Cottingham-Beard leads No. 10 Oak Park past New Trier

May 30, 2013

By Dan Duran

Junior right-hander Sam Cottingham-Beard dominated for seven innings on the mound to lead defending 4A champion to a 4-1 victory over New Trier in a Class 4A Niles West Sectional semifinal game on Friday.

Cottingham-Beard allowed just three hits and one run, striking out six and walking two in his complete-game effort for the No. 10-ranked Huskies.

Cottingham-Beard was provided run support by fellow junior outfielder Alex Rice, who finished 3-for-3 with an RBI. Senior outfielder Patrick Clifford also had three hits, scored two runs and added a stolen base, while senior shortstop Charlie Fencik contributed two hits.

New Trier scored once in the top of the second. With the bases loaded, Drew LaMotte grounded into a fielder's choice to score Ernie Roth. Cottingham-Beard got out of the inning with just the one run. Cottingham-Beard settled down after that, allowing just one base-runner after the second inning. In the bottom half of the inning, Oak Park threatened with runners on the corners with one out, but a double play ended the inning.

The following inning, Clifford led off with a base hit, eventually stole second, and scored on an RBI single to right from Rice to tie the game at 1-1.

Oak Park rallied with two outs in the fourth, starting with an error on a ground ball to short. A wild pitch got Chris Rumoro to second, who was plated by an RBI single from Jacob Harris. Harris scored on a bunt hit by Clifford and an overthrow on the play advanced him to third. Fencik brought in Clifford on a bloop single.

New Trier starting pitcher Kevin Douaire gave up four earned runs through 4.2 innings, and Grant Stern yielded no runs in the final 2.1 innings.

Oak Park will continue its state-title defense against the winner of Thursday’s Maine South-Elk Grove game in the sectional championship on Saturday.

Cottingham-Beard leads No. 10 Oak Park past New Trier

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