By Sean Duncan

SCHAUMBURG - Lyons Township right-hander Zach Remijas said he never really gave much thought about pitching in college, so he never attended any showcases or played in high-exposure events.

Now that the 5-foot-11, 150-pound senior improved his record to 9-0 this season after throwing another gem to defeat Schaumburg 6-2 in the Schaumburg Regional championship game Monday, Remijas said he?s ?had a little bit of afterthought? about his decision.

As the unsung hero to Lyons Township?s incredible rise, Remijas entered Monday?s game having allowed three earned runs all season. So when he yielded a first-inning home run to give Schaumburg a quick and unexpected lead, things got a little tense for the No. 2-ranked Lions (32-4).

For everyone except Remijas.

Undaunted, Remijas proceeded to mow down Schaumburg in short order behind a pinpoint 82-85 mph fastball which he sustained throughout, and a 71-73-mph curveball which he threw for consistent strikes.

?I knew I had to step up after the home run,? said Remijas, who will attend the University of Wisconsin next year. ?It didn?t worry me too much because I have a lot of confidence in our offense.?

After serving up a two-out solo homer to Schaumburg junior third baseman Matt Brancato, Remijas shut the Saxons (17-13) down. He struck out the side in the second after issuing a leadoff walk, and didn?t allow another hit until the fourth inning.

For the game, Remijas struck out nine, walked two, allowed two runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings. Hard-throwing sophomore Keith Lehmann got the final two outs of the game. Lehmann?s fastball sat between 86-88 mph and flashed a sharp breaking ball.

Lyons reclaimed the lead for good in the second inning when senior centerfielder Brian Kelley, the team?s No. 8 hitter, connected for a two-run homer to make it 2-1. In the first inning, Lyons had stranded the bases loaded and squandered a leadoff double by senior shortstop Spencer Mahoney.

?In the beginning of the game I think we were a little tense,? said Kelley, who went 2-for-4. ?After we took the lead, we calmed down. And when we calm down, good things happen.?

Lyons added another run in the fourth on Brian Rodemoyer?s RBI double. Then in the fifth, the Lions scored two unearned runs on consecutive two-out errors, the second a costly infield pop-up that was lost in the sun, allowing two runs to score.

The Lions? high-yielding offense stranded 11 runners, seven in the first three innings. The bottom of the order produced against two Schaumburg pitchers. Along with Kelley, senior right-fielder Mike Pett went 1-for-2 with a sacrifice fly and a run scored.

?We have a solid lineup one through nine,? said Lyons coach George Ushela. ?We have power throughout, and they all do different things.?

Mahoney, the team?s leadoff hitter who is signed at Valparaiso, had two doubles, two stolen bases and a run scored while playing a superb defensive shortstop. Tom Walsh added two hits and a run for Lyons, which will play the winner of Wheaton-Warrenville South-Glenbard North on Wednesday.