By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Director – Illinois/Wisconsin

PALATINE, IL – In the Palatine Regional, host Palatine Pirates fell short Thursday in a 3-2 loss to the Warren Blue Devils.

As the lower seed and visiting club, the Pirates got on the board first in the top half of the fourth. A bases loaded walk to Brad Bauer got Palatine on the board first 1-0.

Warren quickly responded in their bottom half of the inning hanging a three spot on the Pirates. Palatine starter Nolan Gavin got the first two outs of the frame with ease. With two outs and nobody on, a walk and an error on third baseman Zach Serna set the stage for Chris Mathieu who doubled to right center scoring both Andrew Hill and Stephen Binstock making it a 2-1 game. Sean Hannigan gave the Blue Devils an insurance run with an RBI single scoring Mathieu before Gavin induced the final out of the inning.

The Pirates middle infield combo fired back in the fifth as shortstop Chris Macahon double was follwed by second baeman Matthew Saltess’s RBI single.

Faced with a one run deficit in their last at bats, the Pirate offense got two aboard with one out but Andrew Hill induced the game ending 4-6-3 double play sending Warren to the Regional Finals on Saturday.

Andrew Hill finished with a complete game five-hitter allowing two runs and three walks while striking out five.

The Blue Devils will face Mundelein at 2:00 pm on Saturday at Palatine for the regional championship.