Two Power 25 Upsets In Do It Stevie's Way Second Round Double Header
May 18, 2018
CRESTWOOD, IL - Standard Bank Stadium was one of three host sites for Thursday double-header action in the Do It Stevie’s Way Memorial Tournament second round. Three of the teams participating in Crestwood currently sit upon the Illinois Power 25 list; No. 5 St. Laurence (Catholic League Blue Champions), No. 6 Sandburg and No. 19 Marist. The fourth was last years 3A State Runner-Up Marian Catholic. The day saw two upsets, both being in shutout fashion. Continue on for game breakdown.
Marian Catholic vs St. Laurence - 5.17.18
In game one, the Marian Catholic Spartans upended the No. 5 St. Laurence Vikings 2-0 backed by a strong 5.2 scoreless inning performance by Spartans starting pitcher Jordan Smevoll. Smevoll stymied a hot Vikings lineup issuing only five hits and one walk. The Junior lefty continuously came up with the big out stranding seven runners, four of which were in scoring position.
Marian Catholic plated the only two runs they would need in the first inning of the contest. The one-two hole of Junior Pierce Jones and Freshman Eddie King (Louisville commit) would get the scoring started early with a pair of back to back doubles to leadoff the game. Jones drove an inside curveball to left for a hustle double setting the table for King who turned on an inside heater and drove a line drive inches from the white stripe scoring Jones. Two hitters later, Angelo Cantelo would get the job done early in the count rolling an RBI groundout to the right side bringing in King. Score 2-0.
Jones led the Spartans offensively finishing 2-for-3 with a double, run scored and one stolen base. King, Cameron Bufford and Ryan Brown all collected one hit a piece, most impressively being the triple deep to left/center by Bufford.
Marian Catholic Senior RHP Jordan Baker (McKendree commit) would pick up the save tossing 1.1 innings allowing no hits and striking out one.
Gage Olszak took the loss on the mound for St. Laurence completing the game with a line: 7IP, 5 H, 2R/ER, 4K, BB, HBP. The St. Xavier commit also top spun a double to left in the first inning. Matt Dornbos, Luke Montgomery and Matt McCormick (West Virginia commit) would all collect singles for the Vikings. McCormick reached twice more wearing two off the elbow.
Marist vs Sandburg - 5.17.18
In game two, the No. 19 Marist Redhawks upset the No. 6 Sandburg Eagles 3-0 in front of a raucous crowd under the lights. Marist Junior Justin Janas (Illinois commit) spun seven innings of scoreless baseball guiding his team to a victory dogpile.
In similar fashion to the previous game, Marist would score the only two runs they needed in the first inning. Leadoff hitter Max Malley (Evansville commit) reached on an infield single, Sophomore Dane Thomas walked and Jason Hodges (Arkansas commit) lined a single to right driving in Malley. Clean-up hitter Janas would then drive a sacrifice fly deep to right, scoring Thomas.
The Redhawks would scratch across one more run in the fifth inning. Thomas drew a two-out free pass, advanced on a dirt ball and was driven in by Hodges, who singled again hard to the opposite field. Thomas walked three times, scored twice and swiped one bag. Hodges led Marist offensively finishing 2-for-3 with two RBI and a stolen base.
Marist Freshman Noah Smith (Louisville commit) lined a single to left and stole a bag while teammate Kendal Ewell drove the deepest ball of the game to left field for a standing double.
Janas regularly changed his tempo and deliveries to home keeping a potent Sandburg offense in check for seven frames. Janas finished with a line: 7IP, 6 H, 0R, 4K, 1 BB. He stranded seven Eagles, four in scoring position and did not allow an extra base hit.
Sandburg starting pitcher Ryan Leland took the loss tossing four innings of three hit ball allowing three walks and fanning two. Tommy Windt, Branden Comia (Illinois commit), Ryan Hampe (Illinois-Chicago commit), Andrew Tenison (Lewis commit), Evan Tenuta (Notre Dame commit) and Matthew Sczurek would all collect a single a piece.
For more in-depth notes from the game - and all other games that we cover - visit the Illinois Scout Blog later.