Before Ryan Maka stepped into the batter’s box in the bottom of the seventh inning, Oak Forest coach Ron Czarnecki came up with instructions that were brief but concise.
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“End it,” Czarnecki said.
Maka obliged.
The Valparaiso commit crushed a walk-off three-run homer to right-center Wednesday that gave the host Bengals a thrilling 6-5 win over Lemont in a South Suburban Blue showdown.
Maka’s home run, his fourth of the season, was a blast off a 3-2 fastball. It left no doubt.
“I knew it was gone off the bat,” Maka said. “He threw me one too many fastballs.”
Maka also contributed a two-run double for Oak Forest (14-3, 12-2) during a three-run fifth inning that forced a 3-3 tie.
Leadoff hitter John Tormey wasn’t surprised Maka delivered in dramatic fashion.
“He went above and beyond like always,” Tormey said. “He’s always trying to help the team, hype everyone up, and he comes up with the big hit.”
Maka, a left-handed hitter, needed some help from his teammates to earn the role of hero for the Bengals.
He was slated to bat fourth in the seventh inning, which meant someone had to get on base for him to hit.
With one out, Tormey lined a single to center field to reach base for the fourth time.
Czarnecki, however, wasn’t entirely pleased.
“Tormey didn’t listen to the instructions,” Czarnecki said. “He was supposed to take a pitch until he got a strike. Luckily, he got a base hit.”
Tormey had a reason for disobeying instructions.
“A first-pitch fastball is always what I’m looking for,” he said. “I was just trying to get on base to let Maka bring me in.”
Matt Hannafin then coxed a one-out walk, bringing Maka to the plate.
Maka confirmed hitting a walk-off homer was on his mind, especially with the wind blowing out.
“Before the inning started, I said to myself if people get on base I’ll have a chance to end this game,” he said. “I was trying not to have a heavy heartbeat and to keep a good approach.”
He jumped ahead in the count 2-0 before fouling off two fastballs. After a high fastball made the count full, Maka unloaded on a belt-high heater.
“I was confident I would come through,” he said. “You have to think you can pound a pitcher.”
Czarnecki said Oak Forest’s entire bench called Maka’s shot.
Maka appreciated the confidence.
“To hit that homer, it was by far the best moment of my life,” he said. “To come around third base and all of my teammates are waiting for me and cheering. Nothing will ever top that. There’s no better feeling.
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“But it doesn’t happen if Tormey and Hannafin don’t get on base. That’s why I love baseball. It’s not a one-person game.”
Hannafin picked up the win in relief of Josh Copher, who went 5 ? innings and gave up five runs on five hits while striking out seven.
For Lemont (18-6, 15-1), Kyle Kostes drove in two runs and Jaden Ortiz had two hits.
Luke Guenther deserved a better fate. The senior left-hander went six innings, striking out five and allowing three runs on six hits. Brent Wills took the loss.
“We couldn’t come up with the big hit,” Lemont coach Brian Storako said. “That’s been our Achilles’ heel.
“Luke didn’t have his best stuff, but he kept us in the game. We’ll learn from this and get better.”