By Drake Skleba

LA GRANGE PARK – Having lost three of their last four games, No. 18 Marist was in need of a lift from a famous multi-hour energy tonic. On Wednesday the Redhawks' tonic came in the form of 6-foot, 190 pound senior right-handed pitcher John McKevitt.

McKevitt (5-2), a multi-sport star at Marist, was more than what the doctor ordered. McKevitt fired a six-hit shutout at No. 8 Nazareth, as the Redhawks won a 1-0 thriller to stay in the East Suburban Catholic Conference race. 

The game was a classic pitchers’ duel between McKevitt and Nazareth sophomore right-hander Jake Bartels (5-1). McKevitt and Bartels breezed through the first three innings in about 35 minutes.

In the top of the fourth, Redhawk junior DH Jack Gainer (3-for-3) led off the inning with a single.

“I just stayed back today and hit the ball well,” said Gainer. “Tomorrow will be tough against Nazareth. We have to continue to play good defense and have clutch hitting.”

Senior right-fielder Jim Carroll forced Gainer at second on a bunt back to Bartels. Bartels retired the next hitter on a grounder to short with Carroll stopping at second. Up to the plate stepped Redhawk junior leadoff-man and second baseman Cody Bohanek (2-for-3, RBI).

Bohanek ripped a clutch two-out RBI single that plated Carroll with the only run McKevitt would need.

“I just wanted to stay back and hit the ball and get the run home,” said Bohanek. “I have been hitting well in clutch situations this season.”

Nazareth (22-4; 6-3) threatened in the sixth when senior Sean Maloney and sophomore Tim DalPorto (2-for-3) singled with one out. McKevitt bore down and retired the No. 4 and 5 hitters on fly balls.

In the bottom of the seventh, Bartels ripped a double to put the tying run in scoring position with no outs. A beautiful sac-bunt from Roadrunner senior Dom Purpura moved Bartels to third. McKevitt went to his fine breaking ball to retire two consecutive Nazareth pinch-hitters on pop-ups to senior shortstop Ryan Meyer to wrap up a huge Marist (22-8; 10-3) victory.

“I basically throw strikes and use my great defense to get guys out,” said McKevitt. “I'm not a big strikeout pitcher so I have to pitch this way. I wasn't fazed by the leadoff double in the seventh. I just stayed with my pitching philosophy and got the outs. We have to keep it going. We have three big games coming up that we have to win.”

The two clubs will meet at St. Xavier University at 4:30 Thursday. University of Notre Dame-bound lefty Mike Hearne (5-2) will toe the rubber for Marist.

“John McKevitt had an outstanding performance for us tonight,” said Marist head coach Tom Fabrizio. “Cody Bohanek is turning into a clutch two-out hitter for us. Cody has done it all year. Jack is getting an opportunity to play and did a good job for us tonight.”

Nazareth will counter with the left-handed Purpura (6-0).
“It was a typical East Suburban Catholic Conference game,” said Nazareth head coach Lee Milano. “Jake Bartels pitched outstanding for us. A battle of lefties tomorrow at St. Xavier's and it will probably be another 1-0 game.”

Bartels worked five innings, allowing seven hits, one run while striking out five and walking one.

Marist will host No. 4 Joliet Catholic Academy on Saturday in a big-twin bill at either Marist High School or St. Xavier University at 10. You can watch the big ESCC twin-bill LIVE at www.prepbaseballreport.highschoolcube.com. Yours truly will have the play-by-play.