By Drake Skleba

 

CRESTWOOD - When Marist and Brother Rice meet, in any sport, expect an all-out war. Two miles are all that seperates these Catholic schools located on Pulaski Avenue in Chicago’s Mt. Greenwood neighborhood. The neighborhood rivals put on a classic performance in the final game of the second-annual Southside Conference Challenge on Sunday night at Standard Bank Stadium.

 

Marist sophomore John McKevitt’s sacrifice fly plated first baseman Aaron Lewis, who had walked, and gave Marist (5-7) an unbelievable 10-9 victory in 11 innings. McKevitt had two hits, including a two-run double for the RedHawks.

 

“I was so happy that we had finally won it,” said McKevitt. “We battled back from 8-1 and it was a great team effort. Everyone contributed. I know all the Rice guys and it gives us bragging rights.”

 

As stated, Brother Rice (8-4) jumped out to an 8-1 lead after four innings. Five of the eight runs were unearned against Marist starting pitcher Mike Perish. The Crusaders struck for three runs in the first on a booming two-run triple by senior 1B Brain Baldwin (1-for-4, 3B, 2RBI). Sophomore Garrett O’Neill drove home the third Crusader run on a sacrifice fly.

 

The Crusaders picked up a pair of unearned runs in the second and the third, without the benefit of a hit. The Marist defense struggled mightily. In the fourth, losing pitcher Kevin Koziol (1-for-5, RBI) singled home the eighth Crusader run on only their second hit.

 

Marist scored three runs in the fifth, finishing the night for Rice sophomore pitcher Ryan Koziol (5 IP, 4 R, 8 H, 4 ER, 9 K, 1BB). Marist junior Alex Puhar (3-for-5, 3B, 2 2B, 4 RBI) doubled home a pair and senior second baseman Dan Pavesic (3-for-6, RBI) singled in a run and the RedHawks had closed to 8-4.

 

The RedHawks tied things up in the bottom of the sixth. McKevitt doubled home two and Puhar tripled in the tying runs and the teams would go to extra innings tied at 8.

 

“I had struck out my first two at-bats and really concentrated on hitting the baseball,” said Puhar. “I really hit the ball well and it feels great to beat Rice and a quality pitcher like Kevin Koziol. We all really wanted to win this game.”

 

Meanwhile, on the mound for Marist, sophomore Mike Hearne was dealing. Hearne had relieved Perish in the fifth. The sophomore left-hander fired six solid innings in relief, allowing one run and striking out six.

 

“I had to shut Rice down and give us a chance to come back, said Hearne. “I threw strikes and my defense was great behind me.”

 

Each team scored in the ninth. Senior Justin Biondo’s RBI single gave the Crusaders a 9-8 lead in the top of the ninth against Hearne.

 

Hearne tied things up against Kevin Koziol with an RBI single and the teams went to the 10th tied at 9. Koziol had come in relief in the seventh of O’Neill, who had relieved Ryan Koziol, in the sixth.

 

Hearne was replaced in the 11th by junior John Hall (1-0), who retired the Crusaders in order.

 

In the decisive bottom half of the 11th, Lewis walked to leadoff for the RedHawks. Hearne laid down a sac-bunt back to Koziol. Koziol tried to gun down Lewis at second and threw wide of the bag for an error. Junior catcher Pat Nelson (1-for-5, 2B) laid down a beautiful sac-bunt, moving Lewis to third and Hearne to second. Moments later McKevitt sent everybody home.

 

Marist senior leadoff man Dave Pirkle had a big 4-for-6 night with an RBI and scored two runs.

 

“This is a big rivalry. Both teams battled all night,” said Pirkle. “It’s outstanding the way we battled back from 8-1. Kevin Koziol is an outstanding player and it feels great to beat him and Brother Rice. We know all of those guys over there.”

 

Koziol falls to 0-2 on the season. Koziol threw 4 2/3 innings, allowing one earned run and three hits. He struck out three and walked three.

 

Marist new head coach Tom Fabrizio was very happy about his team’s come-from behind win.

 

“I am really proud of the way we came back,” said Fabrizio. “We battled and beat a quality team and pitcher. Mike Hearne is my strike-thrower; he was really outstanding tonight. Our young guys came through for us tonight. Hopefully, we can get on a roll from this big win.”

 

Brother Rice opens up Catholic League action in Kankakee against Bishop McNamara on Monday.

 

“We had a lot of scoring opportunities late in the game we did not take advantage of,” said Brother Rice head coach Tim Lyons. “Give credit to Marist for the way they came back.”

 

With the win, the East Suburban Catholic League wins the Challenge 3-1. Thanks go to Challenge director Mr. Tom Schergen, the outstanding athletic director of Marist. Also thanks to the Windy City Thunderbolts for their assistance.

 

The game ended shortly before 11 p.m. In the press box we were afraid that due to the late hour they would call the game and it would end up in a tie. When asked about our concerns, Schergen replied: “Never happen. It’s Marist and Rice. We would have played all night if we had to.”