Monday May 24

 

By Drake Skleba

 

In Class 2A Regional Championships on Monday:

 

No. 10 IVC (29-5) rolled past Eureka 7-1 to win the Class 2A Minonk (Fieldcrest) Regional Championship.The Grey Ghosts received a five-hitter from senior LHP Cody Kentzel, who struck out eight, as the Grey Ghosts will head home for the Class 2A Chillicothe (Illinois Valley Central) Sectional. IVC will meet Peru (St. Bede) on Thursday night at 7.

 

Brimfield (30-5) won the Class 2A Farmington Regional Championship, routing Canton 12-0 in six innings behind a three-hitter from senior RHP Luke Staub. Staub fanned 13 in leading the Indians to the Class 2A Chillicothe (Illinois Valley Sectional), where they will face Taylor Ridge (Rockridge) on Wednesday night at 7.

 

Bloomington Central Catholic (21-10) defeated Decatur St. Teresa 3-2 in the Class 2A Stanford Olympia Regional Championship Game. Bloomington Central Catholic senior ace Tyler Johansen fired a seven-hitter and struck out five in improving to 8-3 on the season. Bloomington Central Catholic senior Jacob Koch had a clutch two-run single for the Saints.

 

The Saints will move on to the Class 2A Tolono Unity Sectional on Thursday in search of their first sectional crown since 1957.The Saints will match up with downstate Marshall.

 

Prairie Central (19-13) defeated Watseka 5-2 to win the Hawks own Class 2A Prairie Central Regional Championship. Hawk seniors Zach Lawrence (6-5) and ace Jeremy Peters did the job on the mound. Lawrence pitched the first five innings to pick up the win and Peters picked up the save in the final two innings.

 

Prairie Central will meet Wilmington (23-9) on Wednesday in a Class 2A Watseka Sectional semifinal at 4. Wilmington defeated Coal City 2-1 to win the Class 2A Seneca Regional Championship on Monday.

 

Interstate 8 South champion Herscher (26-10) rolled past Manteno 6-4 to win the Class 2A Bishop McNamara Regional Championship on Monday. The Tigers will meet Peotone in a Class 2A Watseka Sectional semifinal on Wednesday at 4.

 

In Class 1A Regional Championship action, Class 1A favorite Ottawa Marquette (29-6) rolled past Putnam County 8-1 to win the Class 1A Putnam County Regional Championship. Marquette’s 6-foot-5,235 pound RHP junior Joey Ceja fired a four-hitter at the Panthers, striking out 12. The University of Louisville recruit improves to 9-0 with the complete game. The win was the 24^th consecutive victory for the rampaging Crusaders. Fellow junior University of Louisville recruit Mason Snyder led the Crusader offense with a pair of home runs, among his three hits, and drove in three runs. Ottawa Marquette now moves on to the Class 2A Gardner-South Wilmington Sectional on Wednesday to meet the Chargers of Illinois Lutheran (14-6).

 

In 4A Regional action on Monday, Hinsdale Central (18-13) crushed Bolingbrook 13-3 in a Downers Grove South Regional game behind Red Devil ace right-hander Will Pahos. Pahos improved to 8-1 on the season with his seventh complete game. Pahos allowed two earned runs and stuck out seven to pick up his eighth win of the season. Red Devil junior SS Matt Anderson led the Red Devil offensive assault with 4 RBI. Senior John Ellis chipped in with three ribbies as the Red Devils now will meet the No.3-ranked Mustangs of Downers Grove South (31-5), on Wednesday.

 

In 3A Regional action, Mahomet-Seymour (22-8) hammered five home runs in crushing Rantoul 12-2 in a Class 3A Mahomet-Seymour Regional game on Monday. Junior Jason Troyer went deep three times for the Bulldogs. Mahomet-Seymour single-season HR record holder Brannon Kwiatkowski and junior Jason Ziegler each homered for the Bulldogs. Junior Andrew Lawson picked up the win on the mound and improves to 10-1.

 

In Monday’s regular season action: 

 

No.6 Chatham Glenwood (25-4; 14-0) won for the 32^nd consecutive time in Central State 8 Conference play, defeating Springfield Lanphier 14-10.Titan senior centerfielder Jared Turner had a pair of hits and two RBI for the CS8 champs.

 

Red-hot Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin (19-8) stunned No. 16 O’Fallon 5-3 in a nonconference game on Monday. Cyclone senior RHP Mike Hurwitz had two hits and drove in an insurance run in the sixth and then came in and nailed down the save in the top of the seventh. O’Fallon falls to 21-13 on the season.

 

Andrew (23-10) hammered No.7 Plainfield North 14-8 in a nonconference affair. The Southwest Suburban Blue Division tri-champions were led by the T-Bolts’ Steve Litko, who launched a first-inning grand slam and the ‘Bolts never looked back. Plainfield North, the champions of the Southwest Prairie Conference, fell to 27-6 on the season.

 

No.15 Normal West (26-8; 12-1) rolled past Decatur McArthur 10-3 to wrap up the Wildcats championship Big 12 Conference season. Senior Jason Cullen doubled three times and plated three Wildcat runs in the romp over the Generals. Junior Adam Seifert improved to 4-0 on the mound for the Big 12 champions.

 

Lemont (23-8; 13-3) wrapped up South Suburban Conference Blue Division action with a 12-5 win over Tinley Park on Monday. Indian senior catcher Pat Driscoll had another perfect day at the plate going 3-for-3 with a homer and three RBI.

 

Libertyville (22-11) defeated Nazareth Academy 10-5. Wildcat seniors Tyler Schweigert and first baseman Brad Martin went deep for Libertyville. Wildcat senior catcher Chad Uhler had a pair of hits and drove in three runs for the resurgent Wildcats.

 

Joliet Catholic Academy (18-14) defeated Suburban Christian Blue Division champ Marmion 5-2 behind a fine pitching performance from Hilltopper sophomore Kevin Duchene.  Duchene improved to 4-1 on the season with four scoreless innings on the mound, striking out five Cadet hitters as the defending Class 3A Hilltoppers tuned up for defense of their 2009 Class 3A championship.

 

Jacobs (19-15) defeated Evanston 5-4 behind sophomore RHP Henry Gigeous, who struck out six in his six-inning stint. Golden Eagle closer Dan Paitl picked up another save. Red-hot Ben Albano had two hits and drove in a run. Josh Kranz had two hits and an RBI and Anthony Virgilio plated a pair of Golden Eagle runs.