dynamic opening duo of leadoff man Dan Goldrick and two-hitter Joe Crisanti off the bases. The pair reached on 6-of-8 plate appearances and combined for five runs and five stolen bases ? Anthione Shaw gave Harlan its only runs on a towering 2-run homer to center in the first. Later it looked like he’d tied the game at 5-5 after a blast with two runners on, but Goldrick caught it at the fence 360 feet away ? Lefty winner Patrick Hayn struck out the side in the second, and five in a row from the first inning to the third. He got four outs via popouts, and nine infield outs ?SI freshman Nikolas Gomez hit a solo homer and a sac fly. Crisanti and Dan Hamilton each had two hits for St. Ignatius. Goldrick missed 10 games this year because of a hamstring injury. Saturday’s sectional final is a rubber game between the schools after they split earlier 2-1 decisions. The game is moved up to 10 a.m. to accommodate St. Ignatius’ graduation.
Random observation
Kudos to Mt. Carmel for its excellent sectional program. Team names done in school colors and, heck, it even came with a scorecard. Well done.
They said it
St. Ignatius coach Bob Kriz
“The kids have played well lately. [Hayn] had a blister on the end of his index finger at the end of the second inning. I was going to take him out, but he wanted to finish. He toughed it out. We got some big hits when we needed them and some balls fell in when we needed them.”
St. Ignatius’ Joe Crisanti
“We were just thinking about playing a little small ball. We’ve been thinking that the entire playoffs and we’ve outscored our opponents 32-2. Our team’s starting to hit a lot. Our fielders are starting to make the plays. We haven’t had any errors I think all playoffs. We’re just getting things done.
St. Ignatius’s Dan Goldrick
“Once I get out there [on the bases] coach likes to get the team running. A lot of times it gets the team going. Today was no different. Joey [Crisanti] and I were trying to get on base for Craig [Willert] and Jimmy [Lynch] and Drew [Homyk] and Niko [Gomez]. They usually drive us in.
On using his speed to stretch a line drive to right into a double: “The right fielder was going it after it slower than I thought he was going to go after it. Once it took that initial high hop, I knew I could beat the throw to second base. Sometimes you’ve got to take chances and that one worked out for me.
Harlan coach Kenny Fullman
We didn’t seem energized today. If that second ball [from Shaw] was gone, maybe we would have got the energy that was needed. We just got outplayed today. This was a big game today and we just seemed like we didn’t come out to play today. They seemed ready to play and fired up before the game. We just didn’t do what we needed to do in order to win the game. Right from the beginning we were doing things that we normally don’t do.”
Harlan’s Anthione Shaw
“We didn’t hit like we usually do. And we didn’t play with that 150 percent effort that we usually do.”
June 1
Downers Grove South sectional semifinal
Hinsdale South at Hinsdale Central
HS 000 110 11--4 HC 000 020 15--8
WP–Charlie Thomas
LP-Jerome Thomas
SP-Dom Tardi, Hinsdale South; Nick Kurash, Hinsdale Central.
Starting lineups in batting order
Hinsdale South (19-19): Jerome Thomas, 3B, sr.; Ryan Hopp, CF, sr.; Joey Buonavolanto, SS, sr.; Rich Jablonski, 1B, sr.; Chris Suhajda, LF, sr.; Dom Tardi, P, sr.; Carl Fiebig, 2B, so.; Scott Norkus, DH, jr./Zach Balcunas, C, sr.; Brad Payne, RF., jr.
Hinsdale Central (24-10): Andrew Nicholas, SS, sr.; Tobi Adeyemi, CF, sr.; Brett Suchy, LF, jr.; Mark Noth, C, sr.; Brett Morse, 1B, sr.; Colin Cimala, DH, sr./Nick Kurash, P, sr.; Alex Bellusci, 3B, sr.; Eric Wroble, RF, jr.; Drew Bailey, 2B, sr.
Game notes
An instant classic ends on Morse’s walk-off grand salami. The game was moved to Hinsdale Central Wednesday due to graduation. A raucous, football-like crowd of approximately 300 people attended at Central’s excellent ballfield ? South had four leads but couldn’t hold them. Buounavolanta reached on a fielders choice, advanced on a balk and scored on Jablonski’s single in the fourth. Fiebig hit his first varsity homer in the fifth. Tardi hit a first-pitch tater in the seventh. Hopp reached on an error and scored on Buonavolanta’s double in the eighth ? A misplayed popup in short right in the 5th was South’s downfall. Adeyemi’s ball dropped between the Hornet second baseman and right fielder with both in position for the catch. A throwing error to second on an attempt to get the force put runners on second and third. Suchy got the first of two RBIs with a groundout to second. North followed with a line-single up the middle to tie the game at two. Central tied the game in bottom of the seventh when Morse reached on a fielder’s choice, went to second on a wild pitch, and scored on Cimala’s two-out, bloop single to center. Bailey had a nice at-bat to walk with one out in the eighth. With two outs, Adeyemi lined a single off the pitcher’s foot. Suchy doubled to tie the score. With first open, South walked cleanup man Noth, and Morse came up, and as they say, the rest is now history.
They said it
Hinsdale Central’s Brett Morse
(On home run): I wasn’t really thinking about anything. I was just relaxed and ripping.
(On the game): It was a rollercoaster, but I think we’ve done it 3-4 times this year. We were really composed. There wasn’t one time where guys had their heads down. We believed that we could do it at all times. It was just an unbelievable team effort.
Hinsdale Central assistant coach Mark Wittkamper: The whole year we’ve been preaching team, team, team, quiet confidence. We’re playing three outs. Just because they have two outs on us we’re not going to say the third out is already going to happen. We kept coming back. It’s a credit to them. It’s a team win. There’s not one guy you can mention without mentioning someone else. That’s why it’s such a great feeling. It was a fun win.
Hinsdale South’s Joe Buonavolanto: It came down to executing outs. We had them in the seventh. We had them there in the eighth too. They competed. They got it done. They showed a lot of heart. It could have gone either way. We started off the season like 2-9 and we finished like 17-10, and we lost 12, 1-run games. We really came together as a team; different guys stepping up that was huge.
May 24
Bremen Class AA Regional
Illiana Christian vs. Richards at Midlothian Park District’s Howie Minas Field
Ill. Chr. 000 206 0-8 Richards 020 120 0-5
WP-Wade Kapteyn (8-1), CG, 5 R, 3 ER, 5H, 3K, 4 BB
LP-Matt Erickson, 1/3 IP, 4 R, O ER, 2 H, 1K, 2 BB
SP-Brad Kehoe, 5 1/3 IP, 4 R, 2 ER, 5 H, 4 K, 2 BB
Starting lineups (in batting order)
Illiana (29-3): Kyle Evenhouse, RF, sr.; Derek Postma, CF, sr.; Braden Kapteyn, SS, jr.; Shane Colvin, C, so.; Chris Vermeulen, DH, jr./Brent Burghgraef, 1B, jr.; Wade Kapteyn, P, sr.; Kevin Lasowski, 3B, fr.; Rory Carlson, LF, sr; Kyle Borkowski, 2B, sr.
Richards (24-12): Jon Dove, CF, jr.; Vince Prieto, 2B, sr.; Matt Erickson, 3B, jr.; Bob Holland, RF, sr.; Bill Ziemba, 1B, sr.; Justin Stengle, DH, sr.; Joe Scholl, SS, jr.; Brad Kehoe, P, sr.; Dan Heimerdinger, C, sr.; Cliff Hempstead, LF, sr.
Game notes:
The IHSA’s multiplier hurt Richards more than Illiana and their ace Wade Kapteyn. The Vikings are now 2-0 against AA playoff competition after many years of “A” ball ? Viking super Colvin and Braden Kapteyn combined for five hits and 4 RBIs? Kapteyn says he has heard he could go in rounds 3-5 in the Major League Draft. He hit 91and 92 on one scout’s gun. Kapteyn threw 11 pitches his biggest count of the season. Only loss to St. Rita ? No. 2 pitcher Chris Vermeulen (7-0) will throw for Illiana against Marist in regional championship Saturday ? Why have seeding meetings if the five seed (Richards) meets the nine seed in a regional semifinal game? ? Rain stayed away, but the field lights were turned on in the 5th inning for better visibility ? Illiana batted 11 and scored 6 runs in the decisive 6th ? Colvin had two singles in the sixth ? Richards got its first two runs after Ziemba and Stengle opened with walks in the 2nd ? Holland’s 2-run homer in the bottom of the 5th made things look grim for Illiana/
They said it:
Illiana coach Dave Beezhold: It was good for Wade to see a good one-through-nine lineup. In our conference we’re used to seeing three or four hitters. These are teams you have to mentally in it one through nine. He got a little down on himself when he gave up the homerun, but it was more location. We wanted to make sure one way of the other that he went out with his best outing. If we lost today we were going to lose with him.
Illiana’s Wade Kapteyn: I made some mistakes on some of my pitches and they’re a good hitting team and they made me pay for my mistakes. Something in me said we we’re going to get it back. We had a lot of game left, and the team stepped up. We’re not expected to go anywhere. We’re not expected to get anything. So when we can go out like this it shows a lot and it means a lot to our program. We can play with a little chip on our shoulder. We can play with a little confidence behind us now.
When we got the lead the adrenalin starts pumping and you get this feeling that you’re not going to give it up, your team fought that hard for you.
Richard’s coach Brian Wujcik: We were beating the best pitcher in the state 5-2 and then we gave up six unearned runs. I thought we did a great job of swinging the bats today and putting the ball in play and going after him.
May 18
Fox Valley Conference
Dundee-Crown at Grayslake
D-C 000 000 2--2 G 002 200 x--4
WP–Steve Kuligowski (3-2), 6 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 9 K, 2 BB, 1 HBP
S-Gerry Martinez, 4, 1/3 IP
LP–Travis Hudson (5-3), 6 IP, 4 ER, 9 H, 2 K, 2 BB, 1 HBP
Starting lineup (in batting order)
Dundee-Crown (25-7, 13-4): Scott Horcer, sr., RF; Ryan Court, sr., 2B; Elliott Soto, jr., SS; Pat Richmond, sr., 1B; Kevin Steinhaus, jr., C; Vince Camarata, jr., LF; Jack LoCoco, jr., CF; Brad Kerkman, jr., DH/Travis Hudson, sr., P; Pat Finn, jr., 3B.
Grayslake (20-10, 12-5): Nick Waido, CF; Brett Miller, LF; Pat Garvey, C; Gerry Martinez, 1B; Corey Jeffers, 2B; Nick Fabbri, RF; Matt Schmidt, SS; Micah Yarbrough, DH/Steve Kuligowski, P; John Oslovich, 3B.
Game notes
Grayslake hit 20 wins for the first time in approximately 20 years †Fox Valley title is still there for the taking. Check out Drake Skleba’s standings on the prep baseball page of ChicagoSports.com for the big picture … Grayslake starter Kuligowski’s fastball clocked between 80-86 mph during the game. He threw 107 pitches †Grayslake’s hitters came alive after only 3 hits combined in its previous 2 games, both losses †After an error gave the visitors a runner in the first, Kuligowski set down 12 straight D-C batters. The junior had a no-hitter until LoCoco broke it up with a single to left with 2 outs in the fifth †D-C’s junior Elliott Soto looks the real deal at short †Steinhaus singled to right to start the Charger rally. Camarata got hit by a pitch and LoCoco blooped a single to center. After 2 strikeouts Horcher lined a single up the gut for 2 runs. A throwing error on the play advance runners to second and third. The hosts brought in Gerry Martinez who got a grounder to short that ended the game †LoCoco had half of D-C’s 4 hits †G’lake’s Miller moved to second in the batting order and went 2-for-2 with an RBI double and scored a run. He also reached twice on catcher’s interference †G’lake’s Garvey went 3-for-3 with an RBI and was plunked in his third plate appearance. Oslovich’s hit a line drive single to right to lead off the 3rd. Waido sacrificed him to second. Oslovich scored on Miller’s double. Garvey’s line single to left scored Miller for a 2-0 lead. G’lake finished its scoring with a deuce in the 4th. Schmidt hit a soft line single to right. He advanced to second on Yarbrough ground single to left and scored on Oslovich’s second consecutive line single to right. Yarbrough scored on Waido’s fielder’s choice †Dundee-Crown is sticking to its 3-man rotation. Lefthander Kenny Long (9-1) gets the start Friday. Grayslake will start Valparaiso-bound Micah Yarbrough †Grayslake staff has ERA of 2.10.
They said it
Dundee-Crown coach Fred Bencriscutto: “It was a good high school baseball game. We’ll be happy to see them tomorrow at our place. We won’t have an hour bus ride. We’ve got to win one of two and we’re conference champs. They won here and we’re going to defend our field that’s for sure. We’re looking forward to it tomorrow.
“I was a little disappointed that we didn’t get it started until later in the game. I was impressed with the fact that we loaded the bases in the last inning. We’re down four runs going into the last inning and have a chance to tie the game. That’s what you look for in a high school team–kids that don’t quit.
Dundee-Crown’s Scott Horcher: “When you’re down chasing runs you’ve got to think smart in the box and go up there and take a pitch maybe or seeing a first pitch fastball and try to hit something. He wasn’t throwing his curveball real well. We just couldn’t get up to his fastball.
“You’ve got to earn conference. Wins don’t come easy. We’ve got to come back tomorrow, forget this loss and get it done.”
Grayslake coach Troy Whalen: “He’s thrown big games for us all year. He’s got ice water in his veins. He throws a nasty little two-seamer that I think guys think they can see. It’s got a little dip at the end. We got them off balance and I think he rattled their confidence a little bit. They’re a great hitting team. We knew we couldn’t shut them down the whole way.
“Today was all about we wanted to make sure that somebody didn’t celebrate a conference championship on our field. Our kids are resilient. We lost 2, 1-run games this week; that put us 2 games out. We said ‘Hey, we still control it. Let’s try to sweep Dundee, hopefully (Prairie) Ridge will lose one and we’ll have a 3-way tie.
“We know we’re in for a war tomorrow. We really feel that none of the pressure is on us tomorrow. We’re going to other there and have fun and see what happens.”
Grayslake’s Brett Miller: “I totally re-did my swing. I’d been in a slump. I tried something totally different today and it worked out. I tinkered with my stance and tried to load sooner, then waiting back. “We’re one step closer to possibly tying for conference. We’ll give it our best. We’ll give ’em heck.”
Grayslake’s Steve Kuligowski: “I wasn’t expecting to pitch today. I was kind of hoping I would. Everything seemed to be going the right way. Pitches were called when I needed them, throwing them where I needed to. That’s probably the hardest I’ve thrown all year. (The 2-seamer) had quite a bit of movement. It was definitely a change from the 4-seamer every once in a while and it paid off.”
(On having his no hit bid stopped after 4 2/3 innings): “As much as I wanted it, the win was the most important thing. It put us in a great spot for tomorrow.”
May 16
Du Page Valley Conference
Naperville Central vs. Naperville North at North Central College
NC 111 040 0--7 NN 210 001 0--4
WP–Kyle Kaminski (7-1), 6 IP, 4 R, 3 ER, 5 H, 9 K, 4 BB.
LP–Joe Pankau (8-1), 6 IP,. 7 R, 4 ER, 6 H, 3 K, 2 BB.
S–Sean Joyce, 3, 1 P, 1 H, 2 K, 1 BB.
Starting lineup (in batting order)
Naperville Central (23-6, 14-2): Garrett Branisel, jr., 2B; Sean Joyce, sr., LF; Lou Johanns, sr., SS; Mike Odenthal, sr., 1B; Corey Pryor, jr., C; Colin Bates, sr., 3B; Marshall Marovich, jr., DH/Kyle Kaminska, jr., P; Sean Waszak, jr., CF; Jake Hendrick, sr., RF.
Naperville North (20-6, 12-4): Steve Hlavac, jr., CF; David Berndt, sr., 3B; Kevin Connors, sr., RF; Matt Watson, sr; 1B; Matt Abraham, sr., C; Mike Kubo, sr., DH/Joe Pankow, sr., P; Jordan Tassio, so., LF; Nate Arenson, jr., SS; Chris Gorski, sr., 2B.
Game notes
Several Central fans that had the brooms out at North Central got their wish. … Win gave the Redhawks a comfortable 2-game lead in the DVC. … Game was a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society; a boisterous crowd of approximately 200 was on hand. … North defensive breakdowns were the difference … Joyce tripled in top of 1st and scored first of three runs on day on Johanns’ ground-out. Joyce also had a double in 2-for-3 afternoon and scored after a walk. … Bates singled with one out in the 2nd, moved to second on a wild pitch and third on an error before scoring on Hendrick’s 4-3 ground-out. … Joyce doubled to lead off 3rd, advanced to 3rd base on round-out and scored on passed ball. … Hendrick opened 5th with line single to left. Branisel reached on a dropped fly ball in left. Joyce walked to load the bases. Johanns knocked in two with a double. Odenthal followed with a double that scored Joyce. A base-running miscommunication had Johanns hung up between third and home when Odenthal tried to take third. Johanns scored when North opted to retire Odenthal at third. … North struck out a season-worst 11 times. The previous high was 8, and the team averages 5 Ks a game … Kaminska earned his second win against North this season. After facing 12 batters in the first two innings, he settled down and faced only 10 in the next three. He recorded 5 strikeouts in the span. The only base-runners reached on a catcher’s error and a walk. … North’s scoring began when Hlavac walked to open the game, advanced on a ground-out and tallied on Connors’ 1-out single. Connors scored from 1st on Abraham’s 2-out double over Waszak’s head in center. †In the 2nd Arenson walked with one out, advanced on an error and scored on Hlavac’s line single to right to give the Huskies their last lead at 3-2. †North’s final run came when Abraham walked to open the 6th. Courtesy runner Josh Hibbard went to 2nd on Kubo’s bloop single to short left, to third on Arenson’s line single to left, and scored on Matt Gorski’s fielder’s choice. … North’s new burnt orange jerseys were no help. … Pankau got the worst of an inconsistent strike zone. … North will start Arenson Wednesday.
