By Jason Cohen

GLENVIEW, IL- No. 4 Mundelein survived a scare from Palatine on Wednesday when Bryan Weiner delivered a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the seventh to advance the Mustangs to the Glenbrook South Sectional championship game.

Weiner, who had broken up a scoreless tie in the fourth inning with a home run, stepped to the plate in the bottom of the seventh with the bases loaded.  After battling the count to 2-2, he singled up the middle to give Mundelein (34-4) its school-record 34^th win of the season.

Weiner’s hit also made a winner out of Ryan Borucki (5-0), who pitched two spotless innings of relief. Borucki, the No. 1 ranked player in the state, was consistently 90-91 with his fastball on both sides of the plate, and showed an impressive late-sinking changeup at 79 mph.

Palatine (18-19) threatened against Borucki in the top of the seventh when Anthony Fortunato doubled and a chopper from Kurt Becker resulted in first and third with two outs.  But a diving play up the middle by shortstop Will Farmer, who made a sprawling play to the bag, got Mundelein out of the jam.

For the first three innings, the pitchers on both sides were keeping each offense at bay.  Mundelein senior starter Matt Langlie, with his low ¾ delivery, showed good command of his fastball while sitting at 82-83 mph.  He kept hitters off balance changing speeds with his curveball, forcing weak contact.

Meanwhile, Bradley University commit Eric Scheuermann from Palatine showcased a heavy and easy fastball, touching 88 mph multiple times in his outing.  In his seven innings of work his fastball consistently sat at 86-87 mph, locating it effectively.  He showed his athleticism bouncing off the mound in the second inning on a bunt, throwing a runner out at second base and then with the bases loaded in the same inning, taking a ground ball himself to get out of the jam.

It wasn't until the bottom of the fourth inning that the Mundelein offense struck.  With one out, Wiener (3-for-4, 2 RBI) drove a high fastball over the scoreboard in left field.  Borucki followed with a double to right field.  He then advanced on a sac bunt by Mitchell Schulewitz.  With two outs, Jordan Bregenzer's soft ground ball to the right side forced the miscommunication between the first and second baseman, leaving first base open and Borucki to score the second run of the inning.

Palatine responded in the top of the fifth. Austin Eliades and Mike Czarnik had back-to-back walks to start the inning. A bunt by Zach Serna resulted in a force out at second leaving runners on first and third with one out.  A fly ball and another walk later it was bases loaded for Kurt Becker, who delivered with a two RBI single that tied the score at 2-2.

Mundelein advances to play the winner of Thursday’s game between Stevenson and Highland Park.