Downers Grove North Takes Down Wheaton Warrenville South in Six Innings

May 24, 2016

By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

DOWNERS GROVE, IL – The Class 3A and 4A playoffs began today with regional quarterfinal matchups taking place across the state. Downers Grove North was matched up with Wheaton Warrenville South in the Plainfield East Regional Quarterfinal. North’s offense came to life late in the game, scoring nine runs in the final two innings, propelling them to a 10-0 six inning victory over the visiting Tigers.

With a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, Downers Grove North (16-18) broke the game open, scoring six runs on five hits. The big blow was delivered by senior shortstop Dalton Baran with the bases loaded. The right-handed hitting Baran took a pitch out over the plate and drove a line-drive triple into the right-center field gap which cleared the bases and gave the Trojans a 7-0 lead. With nobody out and Baran still at third, Wheaton Warrenville South (6-24) went to the bullpen for left-handed pitcher Grant Negris. Negris proceeded to get the next three batters out, stranding Baran at third and keeping the deficit at seven.

With the score still 7-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Trojans went back to work offensively. After the first three batters of the inning reached, Junior James Krick hit a two-run double to the base of the right field wall. The double by Krick gave the Trojans runners at second and third with nobody out and a 9-0 lead. Junior switch hitter, Matt King, was next to the plate. After working a long at-bat, fouling off a few two-strike pitches, King grounded a ball to third base. Brendan Shanahan, the runner at third, was going on down angle and took off for home. The throw from the third baseman to the catcher was wide and Shanahan slid in easily for the game ending run.

Left-handed pitcher Ryan Cantlin, a senior for Downers Grove North, got the start on the mound and threw six innings of shutout baseball. The 5-foot-10, left-hander with a loose arm, mixed three pitches for strikes throughout the game and routinely had right-handed hitters out front on his changeup. Catlin scattered four hits, struck out six, and did not allow a walk in his six innings of work. None of the four hits Catlin gave up went for extra bases and he did not allow a base runner past second base the entire game.

Downers Grove North will face No. 10 Hinsdale South in the Regional Semifinal on Wednesday at 4:30 pm. The game will take place at Plainfield East High School.

STATISTICAL HIGHLIGHTS
+ CF David Giuliano (Downers Grove North) – 3-for-3, HR, 3R, RBI
+ C Brendan Shanahan (Downers Grove North) – 3-for-4, 2R, RBI
+ 1B James Krick (Downers Grove North) – 2-for-4, 2B, 3RBI, R
+ LHP Ryan Cantlin (Downers Grove North) – 6IP, 4H, 0R, 6K, 0BB
+ Nick Howland (Wheaton Warrenville South) – 2-for-2