They said it
Naperville Central coach Bill Seiple: “It’s not over yet. We’ve got five (games) to go. You know I’m a Cub fan so I know bad things can happen. We wanted to come out and play two games with energy and be aggressive. A big win for us, but we’ve still got work to do. (Kyle) hung in there. It wasn’t his greatest performance, but he hung in there. He’s not a strikeout guy and that’s the frustrating thing. For him to throw 115 pitches in 6 innings, it’s just not his game. He was throwing 7 innings last year and throwing 70, 75 pitches. That’s where we want him.”
(On sweeping North): “We were just talking about that. It’s been quite a while. I can’t remember it in the recent past. I know we did it in ’92. It’s very unusual for one of us to sweep the other. (It feels) wonderful. But I think we’re going to see them again. We’ve got to take care of business; they’ve got to take care of business. But I think they’re clearly the second best team in our section.”
Naperville Central’s Sean Joyce: “I’m just glad I got out of that jam. I started off a little shaky in the seventh. Ever since moving to two (in the batting order) I’ve been liking the pitches I’ve been seeing. Last couple of games I haven’t gotten a hit, but it was good to bust out today. We’ve got to stay focused. We want to win the rest out. We don’t want to leave anything to chance.”
Naperville Central’s Kyle Kaminska: “I haven’t struck anybody out this season like I did today. I had sharp stuff today. That was the biggest pitch count (of the season). The last five pitches were probably the toughest pitches. But I’m in shape. I’m prepared for that. That’s what the weight room’s for in the winter.”
Naperville North coach Carl Hunckler: “This was the second game in a row that our kids did not make adjustments at the plate. We did not hit the ball like we normally do. We were a couple hits away from getting back in the game and unfortunately we didn’t even put the ball in play at times.
“We’re just battling to get above water right now. We’re 20-6, and we’re playing like a team that’s 6-20. We need to right the ship and finish out this week strong. What I told the kids after the game was ‘The idea of winning the conference, that’s beyond us now. What we need to do is we need to get back to playing good baseball, and go into the tournament on a positive note.'”
Naperville North’s Joe Pankau: “As a team we need to manufacture runs better. We need to step up overall. The team doesn’t seem as enthusiastic as we used to be. We need to step it up and get more focused in the dugout.”
May 15
East Suburban Catholic Conference
Joliet Catholic at Benet Academy
JCA 100 030 2--6 BA 140 000 0--5
WP-Cory Churchwell (4-1), 6 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 1 K, 1 BB
LP-Matt Meckes (3-2), 1 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 H
Starters–JCA: Tony Testin, 1 IP, 5 R, 4 ER, 4 H, 0 K, 4 BB; Benet: Kevin Kulig, 4 2/3 IP; 4 R, 4 ER, 8 H, 2 K, 2 BB.
Starting lineup (in batting order)
Joliet Catholic (26-3, 13-2): Billy McKeon, 2B; Tom Zurliene, SS; Joe Benson, C; Mark Siefert, 1B; Tony Testin, P; Shane Keane, RF; Ken Tezak, 3B; Dan Cladis, DH/Mike Vertin, LF; John Ruettiger, CF.
Benet (23-6, 13-2): Matt Kleifges, 2B; Dillon O’Neil, RF; Connor Powers, 1B; Mick Doyle, SS; Bryan Roberts, C; Bobby Sixsmith, LF; Pat New, CF; Chris Pack, DH/Kevin Kulig, P; Jason Kulig, 3B.
Game notes
A battle of the Titans in the East Suburban Catholic figured to feature JCA’s Purdue-bound Joe Benson (6-foot-1, 205 pounds) and Benet’s Mississippi State signee Connor Powers (6-3, 210). Instead it was JCA’s Cory Churchwell (5-9, 165) and Tony Testin (5-10, 175) who stole the show. JCA win creates tie atop conference that will be broken Wednesday in Joliet †First 7 batters in Redwing second reached base as Testin struggled. Churchwell came in with no one out and the bases loaded. He got Doyle to hit into a 1-2-3 double play. Roberts followed with a groundout to second to end the threat and inning †Twelve of Churchwell’s outs came on groundballs †Churchwell was originally scheduled to start Wednesday’s game †JCA’s Tom Zurliene went 2-for-4 with a double and scored 3 runs; Testin went 2-for-3 with a two-run double in the fifth, and a sacrifice fly in the 7th that scored the Benson for the game-winner †Only 1 Benet run was driven in on a base hit. Kleifges scored in 1st on a Powers fielder’s choice. In 4-run second Sixsmith and New scored on walks. Pack scored on O’Neill’s single and Jason Kulig scored on a walk to Powers ††Charitable Redwings committed errors on the first three Hilltopper’s in the top of the 7th †Benet shortstop Doyle made a nifty play in the 5th. He ranged to the hole to make a nice pick-up before firing out Ruettiger at 1st base †Tezak went 2-for-4 with a double. Benson went 1-for-3 with an RBI †Siefert made two big scoops throws to first base for the last two outs of the 5th inning.
Quotes
JCA’s Cory Churchwell: I just beared down and tried to do the best I could out there for our team to keep us in the game. We’ve been off for a week. We came out kind of sluggish. We can back, showed a lot of heart.
JCA’s Tony Testin: I really don’t know what happened to me on the mound, but “Church” (Cory Churchwell) picked me up. We regrouped and the bats came around at the right time. It ended up working out for the best.
(On his hitting performance): We had such high expectations for this game. I felt like I owed it to the team to come up with something big because I let them down early in the game.
(On effect of long layoff on Hilltoppers long layoff): I’d like to think not, but it’s obvious that our bats and everything started going late in game. We just have to get to practice tomorrow and work hard so we keep it going through Wednesday.
JCA coach Jared Voss: We just didn’t play good baseball early. Once we cleaned it up and started playing good baseball, things took care of themselves. We haven’t been on a field in four days because of the weather so that might have had something to do with it also; the guys were a little jittery. We need Cory (Churchwell) for the state playoffs. He had a few struggles early (missed time after getting spiked). That’s the Cory Churchwell we know–the one that came out today and did what he did. Offensively Tony’s been getting two-out hits for us all year. He’s done a great job of that in the clutch.
Benet coach Jeff Bonebrake: You ask for your pitchers to get groundballs and that’s what they (Bruce Hrovat and Meckes) did. Three errors; you just can’t do that against a team like Joliet Catholic. We opened up the floodgates with them. We scored the four in the second inning, but we should have had a lot more. We knew we were going to have to score more than five runs to win and it came true.
Benet’s Connor Powers: It was rough. We were up 5-1, and we just didn’t hit after that. He (Churchwell) didn’t get himself in a lot of hitter’s counts. It was never really 2-0, 3-1, 3-0, none of that.
May 10
St. Rita at Providence
Chicago Catholic League–Blue Division
St. Rita 010 002 4--7 Prov. 210 001 0--0
WP-Matt Conrath (6-1), CG,4 ER, 7 H, 5 K, 2 W, 1 HBP.
LP- Sean Boyle (7-3), 6 IP, 7 R, 4 ER, 9 H, 3 K, 2 W, 2 HBP
Starting lineups (in batting order)
St. Rita (23-5, 10-4): Steve Witczak, SS, sr.; David Watson, CF, sr.; David Weyer, 2B, sr.; Joe Dispensa, CF, sr.; Louis Soto, 1B, jr.; Thomas Whelan, LF, jr.; Julio Godinez, C, jr.; Sean Estand, 3B, jr.; David Letourneau, DH, jr./Matthew Conrath, P, jr.
Providence (17-11, 9-5): Mike Maher, CF, jr.; Jake Reuttiger, LF, jr.; Sean Boyle, P, sr.; Mike Pericht, C, sr.; Nick Gorski, RF, sr,; George Doctor, DH, jr./Grant Simotes, SS, sr.; Chris Kubinski, 1B, sr.; Bill Les, 2B, jr.; Tim Garvin, 3B, sr.
Game notes
St. Rita was getting updates on the Brother Rice game via cell phone in the dugout throughout the game. A sixth-run inning by the Crusaders relegated Rita to second place and ended their two-year reign as Catholic League kingpins †A nice day turned trying just past the game’s midpoint with wind gusts and drizzle †Rita’s Estand brought home two of the Mustangs first 3 runs with a double in the 2nd nd sac fly to deep center in the 6th †Dispensa (2 doubles), Whelan (single, double), and Godinez (2 singles) were Rita’s mulit-hit performers †Providence beat Rita 3-1 behind Brian Stroud Monday †Grant Simotes hasn’t batted in a week. Celtics feared he broke his thumb or worse when he tried for a low ball on a pick-off play and the ball hit the top of his thumb. He couldn’t grip a bat, but will start back in the cage soon †Gorski’s line drive to left drove in first two Providence runs †Celtic’s Doctor homered to right to lead off the second. He hit the ball on the ninth pitch after starting out 0-2. He fouled off four pitches †Maher got the final ribbie with a double. He knocked in Garvin who saw his single to right turned into a triple on a sliding catch attempt. Maher had two doubles in three at bats, the only multiple hit game for Providence †Rita’s 4-run 7th started on a tough chance error on Simotes, a bloop single to left by Watson and two Celtic errors on Weyer’s sacrifice bunt †Taking it for the team award: Weyer got plunked twice †Only Whelan tried to run on Providence’s Pericht. He was called out †Gotta love Conrath’s old school leg kick †“D” play of the day for Rita was provided by Whelan, who chased down Reuttiger’s blast to left before crashing hard into the fence. The home plate ump asked Rita bench if anyone wanted to check on him. The reply? “He’ll be alright. He’s a city kid.” †“D” play of the game for the Celtics came in the 7th when RF Gorski ran with his back to the infield in the rainy and gusty conditions to grab an Estand drive that would have opened the floodgates.
Quotes
St. Rita coach Mike Zunica: We’ve seen nothing but buzz saws for the last couple weeks so it was nice to battle through it and get a win. We made some good bunts and you’ve got to execute. We’ve had some games in the last couple weeks where we didn’t get those bunts down and we didn’t win. When you get the bunts down and execute, you feel like you deserve it (the win). He really settled in. They got some really good looks early off of him. We thought he had real good stuff. In that first inning we thought he had great stuff. They’re a good baseball team. These guys can play. The beauty of our schedule is that we’re going to play somebody good every day. You’re not going to get away with less than your best stuff.
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St. Rita pitcher Matt Konrath: Having the team battle back for me was huge. I was hanging my curves balls a lot (early) and then I focused on throwing it a lot harder. In the fourth or fifth inning (I settled down), a little late. My confidence improved and I focused on getting ahead.
St. Rita third baseman Sean Estand: I just tried to get the runs in. I just stayed with it. All year we’ve fallen behind and managed to have the base runners on base to get the win. Today we got the hits when we needed them. It was about time it happened. We’re playing great teams in the Catholic League. Every game has a playoff atmosphere.
Providence coach Joe Rodeghero: That’s how good our league is, you can’t give any team a little breathing room. It’s hard to beat a team twice in out conference. Games like this will get us ready for the tournament. One thing that I told the kids was that you can’t relax. You gotta fight for the 21 outs that you have to get in order to win a ball game especially against a great team like that. They don’t give up and we probably relaxed a little bit up 4-1 and Boyle’s cruising. I’ve been coaching long enough to know that the last three outs are the hardest outs.
Providence pitcher Sean Boyle: I felt in control. I thought we were going to win the game.
May 10
Prospect at Elk Grove (reported by Drake Skleba)
Mid-Suburban League-East Division
Prospect 000 000 0--0 Elk Grove 200 030 0--5
WP-Ryan Copeland (8-0), CG, 5H, 4K, 1 BB
LP-Mike Lankford (4-2), 4 2/3 IP 2 ER, 1K, 1 BB
Starting lineups (in batting order)
Prospect (15-10 9-4): Tim Churchill, 2B, sr.; Andrew Butkus, C, sr.; A.J. Whitten, SS, jr.; Jimmy Siers, DH, jr./Mike Lankford, P, sr.; Will Hagel, 1B, jr.; Scott Winters, CF, sr.; Geoff Sobey, RF, jr.; Vince Saisi, LF, jr.; Tim Scanlon, 3B, so.
Elk Grove (24-6 10-3): Ryan Power, LF, sr.; Ryan Copeland, P, sr.; Shawn Moy, SS, sr.; Pat Guido, 2B, sr.; Nick Stuberg, 1B, jr.; Will Osmanski, DH, sr./Scott Harkins, C, sr.; Jon Mueller, 2B, sr.; Brad Siciliano, RF, sr.; Matt Czeszewski, CF, jr.
Game notes
A battle for the top spot in the MSL East †both squads entered the game with identical 9-3 marks †Ryan Copeland set Prospect down 1-2-3 in the top of the first … Elk Grove struck quickly. In bottom of 1st after 1 out, Ryan Copeland got hit by a pitch. Shawn Moy reached on a fielder’s choice and scored on Pat Guido’s first-pitch home run … Prospect hit “at ’em” balls early. Prospect starter Mike Lankford settled down after the first and recorded 1-2-3 innings in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th … Copeland continued to mow down the Knight hitters though the 5th … The Grenadiers broke the game open in the 5th. With the help of a Prospect defensive miscue, EG ended the scoring. The big blows came on a run-scoring single by Ryan Power, and a 2-run single from Sean Moy … Copeland had a 1-2-3, 6th … Prospect threatened in the 7th when Will Hagel led off with a solid single and Vince Saisi doubled him to 3rd with two out †Copeland retired Tim to finish the complete game shutout…Saisi led the Knights with 2 doubles and a walk … Elk Grove moves 1 game up on Prospect with three MSL games remaining … Grenadiers also have tie-breaker on Knights … Grens take on Wheeling Friday, with Shawn Moy scheduled to pitch … Knights travel to Buffalo Grove Friday … MSL Championship is Saturday, May 20 at West Division Champion. Palatine has a 1/2-game lead over Hoffman Estates through May 11.
Quotes
Elk Grove coach Terry Beyna: Ryan (Copeland) didn’t have his best stuff today. Early in the game Prospect hit the ball hard. Ryan is so good he can win without his best stuff. Pat Guido’s 2-run home run gave Copeland a little cushion. Today was Pat’s (Guido) day. Monday it was Brad’s (Siciliano) game-winning 3-run blast to defeat Hersey 3-2 at Elk Grove. Everyday it has been someone new. We control our own destiny.
Elk Grove pitcher Ryan Copeland: My fastball wasn’t its best today. I needed my curveball today. Prospect is a great fastball-hitting team. I know a lot of the guys over there (Prospect) from playing on traveling teams with them. We really want to win the MSL this year. The school record, 24 wins, is great, but we want to pick up some hardware. It’s great to be 8-0, but I owe a lot of it to my teammates. They make the plays behind me and score a lot of runs.
Elk Grove second baseman Pat Guido: I hit a fastball on my home run. I like to hit the first pitch. It’s usually a fastball. We want to win the MSL. Prospect’s a good club. They hit the ball hard. We played good defense (no errors). The first inning home run gave us confidence with Ryan (Copeland ) pitching.
Elk Grove shortstop Shawn Moy: We would like to win a number of games to extend our school record to maybe 30 and set a record that will never be broken. I am looking forward to my start against Wheeling Friday. Wheeling is a tough team, but we are focused and confident on winning the Mid-Suburban League.
Prospect head coach Ross Giusti: We’re in a funk. We aren’t hitting in the clutch. Elk Grove wanted it more. We have scored three runs in the last four games.
Prospect first baseman Will Hagel: We hit the ball hard early against Copeland. He is a very good pitcher and made adjustments.
May 9
Maine South at New Trier
Central Suburban League–South Division
MS 011 600 0--8 NT 100 080 x--9
WP-Walker McKinven (2-0), 2 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 3 K, 1 BB
S-Will Hebard (3), 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 K
LP-Ryan Wachholder (3-1), 5 R, 3 ER, 1 K, 2 BB
SP-Rob Siewert, MS; Trey Frahler, NT
Starting lineups (listed in batting order)
Maine South (16-9, 9-3): Ryan Wachholder, SS; Kevin Schrop, RF; John Wolf, 3B; Mike Bradley, 1B; Charlie Capozzoli, CF; Matt Mueller, LF; Rick Macino, DH/Rob Siewert, P; Vince Mathe, 2B; Alex Friel, C.
