By Colin Sallee
Area Scout

LOMBARD, IL - Wednesday afternoon yielded a head-to-head pitcher’s duel on a brisk day, as Montini’s bats broke through in the sixth inning to earn a 3-1 victory over the visiting Marmion Academy Cadets.

Winning pitcher Sean Frontzak was dominant, striking out 12, walking none, while surrendering just one run during his complete game performance for Montini.

Few hitters found the barrel against Frontzak, as Marmion (10-16 overall, winners of six of their last seven games) mustered just five hits against the senior right-hander.

The Cadets countered the Montini (14-11) ace with an ace of their own in senior righthander Jake Esp (Villanova signee).

Esp, who pitched the majority of his outing with the lead after senior Edgar Sanchez scored on a ground ball to first base in the third inning to give the Cadets a 1-0 advantage, kept the young Montini lineup off balance for five innings.

Entering the sixth inning, the Broncos hadn’t advanced a runner past second base. Things changed however, after a one-out single by Jake Pestel put the game into the hands three underclassmen who makeup the middle of the Bronco lineup.

“These young men have done what we’ve asked them to do, and then some,” said Montini coach Rich Janor after the game.

“All we ask of them is to compete. The lineup as a whole bounced back from some shaky at-bats against a good arm, and found a way to score in the sixth”

After senior lead-off man Pestel reached on a line drive through the right side, junior leftfielder Justin Blake laid down a great bunt down the third base line, giving way to fellow sophomore, first basemen Alex Luka.

Luka, who is also the teams number two starting pitcher, stepped up to the plate and calmly whacked a long drive into the left-center gap, scoring Pestel for their first run of the game.

Catcher Nick Malik followed fellow sophomore Luka with a line shot of his own to the right-center gap, scoring both Blake and Luka to give his team a 3-1 lead after six innings.

Frontzak wouldn’t need much time shutting the door, as he retired the final three Cadet hitters in order, striking out two in the process.

Luka led the offensive charge for the Broncos and finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Malik chipped in with two hits, one of which was a double, and two RBIs.

For Marmion, senior shortstop Edgar Sanchez was 2-for-3 and stole three bases, pushing his season total to 22.

The two teams will meet again on Wednesday; a 4:30 start at Marmion Academy in Aurora.

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