By Drake Skleba

 

BARRINGTON – In Saturday’s Class 4A Barrington Sectional championship game, No. 3 Stevenson (33-3) used a combined two-hitter from juniors RHP Tyler Radtke and LHP Blake Fiedelman and three Patriot homers to roll past Warren 10-1.

 

Radtke allowed two hits and a first-inning run in his five inning stint to improve to 9-0 on the season, and Fiedelman sent the Blue Devils down in order in the sixth and seventh. Fiedelman ended the game with a flourish by striking out the side in the top of the seventh. The victory marked the third time this season Stevenson had beaten its North Suburban Conference foe.

 

“It’s an awesome win for us,” said Radtke. “I struggled a little bit early but settled in and got some outs for us. I walked some people today which I’m not happy about. Kyle’s first inning homer was huge and really pumped us up after Warren had scored in the top of the first.”

 

Warren (29-10) picked up a run in the first inning off of Radtke. Blue Devil junior first baseman Mike Hermann drove in the run on a sac-fly for an early 1-0 Warren lead.

 

With two out in the Patriot first, Kyle Ruchim (3-for-3, HR, 2B, 3 RBI, BB) hammered his 11^th homer of the season to quickly tie things up at 1-1. In the third, Ruchim struck again when he ripped a two-run double with two outs to give the Patriots a 3-1 lead after three innings.

 

“We are where we expected to be,” said Ruchim. “I don’t mean to sound cocky but we all really felt at the beginning of the season that the sectional championship was an attainable goal. Everybody contributed for us today. We were down 1-0 when I hit the game tying homer. I went up there hoping to provide a spark for our team. I had a great day at the plate. I am very fortunate to have big Patrick Wilson batting behind me, which allows me to see a lot of good pitches.”

 

The game moved to the bottom of the fifth with the score still 3-1 when the Patriot big big bats exploded for a seven spot to put the game away. Patriot senior first baseman Patrick Wilson had his only hit of the afternoon, a monster three-run bomb to make the score 6-1.

 

“This is amazing,” said Wilson. “We all played so well. Tyler pounded the strike zone and Blake was great as well. It felt really good to help the team win when I hit my three-run homer.”

 

Senior right fielder Erick King (2-for-4) ripped his second single of the game, ending the day for Warren starting pitcher Ryan Kennedy (7-3). Blue Devil senior right-hander Jeff Johnson came into relief, and picked up a strikeout for the second out of the inning, and then walked Patriot left fielder Alex Daar.

 

Patriot catcher Jeff Ferstein singled to load the bases for junior third baseman Mike Martin. Martin launched a grand slam to conclude the Patriot offensive barrage. The homer was the first of the season for Martin.

 

“It was a 3-2 pitch and I knew he had to bring it and I nailed it,” said Martin.” This was a great win for us and we just have to come out and play our game on Monday.”

 

Stevenson will move on to the Class 4A Rockford Riverhawks Super-Sectional on Monday at 4:30. The Patriots will meet Maine South (25-10), which defeated Glenbrook South 8-3 to win the Niles West Sectional Championship.

 

“I could not be happier for my team today,” said Stevenson head coach Paul Mazzuca. “This team has been led by seniors and has reached one of their goals. Kyles’s first inning homer was more than one run because it turned the momentum. Patrick was a little anxious in his first couple of bats and then really had a good swing, Mike Martin, too.”

 

Warren closes out at 29-10.The Blue Devils set a school record for wins in their outstanding season.

 

“That is a great team,” said Warren head coach Clint Smothers. “We have to tip our hats to Stevenson. They have great pitching and there isn’t an out in their lineup.”