New Trier (22-5, 10-2): James Hall, DH, jr./Trey Frahler, P, jr.; Mac Murphy, 2B, jr.; Mike Domenick, 1B, sr.; Chris Lashmet, 3B, jr.; John Rosinski, RF, sr.; Sam Franklin, CF, jr.; Scott Spinney, LF, sr.; T.J. O’Donnell, C, jr.; Adam Victorn, SS, jr.
Game notes
Turnabout was fair play in the battle for the top of the CSL South †Kevin Manson was supposed to start for the Hawks, but he was scratched due to illness. Hawks hope he’s ready to go in the rematch Thursday at Maine South †The Hawks suffered their 3rd straight loss †No. 3 starter Seiwert gave MS a quality start †NT shortstop Ben Gardner is out three weeks after suffering a hand injury Saturday †Wouldn’t it be gloverly: MS’s Wolf made a diving stop at third, and first baseman Bradley scooped the toss to retire pinch hitter Dale Hoff in the 4th; NT’s Lashmet made a nice backhand stop on the third-base line at the bag and threw out Wachholder to lead off the game †Misdirection: NT’s Domenick faked a throw to second on Bradley’s grounder, Schrop bit and was thrown out at home for the first out of the third †MS looked like it put the game away in the 4th. Capozzoli had a 2-run single in the inning, one of 5 MS safeties in the inning †Siewert, MS’s third starter, left the game with the bags loaded and one out in the 5th †The first batter that reliever Wachholder faced was NT right-handed pinch hitter Sam Trohman. The senior took the second pitch yard for a grand slam that made the score 8-5. Trohman said it was his first granny since Little League †NT’s Spinney used a head-first slide for an infield single to lead off the second when the Hawks were slow to cover the base on his ball to the right side †Wachholder went 3-for-5 with an RBI and run scored. Wolf went 3-for-4 with 2 runs scored †NT’s Rosinski went 2-for-2 with 2 RBIs †Hebard threw gas for the save †Saved by the fence: a line shot at the Maine South dugout sent coach Bill Milano diving for cover †For all you young umpires out there: Pay attention behind the plate! The home-plate ump wandered behind the plate without his mask on while checking something. The last warm-up toss was high and right on target with the ump’s noggin. Credit MS catcher Friel with a save.
Quotes
New Trier coach Mike Napoleon: You scratch your head. If you’re Bill (South coach Bill Milano) you’re wondering how the heck you lost. I doing the same thing–I’m wondering how the heck we won.
(On senior pinch-hitters Brandon Liss, Dale Hoff and Trohman): We’ve had guys like that in the past, but this year we’ve got three guys. You’ve got them being beat out by juniors (in the starting lineup); thank God they’re accepting their role. There are three guys we feel we can go to anytime in a game and expect big things from them.
New Trier pinch hitter Sam Trohman: I was just hoping I was going to get a hit. It was a conference game and we were down a lot. It was sort of nothing to lose up there.
(On pinch hitting role): We’re a real good team. I just like being a part of it, being able to contribute something.
New Trier right fielder John Rosinski: I was slumping at the start of the season. I was having trouble seeing. I went to the eye doctor and I got my left eye (prescription) changed. It had gotten worse over the month span that I got it checked. I got a new, left contact. I’ve been not worrying about how I perform, just going out there and playing.
Maine South coach Bill Milano: You’ve got to take your hat off to them for coming back like that. They earned everything they got. Our kids played hard. I was proud of my kids. They battled.
Maine South third baseman John Wolf: We hit the ball well. We played well in the field; one inning pitching, that happens sometimes. They came through. We had that one lapse; you really can’t have that. We’re confident in Manson going Thursday. We hit good finally. We’ve been slumping the last couple games. We hit them hard. We know we’ve got pitching. If we’re going to hit again on Thursday we’re going to be okay.
May 6
Neuqua Valley at Larkin
Upstate Eight Conference
Game 1
Neuqua 000 211 0--4 Larkin 000 002 0--2
WP-Paul Williford (2-1), 6 2/3 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 6K, 4 W, 1 HBP
S-Dan Budzynski (1), 1/3 IP, 1 K
LP-Matt Giardino (6-2), CG, 4 ER, 9 H, 2K, 1 HBP
Starting lineups (listed in batting order)
Neuqua Valley (15-9, 13-3): Rob Elliott, SS, jr; Alan Tucci, RF, sr.; Brad Kimball, LF, jr.; Kirk Williamson, C, sr.; Paul Williford, P, sr.; Ryan Elliott, 3B, sr.; Nate Budnik, 1B, sr.; Dan Cesario, 2B, sr.; Ryan Thorpe, CF, sr.
Larkin (15-7, 11-5): Bryan Whitehead, CF, jr.; Dan Shower, LF, sr.; Chris Godfrey, DH, jr./Sean Shriver, SS, jr.; Ryan Raupp, 3B, jr.; Hunter Nelson, 1B, sr.; Brian Daniel, RF, sr.; Matt Giardino, P, sr.; Ben Vincent, C, jr.; Derick Mills, 2B, sr.
Game notes
Battle for first in the conference †Prom the night before for both schools did not seem to adversely affect opening-game play †2005 regional champ Neuqua Valley one of the surprise teams of the season with all-new starting cast for 2006 †Williamson homer to left in fourth gave NV first blood. Courtesy runner Pete Back scored four batters later on Dan Cesario’s 2-out ground single to left †Back stole two bases and scored twice running for NV starter Williford, who singled in all three at bats †Williford took a no-hitter into the 6th until Raupp blooped a one-out single to short centerfield †Right fielder Daniel recorded three of the first four putouts for Larkin †Efficient Wildcats used stolen bases, bunts and sacrifice flies (Kimball, Budnik) to score last two runs †Sacrifice your body for the team award to first basemen from each team: Larkin’s Nelson who laid out going away from home plate for a foul ball. He couldn’t get close enough to make the catch, but it wasn’t for lack of effort; NV’s Budnik blocked a hard Nelson bouncer off his chest and tossed it to Williford for the third out with runners on first and second in Larkin 1st †NV’s Cesario went 3-for-3 with an RBI †Diving grab by Tucci for 3rd out stranded Nelson at 2nd in 6th inning †Bad break department: ball in dirt hit umpire with Larkin runner on 3rd in bottom of the 6th †NV’s shortstop Rob Elliott made 6 consecutive plays (5 assists and a putout, last out of 4th to second out of sixth. He finished with seven assists and a put out.
Random observations: The berm down the right field line at Larkin is one of the best spots I’ve seen to watch a high school ball game. Have to admit it was nice to see a little dandelion yellow in the outfield grass–reminds me of my old school days.
Quotes
Neuqua Valley’s RobRenner: I addressed our team in the gym before we ever played a game. I said ‘Guys, do you think we have sitting right here the talent we had last year?’ They all said ‘No. No we don’t.’ We talked about execution and doing the little things and attention to detail all year long. They know they have to do some things differently. When you understand that they start thinking the game. And when you start thinking the game good things happen. It’s gratifying and it’s so much fun with these guys. They’re such quality kids; their character is second to none. They play as hard as they can possibly play. They don’t stop believing in themselves. They don’t quit and keep playing hard.
Neuqua Valley’s Paul Williford: I thought about it (the no-hitter) once or twice, but once the inning started I had to zone in to try to get people out. But it did cross my mind.
(On Larkin getting on base in the final two innings): I think it was mental than anything. I felt good. When I started getting behind hitters in the last inning it kind of shook me up a little bit. I knew I had to fight back.
(On the season): I think now we’re just playing for us. We know that we can play baseball. We want to prove something to everybody, because nobody believes we can play and we know we can. We’ve got a new drive and a new determination now. Nobody had much varsity experience. We’ve all just molded into good varsity players now.
Neuqua Valley’s Rob Elliott: I was seeing the ball well today. I read the hops perfect. I just felt good out there. Actually I didn’t know he had a no-hitter until later on. It was really fun backing him up. We’ve got to get the next game (see result below) and the next one after that too. Keep on stream rollin’, gotta keep that rolling that snowball on the ground to make it bigger.
Larkin coach Joe Kowalski: Their pitcher threw a great ball game. That’s probably the best command we’ve seen all year. He kept the ball down and had us off balance. We usually can get to a pitcher like this so I was kind of surprised. They played solid defense all the way around. They’re a good ball club. We can’t wait until the last two innings. I think we should have got something done in the first inning. We had runners on first and second with nobody out. We needed to get a run there to put some pressure on them.
Larkin’s Ryan Raupp: We just never got our bats going. We started to get on it a little bit later, but everything we hit hard we hit at people. We struck out too many times. He (Williford) didn’t put anything over the heart of the plate. Even when he was wild, he was wild out of the zone. He was always up-and-in, down-and-away.
(On hit to break up no hitter): A hit like that is not exactly the best feeling, but I was glad he didn’t no-hit us. That wasn’t a ball that I was proud of how I hit it. It was just a bloop single, but I’m glad he didn’t no-hit us. That’s embarrassing to get no-hit.
Larkin’s Matt Giardino: They do everything right. They field the ball every time. They hit the ball in play; they don’t strike out. They get their bunts down. It was a good game.
Game 2 reported by Drake Skleba
Neuqua 233 03--11 Larkin 001 00--1
WP Jason David (4-3), CG, 1 H 5 K
LP Dan Meidel (2-3)
Starting lineups (listed in batting order)
Neuqua Valley (16-9, 14-3): Rob Elliott, SS, jr; Alan Tucci, RF, sr.; Brad Kimball, LF, jr.; Kirk Williamson, C, sr.; Paul Williford, DH, sr./Jason David P, so.; Ryan Elliott, 3B, sr.; Nate Budnik, 1B, sr.; Dan Cesario, 2B, sr.; Ryan Thorpe, CF, sr.
Larkin (15-8, 11-6): Bryan Whitehead, CF, jr.; Jordan Ross, LF, sr.; Chris Godfrey, DH, jr./Sean Shriver, SS, jr.; Ryan Raupp, 3B, jr.; Hunter Nelson, 1B, sr.; Brian Daniel, RF, sr.; Ben Vincent, C, jr.; Dan Meidel, P, sr.; Anthony Gutierrez, 2B, sr.
Game notes
Huge sweep for Wildcats guaranteed them no less than a full game lead in the Upstate Eight race †Neuqua Valley out-hit Larkin 8-1 †Larkin committed 4 errors †Neuqua Valley jumped on Larkin in the first inning. Rob Elliott singled and stole second, the first of 7 Wildcat stolen bases. After an out, three successive walks (Kimball, Williamson, and Williford, RBI) led to Neuqua’s first run. Ryan Elliott followed with a pop up to Larkin second sacker Anthony Gutierrez, who let the ball drop to try for a double play. Gutierrez tagged Williford and fired to first, but Ryan Elliott, beat the throw, allowing Brad Kimball to score †In the second inning, the Royal defense had problems. Three errors and 3 walks led to three runs, once from a Brad Kimball RBI single. Kimball’s 2-run homer to center contributed to another three spot in the third. Larkin scored its lone run on a sacrifice fly from Jordan Ross. Pitcher Jason David added a 2-run single in the 5th †teams meet again at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Neuqua Valley. Likely pitching match-up pits Larkin junior Jordan Ross vs. seniors Dan Budzynski or Doug Cahanin.
Quotes
Neuqua Valley coach Rob Renner: I am thrilled for what the kids accomplished today. We told the kids on the way over here that they had a golden opportunity as far as the conference was concerned. We were very aggressive on the base paths (10 in doubleheader). It is something we do well as a team and we took advantage of the situation. We expect Larkin to really come after us Tuesday, (at Neuqua Valley 4:30p.m.). We expect the game to be a war.
Neuqua Valley pitcher Jason David: I was a little sick last night and went to bed early. I got 10 hours of sleep. My curveball wasn’t working. I had to rely on my fastball and changeup.
Larkin coach Joe Kowalski: The kids were really frustrated by our first game loss. As the second game progressed we became more frustrated. We walked too many people and allowed them to run on us too much. We can’t walk people against a quality club like Neuqua Valley.
May 4
Southwest Suburban Conference Blue Division
Joliet 002 020 0--4 Lockport 101 000 0--2
WP-Cedric Redmond (5-2), CG, 5 H, 9 K, 3W, 1 HBP. LP-Bill Barrett (6-1) CG, 9 hits, 10 K’s, 1 BB (intentional)
Starting lineups (listed in batting order)
Joliet (19-8, 7-3): Ryan Bethard, CF; Artie Morales, LF; Alex McCluskey, RF; Trevor Vermillion, DH/Ryan Harrigan, RF; Ed Koncel, SS; Greg Jennings, 1B; Cedric Redmond, P; Kevin Barnett, 3B; Cory Schild, 2B.
Lockport (19-5, 6-2): Frank Kucera, CF, sr.; Rich Forkin, 2B, jr.; Eric Izzo, 3B, sr.; Matt Shilney, 1B, jr.; Jon Darin, C, sr.; Ed Krupa, DH, sr./Bill Barrett, P, sr.; Kyle Fraser, RF, jr.; Matt Denton, LF, so.; Michael Frigo, SS, so.
Game notes
Great atmosphere, great crowd and one of the best pitching match-ups of the season combined for a fine night of high school baseball. Can’t forget to mention Flink Field, one of the best high school ballparks in Chicagoland … Joliet is on a roll with wins in 12 of last 13 games and ended Lockport’s 8-game win streak … Porters stranded seven in the first three innings, but only one the rest of the game (seventh inning); Lockport did not get a hit after the third inning … Lockport had bases loaded with one out in first, but Redmond struck out Darin and Krupa, runs scored on a wild pitch … Fraser had lone Porter RBI on squib hit that Redmond couldn’t corral; it died in the infield grass behind him … Redmond retired the hosts 1-2-3 in the fourth, fifth and seventh … Might have been one of those nights for Lockport: defensive shift allowed hard-hit balls to center to turn from singles to doubles; intentional walk to McCluskey to get to Vermillion backfired in the third … Lockport climbed to No. 1 in the Tribune poll, after starting the year unranked … Barrett struck out five in the last two innings. He committed to Illinois earlier this week … DH Vermillion was inserted into the starting line-up about the time Joliet started to put it together according to coach Terry Piazza. He’s been there ever since and moved up from the mid-to-low in the order to clean-up. His 2-out, 2-RBI double over the rightfielder’s head in the third put Joliet up 2-1. He followed McCluskey’s two-out RBI single in the fifth with one of his own to end the scoring … Lockport’s Forkin stretched out every inch he had on a great diving attempt to stop McCluskey’s line drive RBI base knock … Fleet lead-off man Bethard went 2-for-3 with a double and run scored; McCluskey 1-for-3, RBI, 2 runs scored; Schild 1-for-3, double and a run; Vermillion 2-for-4 with a double and 3 RBIs … Lockport’s Fraser went 2-for-2 with a double, RBI and reached on HBP … Joliet’s Redmond currently considering Chicago State and jucos Parkland and Wabash … Lockport plays New Trier Friday, T.F. South Saturday … The Steelmen and Porters meet again Monday in Joliet.
They said it
Joliet head coach Terry Piazza: “We went to that seeding meeting last night and we were a little disappointed with the seventh (Lockport sectional) seed, but I don’t think anybody wants to play us. We can win with anybody on the mound. We feel that way. We hit again tonight. We just have to stay hot with the bats because our pitching has been tremendous. I think we’ve given up 10 runs in the last seven or eight games.”
On Vermillion: “He’s just started swinging the bat in practice one day and he hit a ball from the practice field that almost landed in the parking lot. We were getting ready to go to a game that day and I thought, ‘You know let’s give Trev a shot.’ He’s hitting well over .300, over .300 in conference. He’s a quiet kid who goes about his business. We got lucky because Lockport hasn’t seen him before.
Joliet’s Cedric Redmond: “We’re trying to go for the conference championship. We want that bad. The last three innings I just felt the winning atmosphere. Night game, a big crowd, I love it. Last year they beat me for the regional title so I had to come back and make a statement.”
Joliet’s Trevor Vermillion: “It was the first pitch. We just got hyped.”
Joliet’s Alex McCluskey: “I haven’t come though in a clutch situation in a couple games. I really didn’t want to get walked again, because I can produce. I was just trying to get my shot up there, just come clutch, just hit when you need to hit.”
Lockport coach Jim Hall “We’ve lived on the edge. We did not have real good at-bats against Sandburg. In the first inning when you’ve got the bases loaded you’ve got two veteran guys strike out, trying to do too much in that situation. One things our kids did not do a good job … was track the ball. Our kids gave up on pitches early a lot of times and that’s something you’ve got to be careful of. That could come back down the road. We said ‘This game could have come down to one pitch.’ We didn’t execute and I think our kids understand now we have got to do a better job.
“I can’t get mad at my kids because they lost. These kids have played resilient this year. We’re 19-5 and a number one seed and I think we’ve got a lot of baseball left in us. I think we will get better. The White Sox lost one in their run last year. I couldn’t be prouder of our kids.”
Lockport’s Kyle Fraser: “I think we took this team lightly. We beat them earlier in the WJOL tournament. Redmond did a good job. He had real good stuff. He hit his spots real well.
“It felt real good to break it out tonight. I’ve been in a big slump the last couple games. I went for a couple lessons and it really helped me out.”
