By Drake Skleba

 

CHICAGO - At Joliet Catholic Academy, the word “rebuild” is not in the school’s vocabulary. Not when the defending Class 3A state champions have juniors like Kyle Cunningham to reload with.

 

In his first varsity start, Cunningham fired six plus innings of one-hit shutout baseball to lead the No. 24-ranked Hilltoppers to a 7-0 whitewashing of No. 2 St. Rita.

 

Cunningham was reliieved in the seventh by senior RHP Andrew Giaudrone, who allowed a harmless single to complete the two-hit masterpiece against one of the toughest lineups in Illinois.

 

The 5-foot-11 right-handed Cunningham (1-0) struck out three and walked five, allowing only a second inning single to St. Rita’s NIU-bound Anthony Andres.

 

Cunningham also had a huge two-out, two-run single with the bases loaded to give the Hilltoppers a 3-0 lead in the top of the fifth.

 

“This was my first varsity start,” said Cunningham. “I pitched well tonight although I missed my spots a few times and walked too many hitters. I was really excited coming up with the bases loaded in the fifth. It was great to get the big clutch hit.”

 

Cunningham and St. Rita starting pitcher Joey Filomeno (0-1) matched goose eggs through the first four innings. In the top of the fifth, the St. Rita defense deserted their junior ace.

 

“I thought I pitched well tonight,” said Filomeno. “I had a lot of pop on my fastball tonight, although I missed my spots on a couple of key hitters.”

 

With one out, a dropped fly ball in the infield, off the bat of JCA No. 9 hitter Matt Smith, ignited a three-run outburst. Filomeno balked Smith to second. JCA leadoff man senior Andrew Cecchi (3-for-5, 2B, RBI) singled to left, advancing Smith to third.

 

Senior second baseman Kendall Paluch’s (1-for-4, 2 RBI) sac-fly to center plated Smith with the first Hillmen run. Filomeno (4.2 IP, 2R, 3H, 0ER, 8K, 2 BB), was relieved by senior John Starcevich. The Hilltoppers loaded the bases when senior C Nate Ruzich (2-for-2, 2B, 2BB RBI) walked and senior LF John Gerl (1-for-4) reached on another costly Mustang miscue.

 

Cunningham made the Mustangs pay with a clutch two out, two-run

single to increase the Hilltopper lead to 3-0. All three runs in the inning were unearned.

 

“Kyle Cunningham was great for us tonight,’” said Ruzich. “Kyle had his fastball working and really hit his spots tonight. A great performance.”

 

Paluch and Ruzich would pick up a pair of RBI singles in the sixth. JCA would add another pair of unearned runs in the seventh to complete the scoring.

 

“This was a great win for us here today,” said Paluch. “All my success at the plate today I owe to my teammates for getting on base. Kyle pitched one of the greatest performances I have seen. He was awesome.”

 

With the win, JCA (2-0) picks up their second victory over a ranked team, having defeated No. 27 Lemont last week.

 

“The story line for this game is Kyle Cunningham,” said JCA head coach Jared Voss. “To pitch such an outstanding game in his first varsity start was truly amazing. In addition, he comes through with the big clutch hit with the bases loaded to extend our lead to 3-0. Amazing.”

 

St. Rita (1-1) suffers its first loss of the season after an opening-game win over Lake View on Monday.

 

“We didn’t do too many things right today,’ said St. Rita head coach Mike Zunica. “Joey Filomeno pitched well for us today but we didn’t provide him with any support with our defense or with our bats.”