By Drake Skleba

 

LOCKPORT- There has been something magical about the sixth inning this season for No. 2-ranked Naperville Central. On Saturday, tangled in a tense 3-3 battle with Lockport, the Redhawks erupted for three sixth-inning runs and went on to defeat the Porters 6-3 at Ed Flink Field. The win gave Naperville Central (33-4) the 2010 Class 4A Lockport Regional championship.

 

On Wednesday against Benet Academy, in the regional semifinal, senior Redhawk catcher Ryan Walsh’s two-run double broke up a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the sixth to lead the ‘Hawks to a thrilling come-from-behind 4-3 win. Back on March 31 against neighborhood rival Waubonsie Valley, the Redhawks exploded for eight sixth-inning runs in a 9-1 nonconference victory in Naperville.

 

In this ball game, Naperville Central junior left-hander Dan Ludwig was sensational on the mound for the Redhawks, as the talented junior fired a five-hitter. Ludwig allowed one earned run and had 13 strikeouts in his complete-game masterpiece.

 

“It took awhile to adjust to the second inning but once I did I started throwing strikes and was on my way to helping the team win,” said Ludwig. “My best pitch by far was my curveball. I threw many more than I usually do because it was working so well. I knew the offense would get going and we would we win the game.”

 

After Ludwig blanked the Porters (24-13) in the first, Naperville Central junior left fielder Conor Philbin launched his first home run of the season over the left field fence for a quick 1-0 Central lead.

 

“It was a great feeling to leadoff the game with the home run,” said Philbin. “This was a great win for us today. We are a good ballclub and have come from behind a lot this season.”

 

Lockport quickly answered in the top of the second with three consecutive hits by third baseman Jory Koehler, first baseman Kyle Billig and catcher Josh Johnson to load the bases. Porter shortstop Tommy Hook tied things up at 1-1 with a sac-fly. Lockport picked up a pair of runs on a throwing error, on a ball hit by Porter leadoff man John Kosmowski, for a 3-1 lead.

 

Lockport junior right-hander Mike Grindstaff (5-2) held the Redhawks in check until the fourth. In the fourth Central tied things up at 3.  Kansas State-bound Shane Conlon (1-for-3) ignited the two-run Redhawk uprising with the first of three consecutive singles. Senior centerfielder Matt Cmiel (2-for-3; 2R) and senior DH Marc Mantucca followed with singles, with Mantucca’s scoring Conlon. Senior Bobby Czarnowski followed with a sac-fly to tie at 3-3 after 4.

 

The game moved to the magical sixth. After one out, Cmiel singled, stole second and on what turned out to be a perfectly executed hit-and-run, scored the game-winner on Mantucca’s second RBI single. Cmiel’s attempted steal of third forced the Lockport third baseman to cover third, and Mantucca’s ground ball hit went right through the vacated third base position.

 

“There was no sense of urgency when we were down,” said Mantucca. “Dan Ludwig pitched outstanding for us. I did pretty good today at the plate. On the game-winner Matt Cmiel was on his own and opened up the hole for me.

 

“Benet Academy gave us an intense game and that helped us today. If we continue to play our game, I am very confident we can win and advance.”

 

Grindstaff fanned the next two hitters, but unfortunately for Grindstaff and the Porters, the second strikeout victim Nick Linne reached base on a dropped third strike. That ended the day for Grindstaff and Lockport head coach Steve Stanicek brought in Porter ace right-hander Jake Bulthuis to face Redhawk catcher Ryan Walsh.

 

Walsh ripped a two-run double to increase the Redhawk lead to 6-3.

 

“We were down but I wasn’t worried,” said Walsh. “With Luddy on the mound, and we always seem to have a big inning, I knew we would come back. Dan was outstanding on the mound for us. I think half of his pitches were curveballs. We knew Lockport was an aggressive team at the plate and thought we could have success with Dan’s curveball.

 

“I got four curveballs in a row from Bulthuis,” Walsh added. “I kept looking for my fastball and got it for the two-run double in the sixth.”

 

Ludwig gave up a one-out single to Kosmowski in the top of the seventh and then retired the last two Porters, picking up his 13^th K to end the game.

 

“Dan Ludwig was amazing for us today, said Naperville Central head coach Bill Seiple. “The 13 strikeouts is really not Dan’s game. Conor Philbin is a good solid player for us who really contributed with the home run in the first. Marc had a good day at the plate. We had a number of people contribute. It was a good day. Wednesday will be another day in the tough Plainfield South Sectional.”

 

Naperville Central will meet their cross-town rivals from Naperville North on Wednesday in a Class 4A Plainfield South Sectional Semifinal at 4:30. Naperville North (30-7) rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh to stun Providence 7-6 and win their own Class 4A Naperville North Regional championship.

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Lockport closes out a stellar season finishing 24-13 as well as Southwest Suburban Blue Division tri-champions with Sandburg and Lincoln-Way Central. The game marked the final game in the career of outstanding Lockport head coach Steve Stanicek. We wish Steve well in his future endeavors.

 

“We played the toughest schedule in the state,” said Stanicek. “I am really proud of my kids this season. To win 24 games and a conference championship was an outstanding achievement. Naperville Central is a great team. Their lefty (Ludwig) was outstanding. What a tremendous curveball he possesses. … I ‘m not going to be disappearing into the sunset.  I’ll be resurfacing in the North Suburbs soon.”