By Drake Skleba

FRANKFORT – The mythical Phoenix, which the Lincoln-Way North High School athletic teams are named after, burned itself up and then arose from its own ashes. Trailing No. 20 Oak Lawn 4-0 after 3 ½ innings, the Phoenix were in the process of burning itself up in a nonconference affair on Wednesday.

But the 2011 IHSBCA/Phil Lawler Summer State champions plated a single run in the fourth, tied the game with a three spot in the fifth and then scored the eventual game-winning run on junior C Ryan Pellack’s one-out RBI single in the bottom of the sixth to lift the Phoenix to a 5-4 victory.

Pellack’s heroics made a winner of senior RHP Dan Moore (1-0), who fired three scoreless innings in relief to pick up his first victory on the mound.

“I really enjoy playing with this team,” said Moore.” I had my breaking ball really working and did a good job today. Corey Krupske really saved me with his great throw. Corey is a great centerfielder.”

The fateful Phoenix bottom of the sixth started with an out and then was ignited by junior CF Corey Krupske (2-for-3, 2R, 2B, BB), who drew a walk off of Oak Lawn (3-3) senior RHP Alec Barnhart (0-1). Junior 2B Jake McCabe took an 0-2 pitch to right for a single moving Krupske to second. Red-hot junior C Ryan Pellack came through with a single that scored Krupske with the eventual game-winner. More from Krupske later.

“I just went up to the plate with the purpose of getting a hit and driving in the lead run,” said Pellack. 

Pellack, who started the 2012 season with seven consecutive hits, settled for just one tonight. The game-winner.

The never-say-die Spartans of No. 20 Oak Lawn went to work in the top of the seventh. Barnhart (2-for-3, BB, 2R) led off the seventh with his second hit of the contest. Senior SS Mike Yacko forced Barnhart at second. Senior RF Cody Marek (2-for-3) ripped his second hit of the game with Yacko stopping at second.

Spartan senior captain Kyle Smith (3-for-4, 2B, 2RBI) ripped a single to center. Krupske fielded Smith’s laser and fired a perfect strike to Pellack, who was waiting for the helpless Yacko for the second out of the inning. Moore blew away the final Spartan hitters on strikes and the Phoenix had risen to a big come-from-behind victory.

“We really picked it up at the end,” said Krupske. “I got a real good read on Smith’s single and threw a strike to Ryan (Pellack) to get that out. I did pretty well at the plate and this was an all-around good win for us.”

Oak Lawn picked up a pair of runs in the second and third innings to open up a 4-0 lead. Sophomore RHP Matt Dunne helped himself with an RBI single and Spartan senior Brian Barnhouse plated the second Spartan run of the inning with a sac fly.

In the third Smith crushed a two-run double and the Spartans appeared to be in the driver’s seat.

In the fourth, Phoenix junior SS Josh Handzik singled home the first run.

2011 IHSBCA/Phil Lawler State Tournament MVP junior 1B Reed Hero singled home the first run in the three-run fifth. The Phoenix pulled to within 4-3 on a Spartan miscue. Senior Dom Hartman (3-for-3, 2B, RBI) tied things up at 4-4 with a booming RBI double.

“I saw a lot of pitches at the plate and had a great day for us,” said Hartman.

No. 22 Lincoln-Way North improves to 4-1 on the season.

“I thought Dan Moore did a great job in relief to close it out for us,” said Phoenix head coach Joe Skarbek. “Ryan (Pellack) is a great all-around player for us and I’m happy for him that he got the game-winner for us. Dom Hartman had a great day at the plate. That was the greatest throw from centerfield by Corey (Krupske). Corey is a special player.”

Oak Lawn falls to 3-3 and will face No. 2 St. Laurence on Thursday.

“We were playing real well early and then we stopped making plays,” said Spartan associate head coach Brian Brandt. “Kyle Smith is our senior captain and is a great player for us.”