By Drake Skleba

CRESTWOOD – Marian Catholic's Cinderella run continued at Standard Bank Stadium on Monday, as the Spartans slipped past Simeon 1-0 in eight thrilling innings to win the Class 3A Standard Bank Stadium Super-Sectional and will advance to the Class 3A Final Four on Friday.

The Spartans found the Golden Slipper in the form of 6-foot-2, 205-pound senior lefty Ben Santori (3-2). Santori fired a three-hitter at the Chicago Public League champions from Simeon. With a dazzling array of off-speed pitches, Santori kept the hard-hitting Wolverines off-balance all night. With his sneaky fast upper 70s fastball, he fanned an even dozen Simeon batsmen in his eight-inning masterpiece.

“I changed speeds well tonight and kept them off-balance the entire game,” said an emotional Santori. “I am just overwhelmed emotionally over this great win for us. It's a dream come true to be going to Joliet.”

Arizona State University-bound Spartan first baseman Brett Lilek singled home University of Iowa-bound  right fielder Devin Pickett with the only run of the game with two-out in the top of the eighth.

With one out, Pickett had reached on a costly Wolverine miscue, stole second and just beat the throw to the plate by Wolverine Oakland University-bound right-fielder Shane Brown.

“Ben gave it all he had  for us on the mound,” said Lilek. “The least I could do is a get an RBI for my brother and get him the win. I didn't want to do too much with the ball. Devin was on second, which is an easy RBI and they had been catching everything in the gap so I stayed small and simple. We’re there! We will be ready to go and I'll be ready to pitch Friday.”

Wolverine sophomore lefty Darius Day (8-1) matched Santori pitch for pitch until the costly mistake with one out in the top of the eighth. The super-soph allowed just five hits and the run he allowed was unearned.

Marian Catholic (23-17) will move on to an all-East Suburban Catholic battle with fellow ESCC rival Nazareth Academy (30-8) on Friday following the 10 a.m first Class 3A semifinal, between La Salle-Peru (33-6) and Troy Triad (31-8).

“This is great for not only the kids but the entire Marian Catholic community,” said Marian Catholic head coach Phil Wail. “I received a quality education at Marian Catholic and I'm happy to give-back some with this victory. Ben was simply outstanding tonight on the mound and Brett got the big hit for us.”

Simeon bows out at 31-8, finishing up a sensational season for Wolverine head coach LeRoy Franklin. With Day back for two more years to anchor the staff and the majority of position players back in 2013, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see the Wolverines again in Crestwood next year.

“We made one mistake and it cost us,” said Franklin. “We ran into a good pitcher

tonight who kept us off-balance all night. I am proud of my kids for a sensational season and with nine starters back next year, we will be back!”