Lockport’s Bill Barrett: “We didn’t have it. I didn’t have it for sure. I didn’t feel like I had good stuff at all. At the end of the game I started to feel it a little bit, but against a team like Joliet you can’t do that. I’ve got to be good from the beginning.
“The best thing to come off a loss is to win tomorrow, win Saturday and then beat them really good on Monday, and we’re going to.”
May 2
Stevenson 5, Warren 1
North Suburban Conference Lake Division
W 100 000 0--1 S 310 100 x--5
WP-Kohei Miyazaki (5-0), CG, 1 ER, 3 H, 5 K, 5 BB. LP-Mario Perez (5-2), 3 1/3 IP, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 H, 2 K, 5 BB, 3 HBP.
Starting lineups (in batting order):
Warren (12-6, 5-2): Marc Marretti CF; Troy Bloom, 1B; Brian Behnke, RF; Brennan Drew, C; Vinnie Vitale, SS; Matt Limbert, 3B; Mark Deason, DH/Mario Perez, P; Jon Weil, 2B; Vincent Viverito, LF.
Stevenson (18-5, 7-2): Jordan Silverman, SS, sr.; Dan Dowd, CF, jr.; Dan Molnar, 1B, sr.; Mitch Rasmussen, LF, sr.; Matt Goll, 3B, so.; Nate Malmquist, 2B, Max Kopin, DH, sr./Kohei Miyazaki, P, so.; Matt Sullivan, RF, sr.; Mike Burda, C, sr.
Game notes
Went to a single game and a double-header broke out — or at least it seemed like it. The 7-walk (combined) first inning took about 40 minutes … battle for first in the Lake was compromised by a postage stamp strike zone in the first frame. It expanded after that. Stevenson super soph Miyazaki adjusted quickly and that was the story … Miyazaki came out a bit wild, throwing balls with his first six pitches. He walked three of the first four batters (No. 2 hitter sacrificed) … Warren run scored on Vitale’s 5-3 groundout before Miyazaki ended the inning with a K … Warren stranded runners on third in the second and sixth. Last chance for a big inning came in the fifth when Viverito singled to right with one out. Marretti then lined a single to right and Viverito was nailed on a bang-bang play at third 9-4-5 … Blue Devil reliever Brian Schmidt shut down Stevenson, retiring all 8 batters he faced … Maretti had a single and two walks in four plate appearances … Viverito was hit by a pitch and singled in three plate appearances … Stevenson’s first four batters walked. First inning RBIs went to Rasmussen (walk), Malmquist (single up the middle) and Kopin (sac fly to left) … All five Patriot scorers reached base via a walk or got hit by a pitch … After catcher Burda got plunked, courtesy runner David Daar scored from second on an infield single. Daar reached second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on Dowd’s squib down the first-base line that spun further in fair territory. When first baseman Bloom dived unsuccessfully towards the bag to tag Dowd, Daar streaked home without a play … Burda hit almost exactly the same ball to reach in the fourth. Daar eventually scored when the Blue Devils botched a grounder with the infield in … Of Patriots’ three hits, only one made it out of the infield … Dowd on base 3-of-4 plate appearances (single, two walks). Burda on base 2-of-3 trips (single, HBP) … Nice quarterbacking by Burda on Weil nubber on third-base line. He called for Miyazaki to make the play and he just gunned the baserunner down … Warren coach Townsend said Behnke hasn’t been throwing much.
They said it
Stevenson coach Bob Mackey: “I was happy with our intensity in our at-bats. I was happy with the intensity of our effort. We had a few opportunities where a big hit would have given us a stranglehold on the game and we never did get that one big hit.”
On Miyazaki: “He was to his pitch count (just over 100 entering seventh). He’s not going to have to reach for anything extra at that point. If he can just make his pitches and keep on going, that’s fine. But if he would have got to a situation where he really had to reach back we would have made the change at that point.
“He does have a lot of poise. I think in all my years at the head of our program I’ve only had two guys up as freshman on the varsity, and it was only just for a little (time). The first one was Peter Ogilvie who went on to have a nice career at Notre Dame. And Kohei is the second one. They were up just to be with us at the end of the season.
“From Kohei I saw, the first time he stepped onto our practice field, he showed the same poise that he showed today. He loves his baseball and he’s serious about it. He’s got a good approach to the game.
Is he a D-1 pitcher? “Well time will tell, but he’s certainly on that path.”
Stevenson winning pitcher Kohei Miyazaki: “I tried to adjust the pitching zone in the second inning. I kept it low, let them hit the ball. I didn’t throw it as hard as I can. Just get strikes, let them hit, we have a good defense. I just thought about pitching low. I thought it was important to throw a first-pitch strike and then keep going.”
Stevenson second baseman Nate Malmquist: “I knew it was going to be a defensive game once it started. I just think we played a little better defense, our pitching was a little bit more solid. That’s why we came out on top. I think we played a little more together than they did. It was a mellow game. I think everyone stayed on top of things defensively so it worked out.”
Warren coach Dar Townsend: “They played a good game. They made adjustments on the mound and kept us off-balance and they made the plays defensively. Things were a little tight around the zone … but we just didn’t adjust to do it. We needed to bring the ball down and we didn’t do that.
“(Reliever) Smitty did a good job. He kept the ball down around the knees right where the strike zone was. When you throw strike one, you’re going to have a lot more success. That’s one thing we talk to the kids all the time. You’ve got to work from ahead and we didn’t do that today.”
Warren shortstop Vinnie Vitale: “We came out flat in the beginning. The walks got to us.”
(On the lone Blue Devil RBI): “I tried to put the ball in play. He (Miyazaki) changes up speeds real well. He had us guessing.”
May 1
Chicago Catholic League White Division
Bishop McNamara at St. Laurence
BM 000 010 0--1 SL 000 000 0--0
WP-Tim Kerouac, (3-0) 5 2/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 5 K, 2 BB, 1 HBP
S-Drew Elliot, 1, 1 1/3 IP, 0 H, 2K, 0 BB
LP-Dan Jedlowski (5-2), CG, 1 ER, 5 H, 7 K, 0 BB
Starting lineups (in batting order):
Bishop McNamara (21-3, 9-0): Tim Kerouac, P, sr.; Zach Olszewski, 3B, jr.; Bryce Redeker, SS, jr.; Todd Yeoman, LF, sr.; Frank Hasik, RF, sr.; Drew Elliot, 1B, sr.; Tyler Herscher, C, sr.; Tyler Rahrig, CF, sr.; Mike Arocha, 2B, jr.
St. Laurence (17-6, 8-1): Brian Staatz, SS, jr.; Glenn Fischer, LF, sr,; Rob Froio, CF, jr.; Joe Musolino, C, sr.; Matt Foley, 1B, jr.; Christian Ramirez, 3B, jr.; Joe Prohaska, RF, sr.; Jason Mielzynski, DH, jr./Dan Jadlowski, P, sr.; Ron Anderson, 2B, jr.
Game notes
Playoff atmosphere. Lively benches added to the tension of a great game †Mac went down 1-2-3 in first three innings with 5 Ks and a DP against sidearm right-hander Jedlowski †Mac scored the game-winner the first time it got a runner to second base on Yeoman’s leadoff double in the fifth. The only other time the Irish went beyond first was Herscher’s RBI double to right-center that knocked in the only run with two outs two batters later. †Olszewski tried to steal second in the fourth, but was gunned down by three steps by Musolino †Arocha showed his team some glove: he went horizontal towards first for a terrific catch that robbed Froio of a line drive single to right. With runners on second and third in the sixth, he dived forward to catch a soft, sinking Foley line drive just before it hit the ground at the edge of the infield. Before Arocha’s big play in the sixth, Rahrig saved the day with a tough catch running towards the infield on Musolino dropping liner †Herscher went 2-for-2, and Yeoman 2-for-3 †Visitors left only two on base †Mac grad and assistant coach Ray Schmidt believes this is the best junior and senior class of ballplayers there since 1970 †Elliot, who made his second relief appearance of the season will attend Blue Ridge CC in Flat Rock, N.C. †Kerouac will attend Kankakee CC †Win was a measuring stick for the Irish. Their joyous whooping and hollering after the handshakes did nothing to better St. Laurence’s post-game mood. Mix in a little bit of grudge for the rematch Wednesday in Kankakee. Staff aces Elliot (8-1) and Foley (6-0) hook up in a game the Vikings must take †first winning season in last four years for the Irish †A play that didn’t go St. Laurence’s way could have broken open the game in the bottom of second. Musolino was hit by a pitch and replaced by courtesy runner Brian Bradel, who advanced to second on Foley’s single. Both stole for runners on second and third with nobody out. With one out Prohaska rolled to short, Redeker didn’t take the sure out at first and came home. The home plate ump called Bradel safe, then reversed his call †The Vikings last chance to score came in the sixth. Fischer on third didn’t hold the base on Rahrig’s big catch in center. Rahrig fell down after the catch, but Fischer was two-thirds down the baseline and had to return to third †Vikings stole five bases †St. Laurence only had one hit, but stranded five, four in scoring position †Viking Jedlowski is strongly considering Benedictine U. for college †in the fifth and sixth innings, St. L. second baseman Anderson assisted on five consecutive outs.
Random observations
Kudos to St. Laurence for the fine work on their field completed last fall. The infield is a work of art and the best I’ve seen so far this year. The pall over the field after the game was amazing. Very few of the Viking players talked to their teammates as they worked the field. Perhaps the overcast sky added to the mood, but this was the most glum I’ve ever seen a team of players during a regular-season game.
Quotes
Mac coach Derek Coy: “It was a well-pitched game by both guys. We got a couple key hits when we needed them. It was a tough day to hit with the wet ground slowing down the ball. It was a pitcher’s day. Tim usually gets a little tired about the sixth. We wanted to get the win so we brought in our horse. Both teams were evenly matched. This is a big win for our program. Now we know we’re right up there with these guys.”
Mac first baseman/reliever Drew Elliot: “I was fired up. It was a big game. As soon as I got the pitches I felt good. I pitched Friday, but my arm felt great. Coming in in relief you’ve got to come in with the fastball. It was working so I stayed with it.”
Mac starter Tim Kerouac: “When the other team’s up it pumps me up. It was a real intense game, a fun game. My cutter was working pretty good. I pitched the last two years and the team hasn’t been as good. I got frustrated with the defense. But I’m confident in our defense this year.”
Mac catcher Tyler Herscher: “There was a runner in scoring position so I tried to get the ball in play. I was thinking fast ball, but he threw me a curve. I just had to adjust. We know we can beat them at home. They’re a good team.”
St. Laurence coach Pete Lotus: It was a frustrating way to lose a game. They made some plays in big situations. Dan threw a great game. He just made one mistake. They made plays; we didn’t swing the bat. We’ve worked real hard to put ourselves in this position. We expect to win and beat good teams.” (Vikings have bested Mount Carmel, Loyola and lost 2-1 to St. Rita).
St. Laurence starter Dan Jedlowski: “It was a fun game today. Everyone was up in the dugouts. I made one mistake. I got the ball up and he [Tyler Herscher] hit it. My ball was moving a lot today. After the game they’re jumping around like they won the league. We’ll beat them Wednesday.”
Posted May 1, game on April 28
Morton at Willowbrook
West Suburban Gold
Morton 101 300 3-8 Willowbrook 100 100 1-3
WP-Israel Martinez (7-0), CG, 1 ER, 7 K’s, 2 BB’s. 1 HB
LP-Dan Flores (2-2), CG, 3 ER, 7 K’s, 2 BB’s
Starting lineups (in batting order)
Morton (18-5, 8-2): Zach Clements, CF, sr.; Elliott Pisarczyk, C, sr.; Luke Manno, 3B, sr.; Mike Campolattara, 1B, jr.; Alex Alvarez, DH, sr./Adrian Navar, SS, jr.; Israel Martinez, P, sr.; Jamie Rodriguez, LF, sr.; Ruben Olaguez, RF, sr.; Rich Dastice, 2B, jr.
Willowbrook (11-12, 6-4): Zak Zabel, CF, sr.; Andrew Welker, SS, jr.; Chris Nordskog, 3B, sr.; Pat O’Connor, 1B, jr.; Dan Scahill, 2B, jr.; Dan Flores, P, sr.; Joe Klingelhoffer, LF, jr.; Brian Sherry, RF, jr.; Dean Whiteside, C, so.
Game notes: Nice battle between No. 1’s, Flores, who’s headed to Millikin, was undone by his defense which committed six errors and gave up five unearned runs … Morton needed only two hits to score its first five runs … Morton got final 3 hits of game in seventh when it scored thrice … seven different players scored for Morton, Pisarczyk scored twice … great leather thrown around by Morton: Campolattara came up big in the second when he caught a line drive from Whiteside just before it hit the infield and turned it into an unassisted double play. He also made a nice backhand stop of a hot smash behind first to rob Walker of a hit and give the hosts their first out in the seventh; Pisarczyk made a great catch on a foul ball from when he slid and caught a foul pop from Zabel just short of the Morton dugout’s cinder block wall; Navar robbed Scahill of a Texas leaguer with a dandy catch with his back to the infield on a popup to short left; Navar ended the game with an unassisted double play when he caught a Nordskag line drive and tagged out Zabel, who tried to get back to second base; Clements took extra bases away from Scahill with a nice running grab in the left center gap; second baseman Dastice slipped on edge of outfield grass, made assist from knees … Willowbrook left the bases full in the fourth … Willowbrook’s Sherry went 2-for-2 for the only multi-hit game on either side by my book … Whiteside’s RBI double down the right field line in the seventh was the game’s only extra-base hit … Willowbrook’s 6-4-3 double play to end the first stranded Manno at third †SS Walker made nice backhand stop in the hole and threw out Campolattara in the 5th.
Random observations: Willowbrook’s ball field has a cozy feel. It struck me while walking to the portable writing laboratory afterwards that they didn’t play any music during the game. Then I noted that that was a good thing, at the very least for a change of pace.
Quotes
Morton coach Jim Tsenes: I could tell from his body language on the mound … he was nervous. He was all hyped up. He’s got better stuff than that today. He pitched good enough to win and you could tell by his determination on the mound that he’s a gamer. He knew he didn’t have his best stuff and he kept fighting at those guys. He still came out a winner and did a great job.
He has pinpoint control. Today he wasn’t hitting his spots. Everything was up. That’s not normally him, but he was good enough.
We came back with some outstanding plays. That rocket to first base picking that ball and getting the out, and that great play by our shortstop the over-the-shoulder catch on the pop up. That was the first batter of the inning that could have been a big inning.
Morton pitcher Israel Martinez: Everything was working except my slider because the wind was blowing to the left and my slider goes from right to left. I had to go with the curve ball, which worked perfectly, and my change-up was working well and my two fastballs were working excellent.
The wind was affecting my slider, that’s my kill pitch. I couldn’t get that going, but everything else worked well.
Morton catcher Elliott Pisarczyk: He (Flores) had good location. My second at bat I stayed back a little longer and adjusted to it. I think everybody around their second at bat got a better look at him.
We were a little too loose in the Proviso series. This series we knew we had to come out and play hard, so we were a little tense in those first couple innings. Once we got to that third inning we loosened up a little bit.
(on his seventh-inning single that plated two in a 3-run inning)
I think we did (need those runs). It gave us more confidence. For Izzy … I believe the extra runs gave him that much more confidence to throw every pitch, relax up there and pitch his game.
Our defense was tight at first, but it came through again. Our defense has been tough all year.
Willowbrook pitcher Danny Flores: Some things didn’t go our way. That’s baseball it happens. I felt really good I was locating my pitches.
I’m gonna go all out no matter what. I’m a competitive person. Next week Saturday I’m going to go out and throw my best game. That’s what I thought I was going to do today and I did.
Willowbrook Coach Steve Gilliam: When you’re battling for the conference championship … you always want to have your destiny in your own hands. We had an opportunity today and just didn’t play good defense.
It’s 17- and 18-year-old kids. You practice these things. You focus on these things and sometimes it just doesn’t happen-not from lack of effort, just lack of execution.
When you’re going against a quality pitcher like Izzy out there you need all those little small things you can get. We just didn’t get them.
Danny did an awesome job. I’m very proud of his effort out there.
April 29, 2006
Bradley-Bourbonnais at Oak Forest
Nonconference
BB 102 100 0--4 OF 000 140 x--5
WP-Anthony Maziur, 4-1, 4 IP relief, 0 runs, 1 hit, 2 K’s, 4 BBs
LP-Geoff Page, 3-2, CG. 4 ER, 8 K’s, 3 BB’s, 1 HBP
Starting lineups (in batting order):
BB (16-6): Wade Arthur, 3B, sr.; Andy Duvoisin, SS, sr.; Matt Krause, CF, sr,; Geoff Page, P, sr.; Jarod Brubach, 1B, sr.; Adam Messer, 3B, jr.; Max Martin, DH, sr./Bob Delmore, LF, sr.; Ethan Tamez, RF, jr.; Bob Ruhaak, C, sr.
OF (18-4-1): Matt Kucharski, RF; Charlie Johnson, SS; Brian Bajer, C; Anthony Maziur, CF; Dave Norkus, 1B; John Koschnitzky, DH/Brian Frank, P; Jason McGrail, 2B; Todd McCain, 3B; Jason Musto, LF.
