By Sean Duncan

FLOSSMOOR ? No. 12 Lincoln-Way North continued its impressive season by defeating Brother Rice 3-2 to win the Class 4A Homewood-Flossmoor Regional championship.

In an excellent pitchers? duel, Lincoln-Way North senior left-hander Jacob Harper prevailed over Brother Rice junior right-hander Ryan Koziol to send the Phoenix (30-3) into the sectional semifinals against rival Lincoln-Way East.

Harper, a 6-foot-5 St. Joseph?s College recruit, threw a four-hit complete game, striking out eight and walking two, to improve to 8-1 this season.

?I can?t say enough ? he was lights out today,? said Lincoln-Way North coach Joe Skarbek about his ace. ?He?s a big-game pitcher.?

Koziol, a 6-foot-3, 165-pound junior right-hander who?s committed to the University of Arizona, was mighty impressive on the mound. He pitched the entire game at an effortless 87-88 mph with tremendous run. He also threw a hard cutter, changeup and curveball ? all with excellent action. Only problem was, the Crusaders? defense couldn?t support him. All Lincoln-Way North?s runs were unearned.

As good as Koziol was on the mound, Lincoln-Way North?s hitters didn?t go away easily. The Phoenix battled, scrapped and fouled off enough good pitches long enough to put the ball in play ? which was what they needed to do against a defense that struggled with the routine.

Jack Irace paced Lincoln-Way North?s offense by going 3-for-3 with a run scored. Conor Sullivan hit a solo home run to lead Brother Rice.