By Ryan Quigley
Illinois Scouting Director

LA GRANGE, IL – No. 8 Nazareth was out for revenge against No. 6 Joliet Catholic, after dropping Monday’s first game of the series 8-3. The marquee matchup between top ten teams also was a rematch from the summer state championship by the Hilltoppers, and this one would not disappoint, as the Roadrunners exacted revenge with a 1-0 victory in ten innings on Wednesday at RJ Sanders Field on Nazareth’s campus.

The Roadrunners and Hilltoppers were locked in a pitcher’s duel throughout, initially started by Nick Dalesandro and Carson Bartels. For Joliet Catholic, the Purdue-bound Dalesandro was making his first start of the year, and dominated on a limited pitch count, holding Nazareth to one hit in his five innings of work, striking out five and walking one. He faced one batter over the minimum, a single Nazareth senior outfielder Matt Flach in the fourth. The Purdue-commits fastball consistently sat in the 86-89 mph range, and he registered strikeouts with all four pitches (fastball, slider, curve, change).

Nazareth junior Carson Bartels was equally impressive in his four scoreless innings, especially overcoming some early infield defensive struggles. Nazareth coach Lee Milano said, “Carson battled, he’s a fighter and a leader. He’s the quarterback on the football team, and a tough kid. We gave them some outs in the first and the third but he battled through it.” Bartels allowed five hits and no runs, stranding eight Hilltopper baserunners in his outing.

Joliet Catholic’s Danny Ehrsam and Nazareth’s Brandon Bossard picked up where Dalesandro and Bartels left off, with Ehrsam throwing two scoreless innings with three strikeouts, and Bossard throwing three scoreless innings.

Nazareth threatened off Joliet Catholic senior righthander Mike Dow in the bottom of the seventh, placing runners at second and third on two Joliet Catholic infield errors with two outs. Dow, pumping 84-86 mph fastballs, struck out Nazareth’s Carson Bartels on a 74 mph slider down in the zone to take the game into extras.

After Bossard exited, Nazareth senior lefthander Don Kelly entered the ball game, eventually earning the win. Kelly was the tough luck loser against Dalesandro this summer in the IHSBCA State Final contest, and was looking to get even. Kelly said, “I’ve seen them before and was hoping to do better this time. I like facing them, the rivalry is a big game, and it felt great to be out there and get the win.”

Kelly dominated during his three innings of work, only allowing one hit with six strikeouts in the process. The crafty southpaw heading to Notre Dame next fall, sat in the 82-83 mph range with his fastball, and aggressively went after the Hilltopper hitters. Kelly’s work set the stage for the Roadrunners to win in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the tenth.

For Joliet Catholic, Mike Quiram was on in relief for his second inning of work. Brandon Bossard singled hard to right field to get the goings for Nazareth, and then was sacrificed to second by junior outfielder Joe Muscolino. Quiram induced a flyout to right field, setting the stage for the final play.

Dalesandro had moved to third base with Quiram on the mound, and an inning before with a perfectly executed run through play on a tough hop. Nazareth outfielder Richie Kiernicki worked the count to 3-1 and a ripped a hard ground ball to Dalesandro’s right, which he niftly nabbed with a backhand, but his throw to first sailed high, allowing Bossard to score the games winning run.

For Joliet Catholic, senior shortstop Mitch Boe (Iowa signee) was 3-for-5 with a double. Sophomore three-hole hitter KC Simonich also added two hits.

Matt Flach and Brandon Bossard recorded Nazareth’s only two hits, as Bartels, Bossard, and Kelly combined to throw an eight hit shutout with nine strikeouts and only two walks in ten innings.

Milano added, “To beat a team as talented as (JCA) was exceptional. I’m proud of our guys for battling all day. It’s unfortunate that a great game like that ended that way, but our guys competed and it was great to come back after Monday’s loss conference wise.”

Joliet Catholic falls to 13-3 (3-1 in the ESCC), while Nazareth improves to 13-2 (3-1 in the ESCC) on the year. Joliet Catholic takes on Lockport Friday night at 7 pm at Ed Flink Field. Nazareth travels to Ridgewood on Friday at 4:30.

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