Game notes
Most of the game played in a light drizzle †Matchup was between Bradley, the leader of the Southwest Red Division, and SICA Gold leader Oak Forest †Oak Forest is unbeaten in last 11 (10 wins and a 7-7 tie against Brother Rice Friday in which OF had a 5-2 lead) †OF starter Brian Frank went three innings in his first varsity appearance, with 2 Ks (looking), 1 BB, 4 H, and 2 ER, by my book †sacrificing your body for the team award goes to OF/2B McGrail, who got in front of a high hopper that hit him in the chest before he grabbed the ball and threw out Page at first †Norkus had only multi-hit effort of the game, reached his other at bat on an error †Bajer’s 2-out, 2-run double to right center in the fifth kept the momentum going for the Bengals â€
Bradley lost its second game in a row after winning six straight †Boilermaker starter Page said he was going to commit to Illinois Wesleyan Saturday night †BB RBIs to Page (ground out), Duvoisin (single) and Messer (homer in fourth, second of season) †defensive play of the game made by BB catcher Ruhaak, who chased down Johnson foul pop bunt towards the visitors dugout and slid on his bottom to make the grab †BB picked off Norkus on an attempted double steal, catcher’s throw was grabbed by pitcher who fired to third for the tag and third out of the inning. Also picked off McCain when he took off early from first and Page stepped off rubber and threw to SS for tag.
Quotes
Oak Forest coach Ron Czarnecki: We were a little flat. We came in with really limited pitching today. We ran ourselves out of a couple chances early, but we’re that type of team. We bunt and run, hit and run, fake bunt hit. We knew we could run on them. When we got to first base we were a little bit too aggressive early. After the third inning we told our kids to start playing mind games with the pitcher, calling time out … making him wait. I think we got him rattled a little bit. It’s nice to get on the mound and get it and throw it, get it and throw it. We made him wait and took him out of his rhythm a little bit. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but it is. We’ll bunt and we’ve got great team speed. We get the defense to play our game. We’re not going to smack the ball out of the park so we have to manufacture runs.
Oak Forest’s Dave Norkus: I had a hard time getting the ball off the barrel. It helped me out getting a good hop and these guys getting on in front of me. It’s the first time I’ve seen a split finger in a while. It seemed like every time he threw it to me it was a good one. It’s good for our team to battle back like that to keep rolling. To bring this one out when we know we’re not on our best day is big.
Oak Forest’s Anthony Maziur: My arm felt good today. I was only at about 75 percent today. My change-up had people out front and that set up my fastball. Once we scored that run the momentum went back on our side and we just kept. I had a rhythm going and so did our whole team and we just took it and ran with it.
Oak Forest’s Brian Bajer: I was kind of looking for a pitch and went with it. They’ve been pitching me outside a lot the last couple days so I’ve been looking to go the opposite way. I saw that split finger and went with it, hit to right side trying to do what I could for the team to get those runners in.
Bradley-Bourbonnais coach Kevin Arthur: We didn’t field the ball. We can’t make an easy ground ball pickup. We can’t make an easy double play and it came back to bite us. We weren’t patient. He (Maziur) threw a lot of off speed and we didn’t stay back. Hitting off our front foot, popping everything up–one of our typical Saturday morning walk-through, sleep-through games. We’ve got a lot of seniors, 10, nine of them are fourth-year program players and we’re still expecting big things. We’re still leading our conference. We just have to buckle down and make some plays.
(On possibility of let down after two big wins against Andrew this week): I want to say no, but probably. You try to guard against that and talk until you’re blue in the face, but they’re kids.
Bradley-Bourbonnais’ Adam Messer: It looked like we had it, and I think we just thought we’d won it and let it go. We just didn’t have it.
Bradley-Bourbonnais’ Geoff Page: We were on them early and we just lost it. I don’t know if we gave up or if we just felt we had it in the bag. We played the last three innings terribly. Obviously Lincoln-Way East and Oak Forest are huge games. I don’t know what went through our heads.
April 27, 2006
Lockport at Sandburg
Lockport 000 032 0-5 Sandburg 000 000 0-0
WP-Bill Barrett (6-0) CG, 5 hits, 9 K’s, 1 BB
LP-Nick Chmielewski (2-1) 4 2/3 IP, 3 R, 3 ER, 8 hits, 5 K’s, 2 BB’s
Starting lineups (listed in batting order)
Lockport (18-4, 5-1): Frank Kucera, CF, sr.; Rich Forkin, 2B, jr.; Eric Izzo, 3B, sr.; Jon Darin, C, sr.; Matt Shilney, 1B, jr.; Ed Krupa, DH, sr./Bill Barrett, P, sr.; Kyle Fraser, RF, jr.; Matt Denton, LF, so.; Michael Frigo, SS, so.
Sandburg (13-8 6-2): Mark Anderson, CF, sr.; Dave Reynolds, 1B, sr.; Pat Grady, C, sr.; Matt Sharp, LF, sr.; Mike Buchler, 3B, sr.; Matt Hoffman, DH, jr./Nick Chmielewski, P, jr.; Robert Randick, 2B, sr.; Tony Lepore, SS, sr.; Matt Malfeo, RF, sr.
Game notes
Sandburg honored Lockport coach Jim Hall before the game. Eagle coach Doug Sutor presented Hall with a dinner certificate from his program in honor of Hall’s upcoming retirement. After a nice speech praising Hall, Sutor wished him the “Best of luck and best of health starting at about 6 p.m.” Hall did not comply †Lockport almost took an early lead. Hall got on Kucera after he didn’t try to score from second on Izzo’s 3-1 putout. Darin’s short nubber hit the inside edge of the infield grass and bounced foul or it would have gone for a hit and RBI †Porters made Chmielewski throw 32 pitches in the first led by Izzo’s seven-pitch at bat and Darin’s 11-pitch at bat that led to a walk after he was down 0-2 †A low sun may have contributed to two Sandburg outfield misplays that led to doubles. Izzo hit one to center that went over Anderson’s head after he initially broke in on the ball. Malfeo missed a diving try in right that turned a single into a double. †Chmielewski hit 93 on the gun in the first inning †Lockport’s Barrett threw 86-89 in the first and hit 87 in the last inning †Barrett picked off two Eagle runners †Sandburg only had one man reach second, and he got there on a wild pitch in the last at bat †Barrett is getting interest from Illinois, Iowa and Oakland (Mich.) †In recent history the visiting team won the game; the streak continues †Lockport broke open the game with four straight hits after two were out in the fifth: Forkin single, Izzo RBI double, Darin RBI double and Shilney RBI single †Dave Reynolds will pitch Tuesday at Lockport. Sutor called him his ace. He’s compiled a 4-0 record and gave up his first run of the season Monday.
Random observation: Check out ChicagoSports.com’s newest addition–baseball standings! Yes, actual Chicagoland conference standings updated every day by standings maven Drake Skleba. Tell your friends!
Quotes
Lockport’s Jim Hall: “Doug’s a good friend and he’s done a great job here. I’ll go to my grave saying how great baseball coaches are in this state. Playing in bad weather and committing themselves to the game. Frank Ganser (Andrew), Doug Sutor, Mike Zunica (St. Rita). Those guys are all good guys. I just feel blessed to be able to a coach and it’ll be hard to leave this.
“The game was pretty much Barrett. Billy’s really been on. I knew if we played defense it’d be a good ballgame for us. I said we’re going to be aggressive (on the base paths). I ran Krupa one time (out at plate in second), he’s got a bad leg, but I thought we have to make them make plays. A double steal didn’t work (Frigo out at home same inning), I said we’re just going to keep pressure on.”
Lockport’s Billy Barrett: “My fastball felt pretty good and I had my curve ball pretty good. The only thing I really didn’t have was my slider. I just had to battle and get through without it.
“I definitely felt I had something to prove this year. I really wasn’t sure what to expect. My breaking balls were consistent and I was able to pitch. Things just like started working. It definitely feels good after last year not playing (varsity) to really come out and prove to whoever didn’t think I could do it that I’m able to pitch. We’re not done yet. I want to get the state championship. That’s what I always think about.”
Sandburg coach Doug Sutor: “Unfortunately we opened the flood gates. We were living dangerously the first couple innings. Getting behind hitters and it’s no mystery when it’s 3-and-2 what’s coming. Today’s was actually Nick’s first big game of his varsity career. He’s got a lot of promise. But as I told someone a few weeks ago at work, ‘He’s still a work in progress.’ He’s got to be a pitcher not a thrower.”
(On the season-opening suspensions that forced the Eagles to forfeit their first four games) “It’s not how you want to start off a season, but kids are kids and we were disappointed. Things like that you learn from them or they crush you. This group has too much character to be crushed. We said forget about rankings let’s just get better.”
Sandburg third baseman Mike Buchler (led team with two hits): “Their pitcher was throwing good stuff all day today. He was keeping everyone off track. He was throwing gas. I guess we couldn’t catch up to him and his off speed was really breaking. We lacked effort this game. It didn’t seem like this team was all there.”
Sandburg starter Nick Chmielewski: “I really didn’t have my breaking pitches that I wanted to day. I didn’t have my best stuff and went out there and battled. Early I tried going with my slider, couldn’t really find the strike zone with it. Then I started changing up with the curve ball and got that over a little bit. But really it was mainly a lot of fastballs today.”
(On the rough start to the season) “It’s like we’re almost all like brothers on the team. We all love each other. Everybody gets along well. That right there brought us all together.”
April 22, 2006
Lockport at Naperville Central
L 305 100 0-9 NC 000 121 9-4
WP-Dan McConologue (5-1)
LP-Lou Johanns (1-1)
Starting lineups (in batting order):
Lockport (16-4): Frank Kucera, CF, sr.; Rich Forkin, 2B, jr.; Eric Izzo, 3B, sr.; Matt Shilney, 1B, jr.; Ed Krupa, DH, sr./Dan McDonologue, P, jr.; Jon Darin, C, sr.; Kyle Fraser, RF, jr.; Matt Denton, LF, so.; Michael Frigo, SS, so.
Naperville Central (13-5): Garrett Branisel, jr., 2B; Colin Bates, sr., 3B; Louis Johanns, sr., SS; Mike Odenthal, sr., 1B; Sean Joyce, sr., CF; Corey Pryor, jr., C; Derek Graham, jr., SS; Sean Waszak, jr., CF; Brad Lucas, jr., RF.
Game notes
Hall said that right now McConologue is the Porters’ fourth starter. He didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning †The Porters banged out 12 hits †It could have been worse for Central as Lockport stranded 10 men †Seven starters had hits for the defending state champs †Lockport scored all five runs in the third after two outs †Senior Bobby Kolon worked the final 2 2/3 innings in his first work of the year since recovering from an arm injury. He got the Porters out of jam in the fifth when he got Pryor, the first batter he faced, to ground into a 5-4-3 double play. Kolon gave up two hits and one earned run †Speedy Kucera made a nice running catch at his knees on Joyce’s ball to left-center in the second †Lockport coach Hall, who is retiring after this season, was inducted into the Illinois prep baseball Hall of Fame in February †Waszak’s two-out single in the fourth scored Odenthal with the Redhawks’ first run †Waszak made a nice running catch to retire Frigo to lead off the second †Joyce made a full extension diving grab in left to rob Darin of a hit in the third †Reliever Kevin Ericksen caught a screamer waist-high to end the fourth †Central stranded seven including three in the fourth.
Random observations: Hated the pre-game soundtrack music from “Gladiator” (note to all sound men, louder is NOT better). But for the rest of the game the Central music man played the best bunch of tunes heard at a ballpark this year by this reporter (a big plus–absolutely no AC/DC!!!!!!!!). Don’t know the titles of the tracks he played (think one was by the Gin Blossoms), but if he wants to send them to me at [email protected], I’ll be glad to list them on Take Two and Go To Write as a primer for all other high school baseball sound men.
Quotes
Lockport coach Jim Hall: “We had three kids on this team (play last year). Krupa pitched; he was 6-2. Izzo played for half the season and Frankie Kucera was a pinch runner. The rest of the kids are all brand new. I just didn’t want to put pressure on these kids. In the off-season I talked to them a lot about how great we were last year and they got kind of ticked off at it. I said when we pick our new team, (from) the first day I won’t speak about them. I have not talked about last year’s team to them. We talked about this year–the seniors and the leadership. I was on the seniors a lot. I thought in the weight room they weren’t leading like they should have been. I’ve been hard on them. The seniors have conveyed to the younger guys ‘Don’t listen to how coach gets on you. Just listen to what he says and get better.’ I’m pleased. Like last night, I think we came to the park really ready to play. When it’s 8-0 we took some of the wind out of their sails.”
Lockport’s Frank Kucera: (On the hot start this season) “We wanted to come back–surprise people. Everybody thought we lost everybody and we weren’t going to be anything this year. I think we’re starting to prove ourselves now. We have some big wins here. We finished the week off undefeated, 4-0.”
(On getting playing time this season after being primarily a pinch runner last season) “That’s why we were looking forward to this season so much. Last year was fun and everything; we won the state championship. But we wanted to get our chance this year to play and prove ourselves.”
Lockport’s Eric Izzo: “I played probably 3/4s of the year. I DHed when (first team Tribune all stater Matt) Otteman was at third. And when Otteman pitched I played third. It was a helluva ride. As much as that was fun, these are the guys I grew up with right here. We’re having a blast right now just playing baseball and showing people we can play.
The Joliet Catholic win was beautiful. The most important thing about this weekend is that we forgot about it. We won and we forgot about it. We came out today like we didn’t do anything yesterday and we beat another good, ranked team. We’re starting to come together. The most important thing is that we played through it. We didn’t get all hung up: ‘We won our big game; we don’t care about (Naperville Central).’ We know we can win these games. A good team knows that they should win those games.”
(On the fast start) “We knew it as a club. We love being overshadowed. We have nothing to lose out here. No one expected anything out of us, and we liked it that way. We liked not being ranked. We know we can play. We come out here and we’re starting to climb up the ladder. We’re not going to be excited until we’re number one … when we hold the trophy over our heads. We’re filling huge shoes. The thing about our coaching staff is it doesn’t let up on us. They don’t get too excited. They don’t get too down.”
Naperville Central coach Bill Seiple: “There’s no getting around it: we didn’t compete on the mound; we didn’t defend. You would hope when you bring in the defending state champions that there’s a little bit of a spark and a little excitement and boy I didn’t feel it. I don’t think our kids felt it. I guess that’s my fault.
We’ve just got to be better. If we’re gonna play good people, we’ve just got to be better than this. We just weren’t very good today. We had a crazy game last night (16-6 win over West Aurora). We had four home runs and guys were kind of yinging and yanging and I kind of think they brought that same non-level of excitement to the game today. We’re throwing to the wrong base and not turning double plays. It’s a disappointing game.”
Pitcher/shortstop Lou Johanns: “Garbage. We didn’t do anything right and it starts with me. I’ll take all the blame for the game. I didn’t come out ready to play. I didn’t do my job out there. It starts on the mound. Mentally I wasn’t there. Next time I just have to come out 100 percent better. I’m the leader on the team and I didn’t do my job today. I got an earful for it and I deserved it. It’s my job to get these guys going and I didn’t do it today.”
Outfielder Sean Joyce: “Maybe it had something to do with the game yesterday. The wind was blowing out. Maybe we just were trying to hit home runs instead of playing small ball, trying to get the bunt down and moving the runner. We just looked flat today. I don’t know what happened. We’ve been coming back at the end of games. We’ve got to start out strong from the get-go; be strong throughout the whole game.”
April 21, 2006
Du Page Valley Conference
Naperville North 5, Glenbard East 3
GE 002 000 1-3 NN 010 004 x-5
WP-Joe Pankow (5-0), CG, 7 K’s
LP-Brandon Streets (2-3), CG, 5 K’s
Starting lineups (in batting order)
Glenbard East (11-8, 2-3)
Lou Vicelli, C, jr; Matt Kennedy, LF, sr.; Tim Graham, SS, sr.; Brandon Streets, P, jr.; Dan Edwards, 3B, jr,; Mike Martin, 1B, jr.; Jake Merkle, 2B, sr.; Steve Dujka, DH, so./Colin Murphy, CF, sr.; Dan Voss, RF, sr.
Naperville North (10-2, 5-0)
Steve Hlavac, LF, jr.; William Hodges, CF, jr.; Matt Watson, 1B, sr; Kevin COnnors, RF, sr.; David Berndt, 3B, sr.; Matt Abraham, C, sr.; Mike Kubo, DH, sr./Joe Pankow, P, sr.; Nate Arenson, SS, jr.; Chris Gorski, 2B; sr.
Game notes
North’s cleanup man Connors went 3-for-3 and scored two runs; he got things started with a leadoff double in the second, advanced on an error and scored on Abraham’s sac fly to right … North’s decisive 4-run sixth started when Streets hit 2005 DVC player of the year Watson, who went to first after glaring at the pitcher. Connors followed with a ground single up the middle and both scored on Berndt’s triple to center field. He scored the winning run on Kubo’s double to left center … the Huskies sent five batters to the plate in the fifth and each put the ball in play on the first pitch … East’s Tim Graham went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI’s and 2 runs scored, and finished a double short of the cycle … East successfully defended a double steal attempt in the third. With Hlavac on third, Hodges stole second. East second baseman Merkle cut off the throw from Vicelli in front of the bag and fired home for a 2-4-2 putout that killed the inning. Unfortunately East tried to defend the play again in the sixth and gave up North’s final run. Gorski stepped off first after a walk. The ball was thrown to second and bounced while Gorski held. Pinch runner Kurt Hankin dashed home for the Huskies’ final run … East had 11 hits and stranded nine runners.
