Brother Rice lost only three games this season, but none as crucial as the blindsiding loss delivered to them by Andrew on Saturday.
With an airtight defense behind him, Thunderbolts’ pitcher Brett Maus stifled the Crusaders’ offense, while Andrew pounded out 17 hits during a 12-0 shellacking of the No. 2 Crusaders in the Class 4A Brother Rice Regional championship game.
Andrew jumped out of box quickly, snaring five runs in the first inning off of Purdue-bound lefty Patrick Gannon (9-1). Chris Berardi’s 3-for-5, four RBI performance highlighted the offensive onslaught, which also featured production from Kyle Bogdal (2-for-5), Matt Healy (2-for-4), Jeff Zimmerman (2-for-2) and Steve Litko (2-for-4).
Brother Rice, which opened the season 28-0, finished the season 31-3.
In other Class 4A Playoff Games:
Wheaton North 6, Bartlett 5: In a come-from-behind victory, Mike Coduto came on in relief of Jack DeAno to throw four scoreless innings and earn the win. Trailing 5-0 going into the bottom of the 6th, the Falcons scored 3 runs. Offensively, Trey Martin delivered the big blow with a clutch single to left-center knocking in two runs and tying the game. Finally, Aric Dama hit a deep double to right center field knocking in Jack Quinn for the dramatic Falcon victory.
Bradley-Bourbannais 8, Normal West 1: John Fightmaster (3-1) struck out 10 and walked two to upend the favored Wildcats. He allowed only a Blake Brown double in the third before West turned sixth-inning singles from Brock Stewart, Colton Moore and Jason Cullen into its only run. Leading the Boilermakers’ offensive was No. 2 hitter Sam Bumpers, who singled three times, tripled, scored three runs and drove in three.
St. Ignatius 1, Fenwick 0: Junior Jack Fischer threw a one-hit masterpiece in the Fenwick Regional championship. Fischer struck out five, walked six to help St. Ignatius (22-13) advance. The game ended in bizarre fashion, with St. Ignatius turning a controversial triple play after Fischer made a diving catch on a bunt. Cam Verbeke (9-4) suffered the loss despite striking out 10 and allowing only three hits. Verbeke finished the season with 120 strikeouts.
Batavia 11, Willowbrook 6: No. 12 Batavia (28-6) captured the Willowbrook Regional title. Brian Krolikowski (6-2) went the distance on the mound, holding the Warriors scoreless over the final four innings. Tim Drish, Tim Scofield and Krolikowski each smacked two-run homers in the 4th, 5th and 6th innings respectively. Drish and Krolikowski had 3 hits apiece; Jordan Coffey (RBI, 2 Runs) and Tyler Lindquist (2B, 3B, 2 RBI) each had 2 hits.
Sandburg 4, Marist 1: The top-ranked Eagles (28-2) won their regional championship thanks to Troy Jozsa's complete game. Additionally, Tony Stramaglia went 2-for-3 with two runs, while Bob Newman had two RBI. Brant Valach and Ian O'Connor also chipped in RBI of their own.
Edwardsville 12, Granite City 11: The No. 2-ranked Tigers received a scare, but hung on to win the Edwardsville Regional championship. Tim Messer led the way, going 2-for-4 with two home runs, four RBIs and two runs. Ian Sikes went 3-for-5 with a home run, three RBIs, one extra base hit and one run scored. Edwardsville lefty Chase Carroll was credited with the win. Cody Daily of Granite City went 3-for-5 with a home run, four RBIs and two runs scored. Edwardsville (33-4) will play O'Fallon at Granite City on Thursday. Granite City closes out the season with a record of 25-10.
New Trier 8, St. Patrick 0: Behind two home runs and three RBI from Jake Carrow and a three-run homer from Lowell Hall, the No. 11 Trevians (27-7) won their own regional.
Oak Park 10, Morton 1: The Huskies (26-10) won their 10th consecutive regional championship at Morton. Oak Park advances to play Mount Carmel in the sectional semifinals.
Huntley 4, Woodstock 3: LHP/OF Craig Lipp's two-run homer and seven solid innings from Southern Illinois University-bound LHP Tanner Funke allowed No. 14 Huntley won their own regional, the Red Raiders' first regional title since 1987.
Homewood-Flossmoor 4, Stagg 3: In dramatic fashion, Mike Habas's game-winning two-run walk off single won it for the Vikings in the regional championship at Bloom.
Larkin 6, Dundee-Crown 5: Scott Ham hit a game-winning home run for the Royals in the regional championship game at Larkin.
Rockton Hononegah 15, Harlem 1: Hononegah cruised to the regional title behind homers from Dustin Meier, winning pitcher Matt Carroll and Ryan Scarpetta.
O’Fallon 8, Belleville West 2: The No. 4 Panthers (28-9) remained one of the hottest teams in the state after knocking off a tough Belleville West squad to capture the regional championship.
