By Drake Skleba

JOLIET – No. 22 St. Rita (20-11) joined Chicago Catholic League Blue Division brethren No. 1 Providence (26-6), No. 3 St. Laurence (28-4-1) and No. 6 Mount Carmel (28-4) as inaugural members of the Steven M. Bajenski Memorial Tournament Final 4.

St. Rita joined the elite group with a 10-6 thumping of Oak Lawn (20-12) at Silver Cross Field in Joliet on Thursday night.

Mustang senior 1B Rick Faron led the Mustang assault with two hits and three RBI. Faron was voted www.prepbaseballreport.highscholcube.com Player of the Game.

“This was a  big win for us,” said Faron. “We had lost a couple in a row and it was good to get the win tonight. I had a pretty good night at the plate. I've been battling a little injury and it felt good to get things going tonight for us. We split with Laurence in the regular season and it will be a fun game here tomorrow night.”

Oak Lawn struck first in the first inning on the first of two sac-flies by Spartan junior starting pitcher Bobby Kametas (5-3). St. Rita tied things at 1-1 on an RBI single by Mustang shortstop Andrew Massey.

The Spartans picked up a pair of unearned runs in the third to take a 3-1 lead against Mustang sophomore lefty Mike Costanzo (6-2).

St. Rita put this one away with a seven-run third as the Spartan defense imploded. Four OLCHS errors led to six unearned runs for the victorious Mustangs. Louisville-bound catcher, Zach Soria had an RBI single in the fateful third. Faron put the Mustangs up 4-3 with a huge two-run single.

Purdue-bound third baseman Stefano Belmonte followed with a booming double plating Faron. Before the smoke had cleared the Mustangs had an 8-3 lead. Faron drove home RBI three with a single in the fourth for a 9-3 Rita lead.

Costanzo allowed just one earned run in his 4 2/3 innings of work to pick up the win. Mustang senior Bill Henry allowed one run in his 2 1/3 innings of quality relief work.

“Mike battled on the mound for us tonight but it was a real struggle for him,” said St. Rita head coach Mike Zunica. “I was really happy with the way we swung the bats tonight. We hit the ball hard and really took advantage of the extra outs Oak Lawn gave us.”

Tomorrow's Steven M. Bajenski Memorial Tournament schedule for Friday follows:

Benedictine University-Lisle

5:00 New Trier (19-9) vs. Marian Catholic (17-14) consolation semifinal

7:45 No. 1 Providence (26-6) vs. No. 6 Mount Carmel (28-4) semifinal

Silver Cross Field-Joliet

5:00 Oak Park (23-8-1) vs. Oak Lawn (20-12) Consolation semifinal

7:45 No. 3 St. Laurence (28-4-1) vs. No. 22 St. Rita (20-11)

All games can be seen LIVE on www.prepbaseballreport.highschoolcube.com

The PBR's Drake Skleba will do the play-by-play of the doubleheader at Silver Cross Field in Joliet at 5.