Random observations: North’s large student crowd was easily the best and most vocal of any I’ve seen so far this spring. Barbecuing on a mini-grill in front of the stands was a nice touch. The female students are tough at North. One in the stands took a foul ball in the back, laughed it off and stayed at the game. The question is: Why didn’t any of the North guys in the bleachers try to catch the ball and protect her?
Quotes
Naperville North’s David Berndt: “He had to give me some good pitches and I was just fortunate enough to take one. He was pitching a great game. Joe kept us in it, that was huge. (It) gave us hope that we could score some runs. We’ve got a great offense. We knew we get him some runs. We have a great team. We expect a great offense and our pitching’s really coming together. You don’t really expect 5-0, but it’s great when it comes.”
North coach Carl Hunckler: “Joe battled. When you look at what was going on into that sixth inning, Joe pitched wonderful. They’re a good hitting team. When you come from behind in those situations that’s going to carry for a several games, always give them a positive outlook that they’re never out of a game.
This first round (of the DVC), I don’t take the first round too serious. I’ve seen teams that have gone 6-0 and they end up in fourth place in our conference. The big push is when we get into that second round and you’re playing those back-to-back games. We’re still trying to develop our number three and four pitchers and have a lot of guys in mind.”
Glenbard East coach Dan “Duck” Hogan: “There’s not one game in conference that’s easy. We’re a tough team, but every team in this conference is tough. We outplayed them for six out of the seven innings … and that’s a shame.
He (Streets) had a mental letdown in that inning (sixth) and they put the ball in play. He hits Watson to start off the inning. We wanted to pitch him away and he runs him in. That started the inning, otherwise who knows?”
Glenbard East’s Tim Graham: “I hit a fastball high and outside. I went with the pitch. I knew the wind was blowing out and if I just put some solid contact on it, right when I hit it I knew I had a chance. I figured the wind was going to take it.
(On having the 2-1 lead) It’s never enough. This team (North) was undefeated in conference so you know they’re probably gonna hit the ball. We had a couple opportunities during the game to get a few more runs and we just didn’t capitalize.”
April 20, 2006
Stevenson 5, Lake Zurich 4
North Suburban Conference Lake Division
LZ 001 012 0--4 S 200 120 x--5
WP-Kohei Miyazaki (3-0); S-Matt Goll, 1. LP-Garrett Rausch (3-1)
Starting lineups (in batting order)
Lake Zurich (12-4, 2-2): John O’Brien, SS, sr.; Todd McCarthy, DH, sr./Jake Smart, LF, jr.; Jordin Hood, 3B, sr.; Joey DeBernardis, 2B, soph.; Kevin Ross, 1B, sr.; Garrett Rausch, P, sr.; Matt Johlie, C, jr.; Kevin Callahan, CF, jr.; Jason Vogan, RF, jr.
Stevenson (12-3, 3-1 ): Josh Schatzman, LF, sr.; Matt Sullivan, DH, sr./Kohei Miyazaki, P, so.; Dan Molnar, 1B, sr.; Mitch Rasmussen, RF, sr.; Max Kopin, 3B, sr.; Matt Goll, SS, so.; Jordan Silverman, 2B, sr.; Dan Dowd, CF, jr.; Mike Burda, C, sr.
Game notes
Southpaw Miyazaki’s pitching speed early ranged from 79-81 m.p.h. The sophomore has worked his way up to No. 2 man in the rotation. He limited LZ’s top four batters to two hits in 13 at-bats with two walks. He left with two runners on and no outs in the sixth †The Japan native struck out NIU recruit Hood twice, including a backwards K with runners on second and third †Miyazaki fanned six †Sullivan scored Stevenson’s first run on a balk †Lake Zurich errors allowed four unearned runs †Seven different players contributed one hit to the Stevenson attack †Molnar hit one to dead center that Callahan took off the top of the fence †LZ’s Vogan was only going to play the field, but the right-handed hitter got the nod to bat when the Bears found out a lefty was going for the Patriots. Vogan hit a double and triple in three at-bats and had an RBI †Callahan and Vogan hit back-to-back triples in the third for LZ’s first run †Ross and Vogan led the Bear attack with two hits each †LZ beat Stevenson 14-11 Tuesday †Bears’ other league defeat came at Lake Forest.
Quotes
Stevenson coach Bob Mackey: “We’ve been waiting for the right situation to get him (Goll) in. I don’t know if this would be your ideal spot to get his first varsity taste, but we have a lot of confidence in him. He’s a good everyday player for us, and a key hitter in our line-up. He had some shoulder problems in his youth league baseball and the last year as a freshman had some tenderness too. This was a kid we really wanted to get the ball to but we waited. We were very patient with him. We got him a few JV innings prior to this. We see him doing what he did, and that’s being able to close a game.”
Lake Zurich coach Gary Simon: “That’s unusual for us. We don’t usually do that (commit errors). I think the kids were a little nervous. I think both teams were probably a little tight. This is a great hitting team and their lefty I’ve got to give him a lot of credit. He got ahead of the hitters.”
April 18, 2006
Whitney Young at Lane Tech
CPL Jackie Robinson (Super) Conference
Young 002 210 0--5 Lane 030 540 x--12
WP–Scott Doebler (2-2), 4 IP, 4 Ks; S–J.P. Palazon (1). LP–Jamaal Hollis (0-3), 3 1/3 IP, 4 Ks, 7 BBs
Starting lineups (in batting order):
Whitney Young (7-8, 1-1): James Coleman, RF, jr.; Brett Strickland, CF, sr.; Julian Kenner, C, so.; Jamaal Hollis, P, sr.; Elliott Greenhill, DH/Joe Frahm, 2B, so.; , jr.; Jack Hermle, 1B, sr.; Jason Kamin, 3B, sr.; Norman Thomas, LF, jr; Sam Clement, SS, jr.
Lane Tech (8-9, 3-0): Joshua Colon, SS, jr.; Daniel Serrano, RF, jr.; William Davila, CF, sr.; Samuel Graebe, 3B, jr; Adam Nieves, 1B, jr.; Thomas McGurn, Dh, sr./Scott Doebler, P, jr.; Adam Kubes, jr., 2B; Jonathon Quiles, C, jr.; David Pena, LF, sr.
Game notes
Scouts were crammed behind the backstop to clock righthander Hollis. He didn’t disappoint with a fastball that topped at 94 on some guns and was consistently in the low 90s in the first inning. He hit 90 several times in the second inning and threw in the mid- to high 80s in the third. Hollis said he will sign soon with Miami (Ohio) after committing last fall, but will turn pro if he is drafted in the first five rounds. The senior walked the bases full in the second and fourth. Hollis hit a towering homer in the fifth off Doebler that hit the running track towards left center. †The Dolphins battled back from a 3-0 deficit. †Lane intentionally walked Hollis to get to DH Greenhill, who responded by lacing a two-out, two-run double down the left field line in the third. Strickland doubled in the lead run in the fourth †Young junior Sam Clement had two hits, including a double, from the nine hole. He was nailed at home on a 9-3-2 putout in the third †Dolphins head to Lincoln for a tournament this weekend where they’ll face Andrew and Oak Forest. †Davila, who went 2-for-4 and knocked in the final two Lane runs, pumped up his teammates with a ground single to right after the first two batters struck out in the first. †A Lane Tech player in the dugout yelled “He’s hittable! Let’s go!” †Colon’s two-out, bases-loaded single to right plated two and got the Indians going. Pena scored the third run of the inning when Whitney Young made a play on Colon going to second after a play at the plate. Pena dashed home without a play for a 3-0 lead. Down 4-3, the defending Public League champs broke open the game in the fourth. Nieves doubled in the last two runs of the inning with two out. †Palazon struck out six in three innings of one-hit relief. Bottom hitters Quiles and Pena each went 1-for-1 with two walks and three runs (junior Brian Wasilk was the courtesy runner for catcher Quiles).
Quotes
Young’s Jamaal Hollis: (On pitching performance) “It’s a little bit of overthrowing. I’m not blaming the mound, but it was kind of tough. It’s not really stable; there’s a lot of dirt moving around. You can’t really get your footing down. This is the most (scouts) at a game (this year). But I’ve seen them scattered throughout the previous games. “
Young coach Chris Cassidy: “We took the lead. It was nice that our guys were working hard and doing what they needed to do. But we’ve gone back and forth with a lot of good teams and we haven’t been finishing them off.”
Lane’s Joshua Colon: “When you face a kid like that you just want to be patient at the plate. We knew he could throw hard. We knew that if we waited for our pitch we could make plays and make things happen. When they went ahead that was kind of a momentum shifter, but we knew there was a lot more game left. We weren’t that worried at that point. We knew if we all stuck together we’d be able to pull out the game. They made some careless mistakes and we took advantage of it. In a game like that you’ve got to stay on ’em — got to keep the hits coming, keep the runs coming.”
Lane’s J.P. Palazon: “I felt like I had to do really good this game, because I had to redeem myself (after a lost start to Maine West April 12). I had location of my fastball (today). Everything started to click and I got into a little rhythm.
(On relief appearance) “Whatever gets us a win; I just want to pitch.”
Lane coach Jeff Szukala: “We’d seen him (Hollis) the last two years. Our approach at the plate was we’re going to take pitches. We’re going to run his pitch count up. Some of the pitching we’ve seen, I told the kids, the kid from Elk Grove, the kid from Mount Carmel, they’re phenomenal. They’re upper ’80s. But they’re in the strike zone consistently. If you take pitches, you’ll get a count in your favor. Yeah he struck out the first two hitters, but then we get the base hit and now we’re alive. We’re like ‘OK, he’s not Superman.’ The confidence spread amongst the team.”
April 17, 2006
Nazareth at Benet
East Suburban Catholic Conference
Nazareth 000 002 2-4 Benet 111 003 x-6
WP-Connor Powers, 2-0, CG
LP-Dave Sopczynski, 2-1, CG
Starting lineups (in batting order)
Nazareth (14-2, 1-2)
Brian Nowak, LF; Giovanni Cantwell, SS; Pat Caragher, RF; Ian Lisak, DH/Dave Sopczynski, P; Paul Czerwien, 3B; Mark Brozyna, 1B; Justin Nelson, C; Stewart Brase, 2B; Ryan Kelly, CF.
Benet (11-4, 3-0)
Matt Kleifges, 2B; Jason Kulig, 3B; Connor Powers, P; Mick Doyle, SS; Bryan Roberts, C; Pat New, CF; Victor Valdez, RF; Bobby Sixsmith, LF; Dillon O’Neil, DH/Chris Pack, 1B.
Game notes: Nazareth proves it’s not a pretender, but a contender †Benet’s Doyle gets two-out singles in first and third, each driving in a run †teammate Bobby Sixsmith has three singles in three at bats and two RBIs †Powers faced only 20 batters in the first five innings, but faced 13 in the final two. He got out of a bases loaded one-out jam in the third with a swinging strike out of Caragher and a Lisak ground out †Powers went 2-for-2 with a double, and also walked twice in four plate appearances. It was his first start since the Schaumburg tournament †C Roberts put in a great effort, just missing a foul pop while diving towards the backstop †three Nazareth errors in bottom of the sixth make 2 of the 3 Benet runs unearned. Nazareth’s Cantwell went 2-for-3 with a double and scored twice. He also walked †Czerwien’s ground single through the middle knocked in Naz’s first two runs. Lizak and Caragher had the RBIs in the seventh †Naz Ryan Kelly hit a double off the top of the left-field fence. He didn’t try to score when next batter Nowak singled up the gut †Nazareth flashed some leather: first baseman Brozyna with an over the shoulder catch on a foul pop in the first, and diving stop of a grounder in the fourth; Left fielder Nowak with a nice running catch that turned into a 7-3 DP in the second; and center fielder Kelly with a nice running catch into right-center in the fifth †after 14 wins to open the season, Naz lost its second straight.
Quotes
Nazareth’s Giovanni Cantwell (On hot start to the season): It’s been great. We’ve been winning ballgames. We have good chemistry, been hitting the ball, we’ve been playing great baseball. Our goal was to have good momentum coming into our conference play. We had a little tough break our second game Saturday (at St. Viator), trying to bounce back here. Even though we lost I still think we bounced back. We did a lot of positive things today. We hit the ball well. We got down a couple times. We didn’t panic and came right back into it. It shows a lot of heart.
Nazareth coach Lee Milano: When you play the upper echelon teams, every little mistake you make is going to be magnified. Today we made a couple mental mistakes on defensive positioning and a couple physical errors. Not to take anything away from them †but if make a couple plays I think it’s a little bit different story.
The thing that was positive today was we were down 3-0 against Powers and we didn’t fold. I think our hitters had a lot of approaches at the plate. We had a lot of hard outs, and †at the end of the game we had the lead run at home plate. That’s all you can ask for.
Benet coach Jeff Bonebrake: Naz battled like you’d expect they would. The big thing is every time they made a run at us, we responded. We did enough to win.
Benet’s Connor Powers: I think they just started catching on to my pitching patterns. I’d get behind hitters and go with my fastball and they’d hit it. It kind of got messy there. My teammates definitely picked me up when I gave up those two runs and they came back with three (in sixth). That was huge.
Benet’s Bobby Sixsmith: I’ve been struggling (at the plate). Coach G (Bob Gallivan) came to the game today and he’s real positive for me and keeps me focused. I feel like I had this game for him. Now we’re 3-0 in the conference †and right where we want to be. Today I just found the stroke. I think I shortened my stride a little bit and found the right spot. The mental aspect is most of it. I found that today.
April 15, 2006
Marist sweeps at Notre Dame
East Suburban Catholic Conference
Marist 003 100 0--4 Notre Dame 000 003 0--3
WP-Tyler Newsome, 3-1; Scott Slubowski, S1; LP-Mike Pagano, 2-1, CG
Game 1 starting lineups (in batting order)
Marist (10-3, 1-0): Scott Slubowski, SS; Steve Walsh, LF; Tyler Newsome, P; Andrew Kingis, RF; Josh Zenawick, CF; Jon Bober, 1B; Matt Gorski, 3B; Greg Gieselmann, C; Dennis Marshall, 2B.
Notre Dame (10-3, 0-1): Brian Cusack, 2B; Nick Robinson, SS; Matt Wietlispach, 1B; Mort Hart, CF; Nate Pierce, LF; Chuck Creager, DH/Mike Pagano, P; Jack Cascio, SS; John Creely, C; Tom Sheehan, RF.
Game notes
Marist proved better at small ball than Notre Dame †All four Marist runs were unearned †Junior Newsome went six innings, struck out eight in his first start in 12 days †Notre Dame coach Bob Kostuch got tossed arguing a questionable call that prevented the Dons from having a bases-loaded, one-out situation in the bottom of the seventh †nifty play by ND shortstop Cascio, bobbled ball near second, flipped behind his back to Cusack for a force-out on Marist’s Walsh … Dons threw Mike Kloss in win against New Trier during the week.
Quotes
Marist pitcher Tyler Newsome: “I was having trouble with my change-up a couple games before, but I thought I was getting those over. My slider was working really well and my fastball had a little giddy up. The big mound helped me a little bit.
(on giving up 3 runs in the 6th) “I think they got some key base hits and kind of caught on with my pitching. I was able to hold ’em off. I think I kept my team in the game.”
Notre Dame assistant coach Dom Catalano: “We just didn’t make the adjustments soon enough. Their pitcher kept us off balance the entire game. He threw absolutely incredible. Them we started making adjustments in the late innings, too little too late.
(on Kloss pitching against New Trier instead of Saturday) “We were coming off a loss. We wanted to get a win. We think that we’re deep enough that we’ll be fine. Our whole staff is pretty good so it really didn’t hurt us throwing Kloss on Wednesday.”
Notre Dame pitcher Mike Pagano: “That’s baseball. My arm felt great. My fastball was moving. I was using my two-seamer against the lefties a lot. When I threw a curve it seemed to come too far inside and some of the lefties were able to pull it down the line. I’m proud of the way our guys really came back. That was all team effort and I’m really proud of that.”
ND 020 000 0--2 Marist 101 301 x--6
WP-Joe Kentos, 2-0, CG. LP-Mike Flood, 1-1, CG
Game 2 starting lineups (in batting order)
Notre Dame (10-4, 0-2): Brian Cusack, 2B; Nick Robinson, SS; Matt Wietlispach, 1B; Mort Hart, CF; Nate Pierce, LF; Chuck Creager, RF; Rich Ruff, 3B; Jack Cascio, DH/Mike Flood, P; Mike Fedoruk, C.
Marist (11-3, 2-0): Scott Slubowski, SS; Greg Gieselmann, C; Steve Walsh, LF; Andrew Kingis, RF; Josh Zenawick, CF; Tyler Newsome, 1B; Matt Gorski, 3B; Jon Bober, DH/Joe Kentos, P; Dennis Marshall, 2B.
