Andrean downs JCA to win Bajenski Memorial

May 25, 2014

By Drake Skleba
Senior Writer

CRESTWOOD - Before Saturday night’s Third Annual Steven M.Bajenski Memorial Tournament Championship Game, I asked Tournament Director Mark Bajenski if “Stevie’s Cup” would be allowed to cross state lines. “We did not plan for it, but with the way the Andrean 59er’s play, it may very well be heading to Indiana tonight,” Bajenski said.

Andrean (25-4), the No.1 team in Class 3A according to PBR Indiana, scored six runs in the first inning. The Fighting 59er’s added a pair in the second. Game over. The invaders from the “Hoosier State” rolled Joliet Catholic Academy 8-3 to win the Bajenski Tournament and take “Stevie’s Cup” across state lines to Indiana.

Andrean starting and winning pitcher Jimmy Skiff walked a batter and hit a batter in the JCA first but was able to pitch out of the jam. His teammates quickly went to work on JCA’s Palm Beach Atlantic-bound starting pitcher Kyle Polaski, loading the bases with one out. Freshman Kevin McCune worked Polaski for a walk to force in the first run of the game.Senior Frank Podkul ripped a two-run single to extend the 59’er lead to 3-0.

“Coming from Indiana, no one thought we could win it and it was great to win it,” said Podkul.”I fed off the tremendous enthusiasm the whole team had to get the big hit in the first inning.”
Senior David Cox followed with a two-run single and Andrean would pick up a sixth run on a passed ball
“It was a blast playing in this tournament.To beat the quality teams that we beat was amazing, said Cox. “To be the first Indiana team to ever be in this tournament and then win it says a lot about our state. I was down 0-2 and didn’t do too much but came through.”

The 59er’s would pick up two unearned runs in the second to extend their lead to 8-0.
The defending tournament champion Hilltoppers would knock Skiff out with a three-run fifth, highlighted by junior Mitch Boe’s clutch two-out, two-run single.

Junior Cullen Carey replaced Skiff and put the fire out in the fifth and would slam the door on the Hilltoppers over the last two innings, allowing just one hit to nail down the save for Skiff.

“I was nervous when I came in but I was able to hit my spots and throw strikes,” said Carey.
All the 59er’s did to win Stevie’s Cup was to shutout No.14 Brother Rice 4-0 on May 2. Beat No. 3 Lemont 8-6 on Thursday. Crush Providence 10-0 in five innings Friday behind senior lefty Danny Gomez’s perfect-game, and hammer 10th-ranked and defending tournament champion Joliet Catholic Academy.

“To go through the four teams we beat was an amazing accomplishment,” said the venerable Andrean head coach Dave Pishkur. “The kids played so well and I really hoped it will spark us heading into the sectionals next week. To jump out to a 6-0 was huge for us. The first inning is very important in big games.Getting over big-game jitters is so important.”

Andrean downs JCA to win Bajenski Memorial

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