Funkhouser, Oak Forest win pitchers' duel

By Drake Skleba

OAK FOREST -Oak Forest?s Tim Barry has won many games with his bat in his outstanding career as a Bengal. On Tuesday, the Kansas State-bound left fielder used his body to lead the Bengals past No. 18 Lemont in a South Suburban Blue Division showdown.

With the bases loaded and two outs in the Bengal seventh and the game tied at 2, Barry took a fastball from University of Illinois-bound RHP Josh Ferry off his left shoulder. By ?taking one for the team,? Barry forced in freshman RF Brian Richard with the game-winning run, as Oak Forest (3-1-1, 1-0) defeated Lemont 3-2.

For six innings, the much anticipated pitchers? duel between Ferry (2-1) and Oak Forest junior Kyle Funkhouser (2-0) was taking place. Oak Forest and Funkhouser led 1-0 after six innings. Oak Forest senior SS Bobby Sheppard had taken a Ferry fastball over the right-center field fence for the only run of the ballgame.

?I was looking fastball and I got it all, ? said Sheppard. ?I was dialed in all day against Ferry, who is the best pitcher I have ever faced in my career.?

The wild and crazy seventh began with Ferry ripping a Funkhouser pitch for a single to lead off the Indians last stand. After the 11th Funkhouser strikeout, Lemont junior 3B  Mike Hall ripped a single to right and both he and Ferry moved up a base when Richard misplayed the single to right field in the muddy turf for a tough error.

Funkhouser, who was visibly tiring, left a fastball up to Indian senior CF Dan Lombardo, who crushed the baseball and drove it over Barry?s head to the left-field fence, scoring Ferry and Hall and the Indians had a 2-1 lead.

Funkhouser showed his grit when he walked the next two Indians to load the bases and then retired the next two Lemont hitters to keep the Bengals in the ball game. SIU-bound Trevor Murphy struck out and Lemont junior RF Kyle Milinowisch grounded into a 6-4 forceout to end the inning.

?I owe all of my success to my pitching coach,? said Funkhouser, a highly touted junior who's verbally committed to Louisville. ?Coach came out and talked to me and I was able to bear down and keep us in the game.?

The wild and crazy Bengal seventh started innocently enough. After one out, junior DH Artie Johnson singled. After the 10th Ferry strikeout, the Bengals were down to their last bullet. Freshman Brian Richard had the at-bat of the year for Oak Forest. With a 2-2 count, the young freshman fouled off numerous Ferry pitches before finally coaxing a walk out of the future Illini hurler.

?I just did not want to strike out and end the game,? said Richard. ?I booted that single in the mud and I did not want to let my teammates down. I was doing everything I could to keep the game going. I wouid have gladly taken a fastball off me to keep the game going.?

The walk to Richard seemed to unnerve Ferry, who hit Bengal leadoff man John Zubek to load the bases. The game appeared to be over when Ferry induced junior CF Cody Murray to roll to short. Screened by Richard running to third, Lemont?s Michigan State-bound SS Kevin Goergen slightly bobbled the ball and his throw to second was too late to get Zubek, and Johnson scored the tying run.

The colossal showdown ensued next between Barry (1-for-3) and Ferry. Ferry plunked Barry and the Bengals walked with the victory.

?I am so darn proud of my kids,? said Oak Forest head coach Thaddeus Gatton. ?Even if we had lost 2-1, I would feel the same way. I loved our approach at the plate against Ferry, who is probably the best pitcher we will see all year.?

Gatton continued: ?Kyle (Funkhouser) was magnificent, especially in the seventh inning after we had lost the lead. To pitch out of that bases loaded, one-out situation was outstanding. It kept us in the ball game.  Freshman Brian Richard had a tremendous at-bat. Bobby Sheppard crushed that ball, and even though he is struggling right now Tim (Barry) found a way for us to win.?