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Game notes
Marist home team. ESCC plays one doubleheader instead of two long distance trips between widely separated schools †big day in right field for Redhawk cleanup hitter Kungis: beauty of a diving grab after a run on foul ball by Hart; another long-running catch that resulted in a game-ending double play †Wietlispach was benched for disciplinary reasons after lining out to left in top of first. He was replaced by Mike Kloss †ND coach Bob Kostuch watched the second game from the school roof.
Quotes
Marist coach Joel Jonas: “We just don’t have a lot of pop as far as the extra-base hits. Some guys are not swinging a good bat. We’ve got to play that way (small ball). And it’s a fun way to play. I’ll talk it any day. We put a lot of baserunners in motion today.
Marist pitcher Joe Kentos: “The mound was high. I had to get used to it. Just made my pitches, let defense win, that’s the kind of pitcher I am. Just get my outs and give us a chance to win.”
Notre Dame coach Bob Kostuch: “One of those days. We’re not going to put up a lot of runs as we have in the past. We kind of altogether today didn’t have it on all cylinders. Once we move things around I think we’re going to be okay. It’s just getting them all in the right places. We hope to contend for the conference, this kind of puts us a little further back. But we’ll be okay. We’ll bounce back.
(On the ESCC): “Everybody’s good this year. The guys that haven’t been good in the past are good this year. It’s going to be wild. It sets up perfect for us in the playoffs, because we’re beating each other up (in ESCC) all the time, which is nice. In playoffs that’s when it all matters.”
April 13, 2006
Driscoll 3, Montini 2 at Benedictine University
Suburban Catholic Conference
Montini 000 011 0--2 Driscoll 200 000 1--3
WP-Casey Savatski, 4-0; LP-Joe Crotty, 3-1
Starting lineups (in batting order)
Montini (7-4, 1-2): Brian Martin, LF; Dan Glennon, CF; Pete Cappetta, SS; Pete Roth, 3B; Chris Briggs, CF; Roy Brown, DH/Joe Crotty, P; Steve Montalto, C; Brett Hollfelder, 1B; Chris Gramarossa, 2B.
Driscoll (14-0, 3-0): David Schwabe, SS; Frank Tenuto, 3B; Bob Simmons, P; Kyle Jenkins, DH/Tommy Park, 2B; Ryan Leahy, LF; Casey Savatski,
RF; Phil Pedi, CF; Adam Davis, C; Mike Echeverria, 1B
Game notes
If Ernie Banks were in Lisle Thursday he would have said ‘Let’s play two tonight.’ Beautiful weather, excellent facility, and a great rivalry game well played under the lights. … Two first-inning errors led to Driscoll’s runs. Tenuto reached on an error and scored on Kyle Jenkins’ single. Simmons, who doubled to left center, scored on a dropped outfield ball. … Montini loaded the bases in the top of the second but came away empty. Cather Davis picked off a runner at first, a walk reloaded the bases before Simmons struck out Gramarossa and leftfielder Leahy made a nice running grab on Martin’s fly ball. … Driscoll followed suit and loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the inning. Second baseman Gramarossa made a full extension grab of a soft Schwabe line drive for the first out. The Broncos followed with a beautiful 1-2-3 double play saved by a great catch by first baseman Hollfelder, who flagged down the ball which was up near baserunner Tenuto’s head. … Montini got on the board when Martin doubled and went to third when the throw went to second where no one was covering. He scored on Glenn’s single up the gut. The Broncos loaded the bases, but came up empty on Schwabe’s second throw-from-the-knees 6-3 double play. … Montini also scored when pinch hitter Will Halboth popped up a ball just behind first base. First baseman Echeverria pulled away from the ball thinking second baseman Parker had it and it dropped for an RBI single. †Defensive star of the game was Schwabe, a sophomore. He also made a great grab running from short into the right field side of short center to snare a potential flare for the first out in the top of the seventh. … Montini’s LF Martin and C Montalto derailed Driscoll’s first attempt to win in the bottom of the seventh. Martin fired a strike on Simmons’ looping single to Montalto, who just grazed Schwabe on a head-first dive. Jenkins followed with a two-out RBI single to left for the game-winner. … Driscoll’s Jenkins plans to attend Harper JC next year to play football. †Savatski recorded his second win of the week to go with a save Wednesday.
More from Montini
Coach Bill Leeberg: “We made a few mistakes early in this game and it hurt us. I’ve got to give it to their left-fielder. I thought that ball that Martin hit was going to be over his head. Three-two count, everybody was running. I thought we’d get at least two on that. He made a nice play getting back on that ball. They made the plays. We’ve shuffled (the batting order) around a bit trying to get some things going. Martin, you’re wondering if he should hit farther down the lineup but he starts the game out so well and gives so much energy that I like him at the top. We’re going to keep experimenting.”
Pitcher Joe Crotty: “They hit the ball pretty good. They’re a good team, just tip the caps to them. We just need to come together as a team, hit the ball, play some solid defense, keep the pitching going and we’ll be fine.”
More from Driscoll
Coach Sean Bieterman: “It was one of those things with two heavyweight fighters and one was going down. Play this game 100 times and we’re probably 50-50. It was a lot of fun tonight.
(On 14-0 start) “It’s a nice script, but I can’t say I planned this. We knew we had good experience coming back. We had seven position starters back off a team that was 25-12 last year, terrific pitching.”
DH Kyle Jenkins: (Holding a $20 in his hand for post-game chow) “I only had a foot-long meatball sandwich from Subway so I don’t know how I lasted. I need a lot more than that. I knew he was going to throw me a lot of curveballs. Before that I probably saw about seven or eight breaking balls in my previous at bats. So I just tried to stay back in my stance and drive it somewhere, hopefully get it through the infield.
(on play at the plate) “We really wanted that play. The whole bench thought he was safe. But I still had to do my job. I still had to try to help our team win. I just tried to clear my head and focus on my next at-bat.”
SS David Schwabe: (On double plays) “Coach had me positioned right in the right spots for that. They told me to move over. I was holding the runner on second because we try to throw down there a lot.”
April 12, 2006
Elk Grove at Prospect
Mid-Suburban League East
Elk Grove 040 002 100--7 Prospect 003 030 100--7
Starting pitchers
EG-Will Osmanski; P-Scott Winters
April 13 continuation
Elk Grove 001-8 Prospect 000-7
WP-Will Osmanski (5-0)
Osmanski re-entered in 10th and went rest of the way to both start and finish the game on successive days. Sean Moy’s RBI single drove in Ryan Power for the game winner.
Starting lineups (in batting order):
Elk Grove (11-1, 1-0): Ryan Power, LF, sr.; Ryan Copeland, CF, sr.; Shawn Moy, SS, sr.; Brad Siciliano, RF, sr.; Pat Guido, 3B, sr.; Nick Stuberg, DH, jr./Will Osmanski, P, sr.; Scott Harkins, C, sr.; Billy Montemayor, 2B, jr.; Luke Miller, 1B, sr.
Prospect (6-2, 1-0): Tim Churchill, 2B, sr.; Tim Scanlon, 3B, soph.; A.J. Witten, SS, jr.; Andrew Butkus, C, sr.; Wil Hagel, 1B, jr.; Scott Winters, P, sr.; Jeff Sobey, CF, jr.; Matt Gamber, DH, jr./Scott Sedey, RF, sr.; Vince Saisi, LF, sr.
Game notes
An MSL East free-for-all nearly from the beginning †Elk Grove’s first four runs were unearned after a two-out error with no one on †The Prospect coaches considered pulling Winters but let him face leadoff man Power, who hit a two-run homer to left to tie the game in the sixth †Elk Grove pinch hitter Bobby DeMuelenaere tripled in pinch runner Jason Cruikshank with the go-ahead in the top of the seventh †Prospect’s Brian Lattner came in with the bags loaded in the top of the seventh and recorded back-to-back backwards Ks. He struck out four, all looking, in 2 2/3 innings. †Prospect’s Butkus is not related to the former Bear Hall of Fame linebacker. Lattner is a distant relative of former Notre Dame great Johnny Lattner. †Copeland pitched six innings for the win against Hersey Monday †Wednesday he gave up three runs in three innings. He recorded seven strikeouts including the side in the sixth †Montemayor got out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the ninth with a strikeout of Winters †After going homerless in the nonconference schedule, Copeland has three homers in two MSL games †Prospect leadoff man Churchill was on all five plate appearances (HBP, two ground singles, a double and a walk) and scored three runs †Hagel’s two-run fifth inning homer that tied the game at six was his first of the season †game will resume at 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 13 at Prospect.
Quotes
Elk Grove’s Ryan Copeland: “With these kind of conditions, the wind blowing out and the hard field, all it takes is put the ball in play and see what happens, make the fielders make a play. †They wanted to use me for five, six, seven. I told them I could go three. I threw about three pitches over there. I came in the game and I got five pitches (warm-ups). I was kind of all over the place. I think I pitched pretty well. I didn’t walk anybody. I tip the cap; they had to earn it.
(On home run) “He was trying to bust me in. He just made a mistake over the plate, got it up a little bit. I’ve been seeing the ball a lot better. I’m sure the wind helped me. I just put a good swing on it and the ball just went.
“Going up 4-0 we knew it wasn’t even close to over. They have a good offense and the same conditions as us and took advantage of it too. In the dugout we were talking we need more than four.”
Elk Grove coach Terry Beyna: “With the wind blowing out today, it was nice to get ahead and get Will some runs. But we knew that four runs on a day like today would not hold up. It turns into two teams exchanging blows, and still waiting to see the outcome. I looked at my lineup card and you talk about how you need a lot of guys to win games. Hey you never know who you’re going to need †be ready to play. You look at this game right now and both teams are past the guys who thought they would be in this situation. It’s nice to see whose got the stronger bench, who’s going to make what moves.
Prospect coach Ross Giusti: “It’s been a great ball game from both sides. This is what high school baseball is all about. When you’ve got two competitive teams going at it back and forth. This is a fun job to have in games like this. †I was real proud of our kids, the way we battled back and got ourselves back in the game. I was very pleased how we battled today.”
Prospect’s Brian Lattner: “I just wanted to come in there and throw strikes. I wanted to stay away from the top of the order. Last year I was in the same situation against Elk Grove with Copeland in. It went into eight innings and we ended up winning that game.
Prospect’s Wil Hagel: “When Copeland came in, I was pretty pumped up, because I hadn’t faced him since the summer. I knew his arm was probably kind of tired because he pitched six innings a few days ago. When I was going out there I was thinking ‘Hit the first fastball because his off-speed stuff is pretty hard to hit.’ I got a fastball across the letters and it just connected. I’m usually just an RBI guy. This was huge for us. This could set the tone for our season. (We) are going to be battling for the East championship. If we could take them now, that would set a good tone for us to play them later in the season.”
April 10, 2006
Lake Zurich 15, Crystal Lake Central 3
Lake Zurich 411 063-15 Crystal Lake Central 002 010- 3
WP-Garrett Rausch, 3-0, CG, 3K’s. LP-Gannon Sadzeck, 2-1
Starting lineups
Lake Zurich (8-2): John O’Brien, SS, sr.; Todd McCarthy, RF, sr.; Jordin Hood, 3B, sr.; Joey DeBernardis, 2B, soph.; Kevin Ross, 1B, sr.; Kevin Callahan, CF, jr.; Garrett Rausch, P, sr.; Matt Gilhooly, LF, jr.; Matt Johlie, C, jr.
Crystal Lake Central (6-2): David Heasley, CF, sr.; Ben Graeff, SS, sr.; Michael Streit, 1B, sr.; Pat Buxton, LF, sr.; Manuel DeMoya, DH, sr./Gannon Sadzeck, P, jr.; Scott Spinelle, C, sr.; Tom Flood, RF, sr.; Mike Low, 2B, jr.; Josh Buhr, 3B, sr.
Game notes: LZ arrived late, warmed up second and came out smoking: lead-off man O’Brien hit second-pitch homer to center, Ross doubled in Hood (walk) and Callahan brought him in with a 2-run homer to center †LZ played in the Fox Valley Conference last season but moved to the North Suburban Conference for this season †Over the past two seasons Rausch has 12 wins (9-2 in ’05) †Hood signed with Northern Illinois in the early period, selecting the Huskies over Indiana, Missouri, Texas-Pan American and Northern Iowa †LZ turned 6-4-3 DPs in the 5th and 6th †Hood reached all five times (one walk, one intentional walk, hit by pitch, two RBI singles) †Ross went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs †first eight LZ hitters had RBIs †CLC starting pitcher Sadzeck gave up six runs, all earned, in three innings †Heasley will play at St. Francis (Joliet) next year †Graeff had big CLC hit, a 2-run double in the third †wind blowing out made outfield catches tricky †CLC nine hitter Buhr went 2-for-2 and scored a run.
Great plays
• LZ 2B Low made a terrific diving grab of Streit’s line drive screamer with two Tiger runners on to end CLC’s two-run third.
• CLC CF Heasley made a long run and diving catch in short center to rob DeBernardis of a Texas leaguer.
From Lake Zurich
Coach Gary Simon: “That’s the first time we came out of the box and really were smacking the ball. Garrett pitched really well. We played solid defense. We’re just trying to get ready. Next week we step into the fire, the North Suburban.”
Pitcher Garrett Rausch: “It was a good day at school today. We had late arrival so everyone was ready to play some ball today. Our performance was pretty good today. Our offense was unbelievable. It definitely helps coming out the first inning up 4-0. And it’s three times easier to come out and pitch when you’ve got a lead. Everything was pretty decent, nothing stood out in terms of pitches. My fastball, my change they were all pretty good today, and that was good enough.”
Third baseman Jordin Hood: “I’ve been seeing the ball real well. I’ve been making good hits in good situations so I’m happy. A lot of people have been noticing what I can do for the last couple years. Especially this year they’re really starting to pitch me carefully, and choose when they want to face me, depends on the situation.
“I changed my stance quite a bit and really worked hard in the offseason, so I think it’s (hitting) really picked up a lot this year. I shortened up my stride and opened up my stance a little bit so I can get a little more power into it. I think that’s helped a lot. I’ve got three home runs already, and a couple triples. I’m hitting the ball a lot farther that’s for sure.
From Crystal Lake Central
Coach Jeff Aldridge: “They knocked the snot out of the ball on us today. I didn’t think we gave it to them. They earned it. They flat-out beat us. That’s what crazy about high school baseball, most of the times you lose games. I think they won this one.”
Centerfielder David Heasley: “Lake Zurich’s a pretty good team and they came out sticking the ball. I thought we played pretty solid. We just hit a lot of balls right at them. We just got beat today.
On his diving catch: “You’ve always got to be ready for anything that comes your way. I kind of kicked the second baseman with my feet flying up. I didn’t know if I was going to get it, so I couldn’t call it.”
Shortstop Ben Graeff: “We’re going to keep this (game) in the back of our head, but we’re going to flush it and come out tomorrow and play a tough team Mundelein. We’ve had pretty decent defense so far. Some games we bring our sticks; some games we put up some runs.”
April 8, 2006
Schaumburg Flyers Classic
Saturday semifinal
Carmel 201 040 0-7 New Trier 000 000 0-0
WP-Matt Diedrich
LP-Zach Hofeld
Starting lineups
Carmel (9-0)
Sean McCreary, SS, sr.
Mike Morrissey, RF, sr.
Jeff Greco, 3B, sr.
Jordan Sivertsen, LF, so.
Corey Stonelake, CF, jr.
Zach Amrein, 1B, jr.
Brian Hendricks, DH, sr./Matt Diedrich, P, sr.
Tim Josupait, C, sr.
John Brennan, 2B, jr.
New Trier (4-2)
Sam Franklin, CF, jr.
Scott Spinney, LF, sr.
Mike Domenick, 1B, sr.
John Rosinski, RF, sr.
Chris Lashmet, 3B, jr.
Sam Trohman, DH, sr./Zach Hofeld, P, sr.
Brad Groebe, C, sr.
Adam Victorn, SS, jr.
Mac Murphy, 2B, jr.
Notes: Carmel blew it open with four straight hits to open the fifth inning, including Jeff Greco’s two-run triple †Corsairs collected 10 hits against Harvard-bound Trevian ace Hofeld, who surrendered five earned runs †Carmel’s second baseman Brennan made the play of the game when he sprinted into short centerfield and robbed John Rosinski of a hit with a diving catch †New Trier lost a big opportunity on a tough call in the fourth. After walking Scott Spinney went first to third just before on Mike Domenick’s ground single up the middle. Domenick tried for second after the throw to third and appeared to just beat the throw, but was called out.
Friday quarterfinals
Carmel 002 300 0-5 Lake Park 000 000 0-0
WP-Tim Johnson, 3-0 (CG, 4 hits)
LP-Dan Haas
Starting lineups
Carmel (8-0)
Sean McCreary, SS, sr.
Mike Morrissey, RF, sr.
Jeff Greco, 3B, sr.
Jordan Sivertsen, LF, so.
Corey Stonelake, CF, jr.
Zach Amrein, 1B, jr.
Brian Hendricks, DH, sr./Tim Johnson, P, sr.
Tim Josupait, C, sr.
John Brennan, 2B, jr.
Lake Park (2-5)
Derek Klinetobe, SS, sr.
Anthony Carioscia, C, sr.