Providence 9, Joliet 7: Senior 2B Mike Morrissette and sophomore 3B Sam Travis belted home runs in a three-run fifth inning, while junior CF Tim Hanrahan delivered the go-ahead two-run blast in a four-run sixth-inning as the Celtics (20-15) claimed a 9-7 victory. Providence sophomore left-hander Colin McEnery, who worked four scoreless innings in relief, tallied the crucial victory for the surprising Celtics.
Niles West 2, Glenbrook South 1: Ryan Smith was the offensive star for Niles West, going 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI. And from the mound, Jon Nasshan pitched the Wolves (28-7) to the regional championship at Niles West as he went the distance, allowing just four hits and striking out six.
St. Rita 18, Simeon 9: The No. 5 Mustangs won a slugfest at the Clemente Regional championship game.
Barrington 2, Prospect 1: At Highland Park, Barrington (19-14) got a win from Sean Buchholz, who pitched all eight innings, striking out 10. Anthony Brignola was 2-for-4 with a game tying home run in the top of the eighth. Barrington later won with a run scored on an over throw.
St. Laurence 2, Oak Lawn 1, 8 innings: Mike Witas' game-winning double gave the Vikings (26-9) the win in the regional championship at St. Laurence.
Stevenson 4, Fremd 3: The Patriots survived in eight innings to win the Fremd Regional championship. Stevenson’s season appeared to be over in the seventh when a tailor-made double play was rolled to give Fremd the win. But the grounder hit a lazy, immobile umpire to load the bases. Stevenson scored to send the game into extra innings.
Conant 6, Geneva 0: Derek Wojcik and Walt Wijas combined on a 5-hit shutout to win the Geneva Regional.
Loyola 12, Niles North 2: In six innings, Luke Joyce picked up the win for Loyola (22-12). Joyce struck out four hitters over four innings.
Libertyville 6, Warren 5: The Wildcats won the Carmel Regional.
Lake Zurich 13, Mundelein 3: Rick Erickson (5-2) picked up the win for Lake Zurich
Lockport 4, Waubonsie Valley 2
Class 3A Playoffs:
Mahomet-Seymour 11, Champaign Centennial 9: Nick Pratten, Alex Smith, Austin Klein and Jason Ziegler all clocked homers to lead the host Bulldogs to an 11-9 win over Champaign Centennial in the championship game of the Mahomet-Seymour Class 3A Regional. Josh Raymond went 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs for Mahomet, and Pratten had two hits.
Bloomington 14, Streator 0: Derek Gliwa allowed three hits and struck out eight as the second-seeded Purple Raiders rolled to a 14-0 six-inning victory over Streator. Dylan Johnson had three hits, three runs scored and two RBIs for the Raiders, while Derek Floyd hit a two-run homer, giving BHS its third regional title in the last four years. The Raiders face Washington at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in a Washington Sectional semifinal.
Lake View 9, Marshall 3: The Wildcats (23-13) won the program's first regional title in seven years. Brian Manger (2-for-2, triple, two-run homer, three runs), Steve Martinez (3-for-3, two doubles, two RBI), and Luis Colon (3-for-4, three runs) all contributed for Lake View.
Lincoln 4, Sacred Heart-Griffin 2: Cory Yeazle had two triples and was the winning pitcher as Lincoln ousted top-seeded Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin, in the title game of the Lincoln 3A Regional.
Nazareth 11, Northtown 0, 5 innings: Senior RHP Michael Moles pitched three perfect innings to get the win, as well as chipping in three RBI from the plate. And Senior 3B Joey Angelillo had three RBI of his own for the Roadrunners (26-9) in the regional championship at Nazareth.
Oak Forest 8, Bremen 7: Bobby Shepard, Parker Carroll and John Wolf contributed two RBI apiece as the Bengals win the regional championship at Bremen.
Riverside-Brookfield 6, Gordon 4: Zak Martell threw a complete game on the mound for the Bulldogs, fanning 10. The offense was jolted by Joe Ruge's two-run homer, which was the difference for the Bulldogs (25-12) in the regional championship at Gordon. Hugh Berglind hit a solo homer, while Dace Lutz went 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBI for Riverside.
St. Joseph 6, Montini 5: Elliot Ferguson's game-winning three-run homer won it for the Chargers in the regional championship at St. Joseph.
Class 2A Playoffs:
Illinois Valley Central 2, Fieldcrest 1: Continuing to lead the Grey Ghosts on both sides, RHP/INF Chris Razo pitched a two-hitter, fanning 10 and walking just two. He also had two of the Ghosts’ four hits. With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the fifth however, Cody Kenzel stole home for the go-ahead run and secured the victory.
Watseka 5, Bishop McNamara 4: Seth Woods and Brede Parker hit back-to-back homers to propel Watseka to victory. Jeff Mussman went 2-for-3 in the loss for Bishop McNamara.
Class 1A Playoffs:
Dwight 7, Somonauk 4: Noah Trainor fanned four and notched the victory while Joe Briner hit a two-run homer to lead Dwight’s offense.
For complete playoff results, visit ihsa.org's ScoreZone