By Drake Skleba

LISLE - Led by the pitching and hitting of senior Will Keuper, No.9 Sandburg slipped past No. 6 New Trier, 5-4, in a game that had a state-tournament atmosphere to it.

The fans at Benedictine University certainly got their money’s worth. These two top 10 clubs battled each other for seven innings. Keuper’s clutch two-out, two-run single to center in the bottom of sixth scored Ian O’Connor (1-for-2; 2B) and Ryan Cowhey (3-for-3; BB) to give Sandburg a 5-4 lead. Sandburg (20-4) reliever Keeler Otero made things interesting in the New Trier (23-2) seventh before closing the win for the Eagles with a game ending double play.

“This was like a state-championship game atmosphere tonight. We really wanted to beat a quality team like New Trier,” said Keuper. “I did pretty well on the mound; my stuff was moving. I was happy to get the game-winning hit against a great pitcher like (Jack) Boehm (6-1). I just looked for a pitch I could handle and hit it up the middle into center field.”

Sandburg struck for single runs in the first and second against New Trier starter Dillon Napoleon (5 IP; 3R; 8H; 3ER; 6K; 1BB). Keuper and Nick Kujawa drove home the Eagle runs with RBI singles. The Trevians tied things up in the fourth. Justin Wells (2-for-4; RBI) drove in the first run with a single and the Trevians tied the game at 2 on an Eagle miscue.

In the bottom of the fourth, Sandburg’s Alex Kazmierski launched a drive over the right field wall for his fourth dinger of the season. The blast gave the Eagles the lead at 3-2.

The game moved to the sixth and back came the Trevians to retake the lead 4-3. Another miscue by the Eagles led to the tying run and Jonathon Hall’s clutch two-out RBI single gave the Trevians the lead again.

“I did a good job at the plate. I had been hitting in tough luck lately,” said Cowhey. “This was a big win tonight. We lost this morning (La Salle-Peru; 3-1) so it was good to get a quality win.”

 “This was a great game between two fine teams” said Sandburg coach Doug Sutor. Will (Keuper) battled on the mound today. We have been coming from behind to win games since last summer (IHSBCA Summer State Championship).”

“What a great ballgame. The people sure got their money’s worth tonight,” said New Trier coach Mike Napoleon. “Dillon (Napoleon) battled on the mound and at the plate. I just wanted to get Jack (Boehm) an inning tonight, against a quality team, before his start on Monday.”