PBR Daily Roundup

May 26

By Drake Skleba

 

Class 2A Sectional Semifinals

Benedictine University

Walther Lutheran (15-14) stunned No. 24 Westminster Christian 6-4 in eight innings on Thursday night. Westminster Christian (25-8) led 3-1 in the top of the sixth behind its junior LHP Ryan Perez. Perez had a dozen strikeouts in his five-innings of work.

 

In the sixth, the Warrior defense melted down, allowing three unearned runs, to score. Walther Lutheran took the lead 4-3 on an RBI single by Bronco 6-fooot-3, 210-pound junior 3B Shaq Cockrell off of Westminster reliever Kevin Elder (8-3).

 

Perez?s RBI single re-tied the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the sixth.

 

Bronco junior Chris Stevens doubled to lead off the eighth and would move to third on another Warrior error and scored the game-winner on a passed ball. Walther Lutheran tacked on an insurance run on an RBI single by Bronco junior Jon Lomnicky. Bronco senior John Lodolce (6-1) picked up the win on the mound for Walther Lutheran, who will meet Aurora Christian (29-6) for the sectional crown Saturday at 11. Westminster Christian, which won the Class 1A state crown last year, was favored to make it to the final four in Peoria next weekend.

 

Class 4A Regional Semifinals

Barrington

Palatine (22-14) blasted Hersey 8-1 behind a four-hitter from Pirate junior RHP Dave Schalla. Red-hot junior Kurt Becker led the Pirate attack with three hits and three RBI.

 

Hoffman Estates

Streamwood (27-6) defeated Elgin 7-2 behind Sabre juniors LHP Dalton Lundeen (6-1) and RF Alex Morrow. Lundeen fired a seven-hitter at the Maroons and Morrow blasted a three-run homer to lead the Sabres into the regional championship game on Saturday at 11. The Sabres will meet the winner of today?s game between South Elgin and Elgin Larkin.

 

Libertyville

Warren (22-10) blasted Zion Benton 11-1 in five innings. Blue Devil Purdue recruit junior Patrick Kenney plated three for the victorious Blue Devils. Fellow junior Adam Glogovsky went deep with a man on for Warren.

 

Lockport

Lockport (24-12) defeated Plainfield Central 4-2. Porter senior LHP Mike Hamilton (9-1) went the distance for the Porters and junior Austin Mastela drove in a pair of Porter runs. Lockport will meet Neuqua Valley (24-10) for the regional championship at 10 tomorrow morning at historic Ed Flink Field in Lockport.

 

McHenry

Fox Valley Valley champs McHenry (24-12) were stunned 10-8 by Prairie Ridge (14-20) on Thursday. Prairie Ridge erupted for eight second-inning runs and hung on to defeat the Warriors.

 

Normal West

Normal Community (24-11) defeated Minooka 8-3 to advance to the regional championship against No.20 Normal West (28-7) at 10 tomorrow morning. Ironman junior Eric Fight led the assault against Minooka?s ace LHP Josh Jimenez (6-5). Fight hit a two-run homer and doubled in three Ironman runs.

 

Ironman junior Adam Gerard added a two-run bomb and senior Kyle Rutledge plated a pair for the Ironmen. Junior Tyler Bixby (7-0) fired 6 1/3 solid innings to pick up hiss seventh win off the season.

 

St. Rita

Catholic White champ Fenwick (19-13) ousted Whitney Young 7-6. The Friars were led by Nick Johnson, who drove in the game-winner in the bottom of the seventh on a sac-fly. Johnson had two hits as well. Friar Drew Schroeder had the big blow for Fenwick when he doubled to clear the bases for the Friars.

 

Class 3A Regional Semifinals

Bethalto Civic Memorial

Troy-Triad (27-7) blasted Jerseyville 15-1 in five innings. The Knights will meet MVC rival Highland (21-13) in the regional championship game tomorrow at 11. The Bulldogs beat regional host Civic Memorial 6-2.

 

Geneseo

Rock Island (8-28) pulled off the first shocker in the Class 3A tourney when the Rocks scored three times in the top of the seventh to stun No. 17 Galesburg 4-3. Galesburg (26-10) led 3-1 with WIU-bound RHP Nick Milligan (8-3) on the mound in the top of the seventh.

 

The Rocks were handed the game on a silver platter. A walk, two hit batters by Milligan and two costly errors tied the game and the Rocks took the lead when Milligan walked Rock senior Nathan Gray, which forced in the lead run with the bases loaded.

 

Rock Island sophomore Matt Brickson went the distance against the ill-fated Silver Streaks. Rock Island will meet Sterling (16-13) in the regional final tomorrow at noon. Sterling defeated regional host Geneseo 6-3

 

Lakes

Vernon Hills (22-11) defeated Grayslake North 9-5 behind Cougar senior Chris Marras and freshman hurler Pat Crowley. Marras had two hits and drove in four Cougar runs and Crowley went the distance as the Cougars advance to Saturday?s regional championship game at 11. The Cougars will meet the winner of today?s Grayslake Central (25-10)- Lakes (21-12) battle.

 

Richmond Burton

Richmond Burton (22-6) blanked Johnsburg 2-0.

 

St. Joseph

St. Joseph (18-16) romped past North Lawndale 17-0 in five innings behind a no-hitter from Charger Tyler Polich with 10 Ks.

 

Sycamore

Kaneland (20-10) defeated IMSA 17-0 in five innings behind a perfect game from Knight senior LHP Drew Peters. Peters (2-1) struck out 10 in his perfecto for the Knights, who will meet NIB-12 East rival and regional host Sycamore (25-10) tomorrow at 11 for the regional crown.

 

Knight seniors Corey Landers, Drew French and Brian Dixon all plated a pair for the victorious Knights.