By Drake Skleba

 

LISLE ? Three balls, two strikes, one out, in the bottom of the seventh of a 2-2 Class 2A Lisle Regional final.

 

Aurora Christian?s junior SS Josh Haugen peered out at Lisle?s junior reliever Kazim Kahn. Haugen proceeded to crush a 3-2 fastball over the centerfield fence for a walk-off homer, giving the Eagles a 3-2 victory over Lisle and the 2011 Class 2A Lisle Regional championship.

 

?I got a good pitch and I drove it out,? said Haugen, who went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. ?We were confident after Bobby (Kuntzendorf) held them in the top of the seventh. We have confidence in the top of our order; if I didn?t do it, Mitch (Holtz) would have.?

 

In a classic matchup between two fine ball clubs, Aurora Christian (28-6) moves on to the Class 2A Benedictine University Sectional semifinals. The Eagles will meet the winner of the Class 2A Holy Trinity Regional. Holy Trinity (19-5) played The Latin School at Noon.

 

Lisle (21-12) struck first in this one against Aurora Christian ace junior LHP Bobby Kuntzendorf (9-0) in the top of the third. Lion senior catcher Will DeCraene singled home Lion SS Kevin Coppin (2-for-2, R BB), who had singled.

 

Aurora Christian answered with a couple of unearned runs against Lisle senior RHP Ryan Burlison. The Lions made three errors in the inning, allowing the Eagles first run, to score and Eagle junior CF Mitch Holtz (2-for-3, RBI) singled home the second run of the inning to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead after three innings. 

 

?I had a good day at the plate but the year has been kind of a struggle for me,? said Holtz. ?I am grateful to my teammates for picking me up. It was crazy after Josh hit that bomb to win the game for us. I played at Benedictine my freshman year and it will be awesome playing there on Wednesday.? 

 

Lisle tied the game up at 2-2 in the top of the fourth on an RBI groundout by Lion 3B Nick Thome.

 

In the bottom of the fifth, Haugen singled with one out, ending the day for Burlison. Kahn relieved Burlison and was greeted by a single by Holtz. Kahn bore down and retired the next two Eagle hitters to preserve the 2-2 tie after five.

 

Kuntzendorf (CG, 2R, 5H, 2ER, 6K, 4BB) pitched out of trouble in the Lisle sixth and seventh to hold the Eagles in the game, until Mr. Haugen sent the large and vociferous Eagle contingent back to Kane County very happy.

 

?We played really great today,? said Kuntzendorf. ?It was just awesome watching Josh?s homer go out. We knew it was gone as soon as he hit it. I was a little wild today but my best pitch was my inside fastball, when I could locate it. I am so excited about playing at Benedictine on Wednesday. It?s such a great atmosphere there.?

 

Kudos to Lisle head coach Pete Meyer. Meyer and his Lions broke away from their post-game huddle in right field to salute the Eagles as they received their Regional Championship plaque. The Lisle Lions program, under the tutelage of Meyer, is one of the classiest I?ve seen in the state.

 

?Our hats are off to the Aurora Christian Eagles,? said Meyer. ?That is a great team over there. Bobby Kuntzendorf is a great pitcher and I hope they go on to take state. I am really proud of my kids for how they battled against a great team and pitcher.?

 

Aurora Christian awaits the Holy Trinity-Latin winner on Wednesday at Benedictine. Westminster Christian (25-7) will meet the Immaculate Conception Regional Champion, either Walther Lutheran or host Immaculate Conception at Benedictine on Wednesday night at 6:30.

 

The winners of Wednesday?s semifinals will meet at 11 on Saturday morning in the 2011 Class 2A Benedictine University Sectional Championship Game.

 

?Bobby (Kuntzendorf) didn?t have his best stuff today but battled to get big outs,? said Aurora Christian head coach Andy Zorger. ?It?s great to be the home team and have the last bats and Josh Haugen came through for us with the big blow.?