By Drake Skleba

ORLAND PARK – No. 20 Sandburg (13-3; 3-1) defeated Lincoln-Way Central 2-1 in eight thrilling innings in a crucial Southwest Suburban Blue Division match-up on Thursday.

Eagle junior right fielder Matt Shimonis coaxed a walk-off walk with the bases loaded to plate Air Force-bound Zach Reks with the game-winner. The small chilled crowd thankfully exited for their warm cars.

“I was looking for my pitch to drive but I gladly took the walk,” said Shimonis. “I was really locked in.” 

The game featured a classic pitchers’ duel between dueling lefties: Sandburg's senior Matt Farrington (3-1) and Lincoln-Way Central's junior Grant Bartell (1-2). Lincoln-Way Central (11-7; 1-3) picked up an unearned run against Farrington in the top of the first. Bartell helped himself with a sac-fly, scoring junior Lucas Jones who had reached on an error.

Bartell blanked the Eagles until the bottom of the sixth. Eagle junior second baseman Dan Cronin drew a walk from Bartell to lead off the frame. With one out, Xavier-bound Eagle catcher Dan Rizzie singled. St. Joseph's College-bound Dylan Rajkovich ripped an RBI single to left, scoring Cronin with the tying run.

“It was good to get Matt a win. He pitched well for us,” said Rajkovitch. “I was really happy about driving in the tying run.”

The game moved to extra innings. In the Lincoln-Way Central eighth, the Knights had a scoring threat against Farrington. With one out, Knight senior third baseman Matt Filkins singled and swiped second. Farrington bore down and fanned the No. 3 & 4 hitters in the Knight lineup, leaving Filkins stranded at second.

“All of my pitches were working really well,” said Farrington. “That was a tough game. A big win for us in conference.”

In the bottom of the eighth, Bartell walked Reks, ending the day for the junior. Bartell was relieved by sophomore Brad Bass, who walked Rizzie. Rajkovich struck again; this time with a perfectly placed sac-bunt, moving the runners up to second and third. Bass plunked Eagle pinch-hitter Brandon Martinez to load the bases.

“We work on bunts all year,” added Rajkovitch. “I was very confident I would get the bunt down and do the job.” 

Bass induced junior first baseman Alec Nelson to hit a roller to the mound. Bass got the force at the plate but the Knight catcher did not throw to first to complete the 1-2-3 double play. Five pitches later, Shimonis and the Eagles walked-off the field victorious.

“A great win for us and a great ballgame,” said Sandburg head coach Jimmy Morsovillo. “We talked before the game about making plays. We didn't make a couple of plays in the first inning and gave them a run. We executed beautifully late and won the ball game. Matt Farrington does and outstanding job for us. I wish we could score some runs for him. Dylan drives in the tying run for us and then executes that great bunt in the eighth.”