3A/4A Super Sectional: Double Dip In Crestwood; St. Ignatius/Plainfield North Punch Tickets To State
June 4, 2018
CRESTWOOD, IL
3A Super Sectional
The first Super Sectional game on the docket at Standard Bank Stadium was the 3A matchup between the Coal City Coalers and the St. Ignatius Wolfpack. The Coalers struck early putting up four in the first inning, but would lose a tight one 6-5 seeing their magical season some to an end.
The Coal City 1-2 hole of Payton Hutchings (UofIllinois commit) and starting pitcher Keegan Gagliardo led the game off with back to back triples getting the Coaler faithful in attendance on their feet early. Blake Harseim (Heartland CC commit) and Austin Friddle would then lace RBI singles of their own, swaying the momentum in favor of the green and gold.
After going down quick 4-0 in the first, the Wolfpack scratched one back in their bottom half of the first on singles by Nicolas Palermo and Dominic Fischer. Fischer pulled an RBI grounder past the third baseman that scored Palermo from second.
The rest of the St. Ignatius damage was done in the 4th frame when they put up a five spot headlined by a pair of two-run triples off the bats of Palermo and Ryan Dziekan. Fischer doubled in the inning and teammates Will McManaman (Denison commit) and Brian Gannon both singled and scored a run apiece.
Coal City RF Jack Bunton picked up an RBI single in the third frame scoring Friddle who reached on a double down the right field line.
St. Ignatius received their best performance on the day from Sophomore reliever Chip Valentine. A recent call up to varsity, the righty stymied the Coalers for 5.2 innings picking up the win out of the pen allowing four hits, one run/earned run, one walk and fanning four.
Statistical Highlights
+ Nicolas Palermo (St. Ignatius, 2019): 2-for-4, 2RBI, R
+ Dominic Fischer (St. Ignatius, 2019): 2-for-2, R, RBI, BB
+ Ryan Dziekan (St. Ignatius, 2019): 2-for-3, R, 2RBI
+ Blake Harseim (Coal City, 2018): 2-for-4, RBI, R
+ Austin Friddle (Coal City, 2018): 2-for-4, R, RBI
With the win, the St. Ignatius Wolfpack will travel to Joliet’s Route 66 Stadium to play Troy (Triad) in the 3A State Semifinal Friday @ noon.
4A Super Sectional
The second Super Sectional faceoff was a night cap that saw nearly every seat at Standard Bank Stadium filled to see who would advance to 4A state, the Brother Rice Crusaders or the Plainfield North Tigers. The Tigers pounded on three runs in the first inning and never looked back securing the victory 7-3 over the Crusaders.
Plainfield North’s catcher Greg Budig lead the top of the first inning off wearing an inside fastball off his elbow. Two batters later, Gavin Doyle (Western Michigan commit) smacked an RBI double deep to left field scoring Budig. Next guy up Brady Miller (Western Michigan commit) pulls a hard RBI grounder past the shortstop and Cal Cangilla rolled an RBI groundout to third scoring Miller. Cameron Kissel also picked up a double in the inning which was misplayed by the Brother Rice left fielder.
The Tigers tacked on two more runs in the 3rd frame. Miller reached on an error, Kissel hit his second double of the game to left field and Sean Tillmon flared an RBI single of his own to left. Ryan Summers then rolled an RBI groundout to short scoring Kissel, capping off the two-run 3rd.
St. Ignatius was not done there putting up their final two runs in the very next inning. Miller would reach on a walk and score his team leading third run of the game on an RBI double by Cangilla. Christopher Miller then looped an RBI flare to right scoring Cangilla.
Tigers starting pitcher Nicolas Cerrato (Wisconsin-Platteville commit) was on cruise control early facing the minimum in the first three innings. The Crusaders plated their first run in the fourth when Jack Payton drove an RBI single to center scoring Michael Bolton (Purdue commit). Bolton was the first runner to reach base by virtue of a base on balls.
Two more Crusaders came into to touch home when Danny Doligale roped a two-run double deep to the opposite field, one-hopping the left field wall. Doligale drove in Ryan Maher and Marquis Jackson (Oklahoma commit). Maher singled and Jackson reached on an error by pitcher Cerrato.
Cerrato picked up the victory on the mound finishing with a line: 4.1IP, 3H, 3R, 2ER, 7K, 2BB. Once the senior was done, he handed the ball off to Sophomore Eben Heine who shut the door on the Crusaders season tossing 2.2 innings of no-run ball. Heine allowed only two hits, walking three and striking out two.
Statistical Highlights
+ Gavin Doyle (Plainfield North, 2018): 2-for-4, R, RBI
+ Brady Miller (Plainfield North, 2018): 1-for-3, 3R, RBI
+ Cameron Kissel (Plainfield North, 2019): 2-for-4, R
+ Jack Payton (Brother Rice, 2020): 2-for-3, RBI
+ Danny Doligale (Brother Rice, 2019): 1-for-3, 2RBI
With the win, the Plainfield North Tigers will travel to Joliet’s Route 66 Stadium to play Sandburg in the 4A State Semifinal Friday @ 5pm.