By Sean Duncan

PALATINE - Fremd ace Clint Terry doesn’t need to dig deep to remember the sting of falling short in the Mid-Suburban League championship game last year.

On Saturday, Terry and his teammates were back in the MSL title game, and the left-hander wasn’t about to let another championship opportunity elude the school. In a classic pitchers’ duel, Terry threw a three-hit shutout in leading the Vikings to a 1-0 victory over Hersey in a game that lasted under 90 minutes and featured five hits. For Fremd (19-12), the MSL West Division representative, it was its first MSL crown since 2001.

The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Terry (8-4), who earlier in the week committed to the University of Illinois-Chicago, struck out eight and walked five to avenge last year’s loss to Rolling Meadows. Hersey (24-9-1), the MSL East Division representative, never reached third base against Terry.

“We just wanted it that much more after not winning it last year,” said Terry, who struck out two in the seventh. “All the seniors wanted to win the championship, not only for the team and the coaches, but for the school.”

Hersey ace Steve Danielak (9-4) was equally impressive on the mound. The 6-foot-4 right-hander threw a two-hit masterpiece, striking out five and walking none. Fremd’s lone run was unearned. Danielak, who’s signed at IPFW, retired the side in order in four innings, and no Fremd batter reached a three-ball count.

“Both pitchers were amazing today,” said Fremd coach Chris Piggott. “Offensively, we couldn’t figure Danielak out. He had us off-balance all game.”

The one mistake Danielak made, Fremd senior third baseman Eric Paulson smoked it for a double to lead off the fifth inning. After a strikeout, pinch-runner Connor McWard advanced to third on an error, and eventually scored when Evan Wright, the team’s fastest runner, legged out a routine double play ball to the shortstop.

“If there was a guy to beat out a double play, it is Evan Wright,” said Piggott. “He gets down the line quick.”

The one run turned out to be all Terry would need.

“Once we got the run, I knew we had enough momentum to keep it up,” said Terry.

Hersey, which was seeking its first MSL title since 1992, had some opportunities early with lead-off walks in the first and second innings, but failed execution on bunts hurt the Huskies. Junior Chris Polinski had two of Hersey’s three hits, and Alex Lee went 1-for-2 with two walks.

“We didn’t make the play and they did,” said Hersey coach Bob Huber. “I think we were prepared, we just didn’t execute.”