By Sean Duncan

DOWNERS GROVE - In a classic pitchers’ duel between two of the top right-handers in the state, Downers Grove South junior Nick Burdi outlasted Leyden senior Dan Savas, 3-2, in a West Suburban Gold matchup Saturday. The second game of the doubleheader got rained out with No. 5 Downers Grove South (15-5, 6-1) leading 4-0 in the bottom of the first inning.

Burdi, who’s the No. 1-ranked junior in the state, continued his season-long dominance against Leyden (13-6, 6-4). The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Louisville recruit allowed five hits, one earned run, struck out 10, walked one and hit two batters in six innings as he improved to 4-0.

Trailing 3-2 in the top of the sixth, Leyden looked as though it had Burdi on the ropes. With one out, Burdi issued his only walk of the game, then proceeded to hit the next two batters, including a 90-mph fastball on the knee (man, it looked like it hurt). With the bases loaded, Burdi blew a 91-mph fastball to strike out the next batter; then fired a 93-mph heater by the following hitter to get out of the inning.

“I didn’t want to let me teammates down,” said Burdi, who also had a 77-81 mph slider working. “That situation was more of a momentum thing. Once I got going, the ball was flying out of my hand. I made some big pitches when I needed them.”

Said Downers Grove South coach Daren Orel: “Nick is a competitor, and he really showed it there. I’m real proud of him to see how he battled through it. He hasn’t been challenged a lot this year and hasn’t had much adversity, so it was good to see how he responded in that situation.”

Burdi reached his pitch count after the sixth, so Orel brought in junior right-hander Matt Wivinis to close the seventh. Wivinis, the Mustangs’ No. 3 pitcher, retired the side in order behind a lively 85-87 mph fastball.

Leyden pushed an unearned run in the second inning on John Marino’s groundout. The Eagles added another in the third to take a 2-0 advantage on Adam Locassio’s single. And the way Leyden ace Dan Savas was throwing, it looked like the lead might hold up.

Downers South’s offense showed life in only one inning against the 6-foot-4, 205-pound Illinois State recruit. The Mustangs managed five hits in the game, four of which came in the bottom of the third when they scored all their runs, aided by two errors. Joe Biel led off the third with a single, followed by a bloop single by Jake Rone. An error on a sac bunt loaded up the bases before Kyle Engle delivered a sacrifice fly. Shortly after, Rone scored on a passed ball, then Miami of Ohio-bound shortstop Dan Walsh (2-for-3, RBI, SB) sliced the eventual game-winning single to make it 3-2.

“Danny Walsh steps up – as he always has done in the four years I’ve had him,” said Orel. “I can’t say enough about Dan Walsh.”

After the third inning, Savas was nothing short of dominant. Using an 85-88 mph fastball that climbed as high as 89, and a tight 77-mph slider, Savas (3-3) struck out nine and walked none in his five-hit complete game.

“It’s a little heartbreaking to get a loss, but Burdi is obviously a great pitcher,” said Savas.

Junior shortstop Carlos Olavarria had two hits and scored a run for Leyden.