No. 1 St. Rita, Shepski survive Downers South to advance to 4A state semifinals

June 10, 2014

By Drake Skleba
Senior Writer

CRESTWOOD - After picking up a win and a save in leading No.1 St. Rita to the 2014 Class 4A Reavis Sectional championship last week, Jake Shepski was called on again to deliver Monday night in the Class 4A Crestwood Supersectional.

As he has done all season, the Notre Dame-bound Shepski stepped up once again for the Mustangs, and delivered a gritty complete-game 2-1 victory over Downers Grove South to send St. Rita (36-4) to the Class 4A state semifinals.

Shepski (6-1) allowed but one run and just four hits in leading St. Rita (36-4) to the Class 4A state semifinals, where it will take on Cinderella South Elgin (24-10) around 5:30 at Silver Cross Field in Joliet on Friday.

A classic pitchers’ duel ensued between Shepski and Downers Grove South’s senior lefty Danny Spinuzza (8-2). Spinuzza had allowed just a lone single to St. Rita’s Anthony Faron leading off the third inning through five innings.

In the DGS sixth, Zac Taylor and Joe Becht coaxed walks from Shepski to lead off the inning. Sophomore catcher Danny Oriente put DGS on the board with an RBI double to left. Shepski did a masterful job to pitch out of a bases-loaded, one-out situation to keep the game at 1-0.

In the bottom of the sixth, after one out, Mustang leadoff man sophomore Danny Gleaves singled and stole second, his 28th steal of the season. Junior Shane Peisker followed with an RBI single to tie the game at 1-1. Peisker went to second on the throw to the plate. Peisker pilfered third base and then streaked home with the eventual game winner on a wild pitch.
“I give all the credit to Coach Zunica for the steal of third,” said Peisker. “It was risky, but I had to get it for him, and then to score the winning run on the wild pitch was awesome. I felt I had to come through for (Shepski) and get that tying run home. He pitched his heart out for us tonight.”

Shepski mowed down the West Suburban Conference Gold champions 1-2-3 in the seventh and the Chicago Catholic League Blue Division co-champs were on their way to a weekend in Will County.

“My arm was fine tonight,” said Shepski. “There is something special about doing it for your team. I went out there and pitched my best tonight. I am a senior and I will not allow us to lose. That’s the senior’s job. We really want to win state.”
Downers Grove South closes out another spectacular season under the tutelage of head coach Darren Orel at 29-9.

“We can’t win these type of games without our seniors,” said Zunica. “Jake was one of many but tonight he was the man. Shane Peisker gets all the credit too for tonight. He got the big hit for us.
We overcame a lot of adversity tonight and the kids went out and won it for themselves.”

No. 1 St. Rita, Shepski survive Downers South to advance to 4A state semifinals

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