Andy Sawicki, 2B, jr.
Phil Mena, 3B, sr.
Mark Stoeven, 1B, sr.
Phil Wold, DH, jr/Dan Haas, P, sr.
Bernie Warn, LF, sr.
Kevin Lange, CF, jr.
Pete Gedrimas, RF, sr.
Carmel quotes
Tim Johnson (second complete game): “It was cold, but we knew the wind was blowing in so we knew it was going to be an equalizer. I tried to keep my pitch count low. We have a great defense. They made some plays. It’s big time confidence when you know you’ve got defense behind you.”
Corey Stonelake (2 singles in four at bats, 3 RBIs): “Our offense, we hit better than we expected. We expected to get some bunts down, that type of game, but actually we’re hitting and scoring some runs. I saw a few fast balls and I knew if I got another one I was going to hit it. When I got down 0-2 I really didn’t think anything of it. I knew he wanted to get out of the inning, bases were loaded (in the third). I knew he wanted to get out of there so I knew his fast ball was coming and he laid it in there. My team got on base and made him throw strikes. It was all good after that.”
Friday quarterfinal
Clemente 000 020 0-2 Jacobs 010 002 x-3
WP-Steve Plettau, 2-1 (6 2/3 IP)
S-Chris Buccierim S (2)
LP-Oscar Sanchez, 2-1 (CG)
Starting lineups
Clemente (3-4)
Marvin Sanchez, 2B, jr.
Devin Melecio, RF, jr.
Rafael Garcia, SS, jr.
Oscar Sanchez, P, sr.
Gabriel Perez, 3B, sr.
Hector Belen, C, jr.
Anthony Alvarez, Jr., LF, sr.
Justin Merick, DH, jr./Fernando Cisneros, 1B, sr.
Elliot Cebollero, LF, sr.
Clemente notes
Devin Melecio had a big game at plate. He went 2-for-4 with an RBI, and in the field he made two catches in right that stopped a Jacobs uprising with runners on first and second and one out in the third.
Coach Jeff Frcka (on call that Marvin Sanchez was called out after stealing second when Melecio was called for batter’s interference for leaning over the plate): “That’s a really hard call for that umpire to make. I really can’t believe he makes a call like that at that point of the game, in the first, second inning maybe. It was an outside pitch. The batter leaned over to try to make contact with the outside pitch. He didn’t cross over the plate; the umpire said he just leaned over and stood back up and that’s just what he did. Besides the runner would never have been thrown out.
Jacobs quotes
Mike Krueger: “You kind of had to play the wind. Line drives and ground balls, small ball was going to win it today. That’s what we did basically.”
On RBI single that tied the game in the bottom of sixth, and teammate Pat Luehring, who while on second base stole the Clemente signs and was trying to signal the pitch): “At that time I was just so focused on trying to rip the ball up the middle (I didn’t see him). I knew it was coming right down the middle. It was a fastball right over the plate. He (Sanchez) was down in the count and I knew he was going to try to get back on top.”
Thursday quarterfinal
Benet 300 202 0-7 Schaumburg 000 000 0-0
WP Connor Powers 1-0 (5 innings)
LP Dan Jennings
Starting lineups
Benet (6-3)
Matt Kleifges, 2B, jr.
Mick Doyle, SS, jr.
Connor Powers, P, sr.
Bobby Sixsmith, LF, jr.
Bryan Roberts, C, so.
Victor Valdez, RF, sr.
Jason Kulig, 3B, sr.
Chris Pack, 1B, sr.
Dillon O’Neill, CF, jr.
Schaumburg (2-7)
Dan Jennings, P, sr.
Dominick D’Agata, C, so.
Brandon Harper, DH, sr./Chris DeGrande, RF, sr.
Mike Mistrata, 1B, fr.
Darren Joniec, 3B, sr.
Brandon Moneyhun, SS, jr.
Steve Mahler, CF, so.
Greg Atamian, 2B, jr.
George Kalousek, LF, so.
Benet notes
Connor Powers hasn’t allowed a run in 10 innings of season †Powers’ two homers gave him three for the season †defense turned three double plays including game ender in 7th with bases loaded.
Connor Powers: “Matt Kleifges really set the tone for us in the beginning getting that leadoff hit (double). That’s a big thing for us when we get the first guy on; we get going.”
On the Flyer Classic: This is our test. Our preseason schedule hasn’t been that strong and we haven’t done that well. This is really going to prove what we can do.
Schaumburg notes
Saxons are playing without two starters from last season’s Elite Eight team who transferred due in part to athletic code violations.
April 2, 2006
Montini 8, St. Joseph 6
St. Joseph 200 003 1-6
Montini 601 010 x-8
WP-Joe Crotty, 1-0
SAVE-Joe Roth, 1
LP-Scott Householder, 1-2
Starting lineups
St. Joe’s (6-2)
Jordan Higgins, SS
Brian Sopczynski, 2B
Brian Householder, C
Scott Householder, P
Jim Dempsey, CF
Phil Eck, 3B
Chris LaPaglia, RF
Patrick Devereux, 1B
Scott Anderson, LF
Montini (3-1)
Brian Martin, LF
Dan Glennon, CF
Pete Capetta, SS
Brett Hollfelder, 1B
Pete Roth, 3B
Will Halboth, DH/Joe Crotty, P
Chris Briggs, RF
Steve Montalto, C
Mike Trombetta, 2B
St. Joseph notes and quotes:
Coach Jay Meath: The team in general didn’t come out to play today–late night game last night not an excuse (9-4 10-inning win at St. Ignatius that ended at 8 p.m.) We should be ready from the get go. We were ready to go at 8:30 a.m. Tried to get them up for the game, it seemed to work, but you could tell with the defensive lapses and some of the errors, and to tell the truth, not adjusting to the strike zone. Too little too late if you ask me. If you don’t have your head in the game at the beginning that’s what happens.
Pitcher Scott Householder: The good, and the bad on the mound. I couldn’t find the zone. I gave up too many walks. I didn’t give my fielders a chance to make plays for me. You’ve got to put it in their hands and not try to do it myself all the time. I was getting frustrated with myself. I was hitting the spots I wanted to hit. Everything wasn’t going my way and I let it get to me. I’ve got to put it behind me and start over. It’s a head game for me. Hopefully I get the bad game out of the way and come back strong.
At the plate I just wasn’t thinking. That’s why I had a good day. My head was clear. I’m seeing the ball really well right now and getting the pitches and hitting it where it’s pitched.
Notes: Meath is in his first season coaching the Chargers. He previously held two assistant’s jobs in south Florida †Scott Householder finished with three home runs, five RBIs (two-run in 1st, two-run in sixth, solo in seventh)†he has six homers on the season and has hit a tater in four straight games †he was aided on one home run by Montini’s short right-field porch †middle homer a two-run shot, it bounced to high-peaked, two-story garage across 16th street and rolled to the top of it; twin brother and catcher Brian doubled and scored two runs †Devereux got the other Charger RBI †Householder is Chargers’ number one pitcher. His and team’s only other loss came to Morton†he gave up four walks in first inning. Finished with eight K’s in four innings of work.
Montini notes and quotes:
Coach Bill Leeberg: We just couldn’t get Householder out. Two of the balls were shots. Pete’s done that twice now. He did that against Batavia. We’re pleased with the way Pete came in and shut the door. We may have gone a little bit too long with Crotty, but he was going along pretty well.
On playing AA this year due to the multiplier: We know if you beat Hinsdale in the first game of the tournament you’ve got to beat LT. It’ll be a lot tougher.
Pitcher/third baseman Pete Roth: They said I might come in later. They weren’t sure if I was going to throw in the bullpen today or actually come in and pitch. I got eight pitches to warm up with and I came in. The first one high and in, I didn’t mean to do that, I promise. It’s always nervous when you come in a situation like that, but they had me do that in our run to state, so I’ve done it before.
On playing AA this year due to the multiplier: I think we can handle it. We should be able to make a decent showing in the playoffs. We were happy with our success last year. I guess now we have something to prove that we can play with the big guys as well as the smaller schools. The non-conference games we schedule AA schools.
Left fielder Brian Martin: I knew I had to lead off the team, just taking some first pitches, wanted to see what he looked like. Drew the walk and it eventually sprung to a 6-run inning. It started things off real nice. I guess we just coasted through. We should have kept playing as hard as we could. They were battling back the whole time and we knew it was coming, good thing we held them off.
Notes: Montini returns seven starters and it’s pitching staff †Martin is a two-time Class A wrestling champion who earned a scholarship to Fresno State †Crotty only surrendered one hit through five innings †Hollfelder knocked in two first-inning runs with a single just inside the first base bag †solo Bronco runs in the third and fifth were unearned.
March 30, 2006
Joliet Catholic 15, Minooka 9Minooka 240 21 -- 9
JCA 043 62 – 15Lineups
Minooka (4-2): Cole Tyrell, P; Andrew Trepel, 2B; Ryan Voitek, 3B; Tom Cerven, C; Tony Wellner, CF; Brian Shriner, RF; Brett VanAsdlen, DH/Austin Lehman, SS; Matt Schwerha, 1B; Mike Smania, LF.
Joliet Catholic (4-0): Billy McKeon, 2B; Tom Zurliene, SS; Joe Benson, C; Mark Siefert, 1B; Ken Tezak, 3B; Tony Testin, P; Shane Keane, RF; Dan Cladis, DH/Mike Vertin, LF; John Ruettiger, CF.From Joliet Catholic:
Dan Cladis (career high five RBI): “I was sitting in the press box. He (coach Jared Voss) told me to do the scoreboard and he goes ‘Hey you’re on deck.’ So I ran out of the press box, grabbed a bat and walked up to the plate. Me and Mike Vertin switch off at dh. It was his turn to dh, but I forgot he played left field the first inning.”
Coach Jared Voss: “It was a hitter’s day today, warmed up, wind blowing out. We’ve played pretty good teams already but check out our schedule, it doesn’t get any easier.”From Minooka
Coach Jeff Petrovic: “I told the boys at our half of the second (up 6-0) you’ve got to keep going. This is just the start of the score for this game. With the wind blowing out and everybody using a bunch of different pitchers that it was going to be who could outslug who.
“I was really impressed with how fast they are. They play a very fast game on the bases. That puts a ton of pressure on opposing teams when you can run like that. They remind me a lot of the team that I had last year.”
Tom Cerven (4-4, three doubles, four RBI): “Both sides hit the ball really well today. That’s all it came down to. They put the ball in spots we weren’t. We hit the ball. We just couldn’t keep up with them at the rate they were going. We knew they were a good team coming in here and anything can happen with the wind blowing out. You’re never safe against these guys. They got a couple duck snorts in a row and after that they just started killing the ball.Notes:
Game featured two of the best catchers in Chicagoland: Benson and Cerven †Trepel hit a two-run homer to left in top of first †Trepel and Smania had two RBI each †Both teams headed to WJOL tournament Friday and Saturday †JCA’s Cory Churchwell is out until next week after getting spiked during Joliet Township game and getting four stitches †Tezak, Keane and Ruettiger had a pair of RBI each†16 hits for JCA including three each for Tezak and Keane.Naperville Central 8, Lyons Township 7
LT 000 201 4--7
NC 000 001 7--8WP-Matt Barry (1-0). LP-Mike Dimaggio (0-1)
Starting lineups
Lyons Township (3-2): Mike Bellisario, sr., 1B; Brian Dunne, sr., 2B; Casey McMurray, jr., RF; Dan Weston, sr., CF; Grant Fillipitch, jr., P; Justin Birks, sr., C; Andy Cannon, sr., LF; Kyle Corcoran, sr., DH/Anthony Genna, sr., SS; Mark Hochberg, jr., 3B.
Naperville Central (4-0): Sean Joyce, sr., CF; Colin Bates, sr., 3B; Louis Johanns, sr., SS; Mike Odenthal, sr., 1B; Sean Tompkins, jr., DH/Kyle Kaminska, jr., P; Corey Pryor, jr., C; Mike Polich, sr., LF; Garrett Branisel, jr., 2B; Jake Hendrick, sr., RFMore from Lyons Township
Starter Grant Fillipitch: “Everything was going great through six. My arm felt great. I was disappointed to come out. I felt I did all I could. Of course we’re disappointed. These guys are a great team and we wanted to come out and show them what we have.”
Coach George Ushela: “We are finding out where our depth is on the pitching staff. We wanted to get a couple guys an inning here or there. We had a big enough lead. I think later in the season I’d have let Fillipitch pitch the whole way. Hats off to them, they came back. They did what they had to do.”More from Naperville Central
Coach Bill Seiple: “When we started the top of the seventh it was like we stopped playing. We had a terrible top of the seventh, throwing the ball around, dropping the ball. It was almost like we set them up to cruise through there.
“But we had good at-bat after good at-bat. Next thing you know I’m thinking if we can get Johanns up there as the tying run we’ve got a chance. I was real tickled with Garrett. Our juniors especially have been taking a lot of first-pitch fastballs, which they should be hacking at. We didn’t want Weston to get any rhythm. For Garrett to jump on the first pitch was a big thing.”
Starter Kyle Kaminska: “I was over the plate with everything. My defense helped me out. I’m pleased with my performance I had. I have a lot to work on, but I think everybody does.”Notes
Fillipitch collected three doubles and an RBI in four at-bats for Lyons (3-2). Catcher Justin Birks went 2-fof-3 and added two RBI for the Lions … LT got at least one hit an inning including 5 in a 4-run seventh and 12 for the game … Central had six hits … Redhawk Bates has yet to pitch this year due to an ankle injury … Three of Central’s scorers were hit by pitches … Right fielder Polich threw out courtesy runner Ryan Booth at home after catching Cannon’s fly ball in the second … Hochberg went 3-3 for LT.March 27, 2006
Hinsdale Central 2, Andrew 0Andrew 000 000 0-0 HC 200 000 0-2WP: Nick Kurash (2-0)
LP: Zach Baldacci (0-1)Starting lineups
Andrew
Curt Restko, 2B
Scott Foley, LF
Mike Kaczmarek, RF
Bill McDonald, C
Brian Wyrobek, 1B
Wes Klockowski, DH/Chad Murphy, SS
Adam Nykiel, 3B
Zach Baldacci, P
Phil Rossberg, CF
Hinsdale C.
Andrew Nicholas, SS
Toby Adeyemi, CF
Mark Noth, C
Brett Morse, RF
Brett Suchy, LF
Colin Cimala, DH/Nick Kurash, P
Alex Bellusci, 3B
Sam Katz, 1B
Drew Bailey, 2B
Andrew quotes and notes:
Coach Frank Ganzer: “You got to give the kid (Kurash) credit. He pitched one hell of a ball game. He did a great job. He’s got great velocity. He’s got that slider that tight break on that thing that’s hard to pick up. He took the bats out of our hands. We don’t swing the bats all that bad and he dominated.
We lost to two pretty good teams, but we think we’re good ourselves and we’ve got to beat those teams. We’ve got to get used to this. We’re going to see a lot of #1’s and #2’s and not a lot of 4’s and 5’s. We’ve got to be ready. We’ve got to swing the bat.”
Ganzer is taking it slow with Nate Everhart while he builds up arm strength after playing football and finishing 3rd at 215 pounds in the Class AA individual wrestling meet. Everhart pitched two perfect innings of relief in the fourth and fifth and recorded four strikeouts. He struck out in his only plate appearance.
Lefty Mike Kaczmarek sent Central back to the dugout three up and three down in the sixth with a strikeout †Andrew gave up three hits in the first, but none for the rest of the game. Starter Zach Baldacci (0-1) struck out six, walked two, and hit a batter †Kaczmarek robbed Central’s Brett Morse of extra bases and a possible RBI with a back-to-the-infield grab in deep right in the third †Andrew’s Joe Deceault is suspended for the first seven games for breaking a team rule †Andrew’s other loss came to Minooka 3-2 in five innings.
Hinsdale Central quotes and notes:
Hinsdale Central pitcher Nick Kurash: “We play as a team; we play for each other. There are no selfish players on the team. Everyone’s trying to get the runners over and help each other out during the game. We keep it positive in the dugout and focus on the game.”
Hinsdale Central coach Tom Dorrance: “Nick was on today. Early in the game when he was throwing that sharp slider, it was in a tough place to hit; I don’t care who it was. He’s getting to be one of the best pitchers around. Andrew’s got a good hitting team and you’d never guess that watching them today. He said he felt strong and I told him it was his game. As the seventh came around, I did not want to give up his great performance and throw it into the hands of somebody else.”
Kurash improved to 2-0 with the 10-strikeout (6 looking), no-walk performance. For the season he’s recorded 16 strikeouts with one walk, and no earned runs in 10 innings †The Red Devil defense backed up its pitcher with two double plays. The best started with a diving catch from senior center fielder Toby Adeyemi on Kaczmarek’s shot to left center. Adeyemi, whose left shoulder popped out of its socket, flipped the ball to leftfielder Suchy, who threw the ball to shortstop Nicholas for the double play. Adeyemi lay on the field for several minutes after the play, but stayed in the game after they popped his shoulder back in place †Third baseman Alex Bellusci added a nice diving stop to rob Rossberg of a hit in the sixth †Adeyemi (hit by pitch) and Noth (single) got on base to set up the Red Devil runs.