Daily Roundup
Wednesday, July 17

By Drake Skleba
Senior Writer

IHSBCA Summer State Tournament
Regional Semifinals
(In Bracket Order)

LOCKPORT

Sandburg 3, Lemont 2
Sandburg (10-2-1) senior DH Chris Stearns stepped to the plate to lead off the bottom of the ninth for the Eagles. With the game tied at 2-2, Stearns hammered the first pitch of the at bat soaring over the 347 foot sign on the left field fence for a walk-off homer sending the Eagles soaring into the regional championship game with Minooka.

“I went up to the plate trying just to get on base,” said Stearns. “I hit the ball well and was fortunate to have it go out. It was all I could I ask for. It was my first home run of my career.”

Sandburg received solo shots from Alec Martinez and Julian Gutierrez. For the hard-hitting Gutierrez, it was his third bomb of the regionals.

University of Michigan-bound RHP Bryan Pall was outstanding on the mound for the Eagles. The future Wolverine righty allowed two runs and six hits in eight stellar inings on the mound. Pall had 13 punch-outs

“My slider was definitely my best pitch,” said Pall. “The majority of my strikeouts were on sliders. The championship game will be my first tournament championship game of my career. It should be a great game, under the lights; it should be a lot of fun.”

Stearns’ blast made a winner Eagle RHP Jimmy Roche, who retired Lemont in order in the top of the ninth with a strikeout.  

Minooka 5, Lincoln-Way West 2
Minooka (12-5-1) outlasted Lincoln-Way West in 10 innings to cap off a sensational night of high school baseball at historic Ed Flink Field in Lockport. Minooka’s multi-talented SS Neal Tyrell led off the fateful top of the 10th with a single. With two outs, Tyrell stole second, for his third theft of the game, and then appearing to be picked off second, stole third and danced home with the eventual winning run when the throw went past the Warrior third baseman.

“Neal clearly baited Lincoln-Way West to commit the errant throw to win the game,” said Minooka head coach Jeff Petrovic. “Having Neal on the field is like having a fourth coach on the field for me. He has an instinct for game-time decisions that help us win.”

Tyrell, who finished a triple shy of hitting for the cycle, led off the game with a solo shot to give the Indians an early 1-0 lead.

“It was quite a battle between two great teams and we came out on top," said Tyrell. “I’ve played basketball with Joe this year and he is one gutsy kid. I knew he would deliver for us in that bases-loaded situation in the bottom of the seventh. My goal whenever I go to the plate is to hit the ball hard. I play ball with Luke Morgan and I knew he would challenge me and I hit the ball hard.”

RHP Joe Butler was magnificent in relief for the Indians. Butler allowed three hits in his 5 1/3 shutout inings of relief. Butler fanned nine and picked up the win.

“We played really well tonight,” said Butler. “I pitched great tonight but I couldn’t have done it without my catcher Tyler Desmairais. Ty saved me numerous times tonight blocking balls. I feel really good about our chances tomorrow night.”

Minooka’s Trevor Maly, who fired a three hit shutout at Lincoln-Way East on Monday, nailed down the save in the bottom of the 10th, ending the game with a flourish striking out the last two Warrior hitters.

Lincoln-Way West closes out an outstanding summer season at 18-3-2.  

Championship Game
Sandburg vs. Minooka, 7 pm

FENWICK

Lyons Township 6, Leyden 0
Nazareth 3, Oak Park 1
Nazareth (25-12-1) slipped past the Huskies behind a two-hitter from LHP Pete Minella. Minella allowed one run and had seven strikeouts. Brandon Bossard had two hits and two RBI while Matt Wilson had three hits and a ribbie to lead the Roadrunners into Thursday’s regional championship game.

Championship Game
Lyons Township vs. Nazareth, 2 pm

GLENBARD SOUTH

Plainfield East 15, Willowbrook 4
Plainfield East (15-10-1) pounded out 17 hits and went on to crush the Warriors on Wednesday. Drew Demumbrum led the Bengal attack with two hits including a homer and drove home three runs. Hot-hitting Davon Rager had three hits and an RBI.

Benet Academy 6, Glenbard East 5
Benet Academy’s Jon Kruppe’s two-out two –run single gave the Redwings the lead, 3-2 that they would never relinquish.

Championship Game
Plainfield East  vs. Benet Academy 4:30

LAKE PARK

Huntley 6, Elk Grove 1
Lake Park 4, Schaumburg 1

Championship Game
Huntley at Lake Park 3

LIBERTYVILLE
Libertyville 7, Mundelein 2
Carmel 4, Grayslake Central 2

Championship Game
Carmel at Libertyville 4:30

PALATINE

Maine South 8, Niles West 5
Glenbrook North 11, Wheeling 4

Championship Game
Maine South vs. Glenbrook North 4:30

REAVIS

St. Laurence 11, De La Salle 1
St. Laurence (12-5) crushed the Meteors in six-innings on Wednesday in Burbank. Senior Mike Miller got the Viking party started with a three-run bomb in the first. Purdue University-bound Mike Kornacker launched the first of his two bombs. The future Boilermaker was 3-for-3 with three RBI.  Senior RHP Brad Wood went the distance allowing one run and two hits with seven punch-outs to pick up the win.
- Scott Fredericks reporting

St. Rita 6, Richards 0
St. Rita (10-4) rolled past Richards behind sophomore Justin Vivar. Vivar in his first varsity start was magnificent on the mound for the Mustangs. Vivar fired a two-hitter at the Bulldogs with six punch-outs. Vivar fired five-no hit inings in his spectacular debut.  
- Scott Fredericks reporting

Championship Game
St. Laurence (12-5) vs. St Rita (10-4) 10  

St. Charles East
St. Charles East 7, St. Charles North 0
St. Charles East (18-12-1) rolled past rival North behind a four-hit masterpiece from junior Kyle Cook. Cook fanned three and did not walk a batter.  

Geneva 9, Batavia 7
The Vikings outslugged archrival Batavia on Wednesday on the East Side of St. Charles. Viking Ben Chally had two singles a double and plated a pair of runs to lead Geneva. Chally nailed down the save with three solid innings of relief for the Vikings.

Championship Game
Geneva at St. Charles East 4