By Sean Duncan

NORTHBROOK - Chad Bruce wasn?t thrilled with himself in his first three at-bats, especially after he had stranded the bases loaded in the fifth inning of Thursday?s inaugural Central Suburban League championship game against district rival Glenbrook South.

But the Glenbrook North junior right fielder made sure he didn?t waste another opportunity when he laced the game-winning single in the bottom of the sixth inning to lift the No. 8 Spartans to a 4-3 victory.

Making it that much sweeter for Bruce was No. 16 Glenbrook South (23-8) had chosen to intentionally walk shortstop Brett Synek to get to him.

?It was still a frustrating day,? said the 6-foot-3, 190-pound Bruce, who also made a running catch into the sun-field in the sixth inning. ?Going 1-for-4 is not the best, but at least I helped the team get the win. ? Don?t get me wrong, I?m glad I got the hit, but I could?ve helped the team earlier.?

With the win, Glenbrook North (27-3) claimed the first Central Suburban League outright championship between the South and North Division champions. The Spartans also exacted a measure of revenge from a 5-2 loss to the Titans earlier in the season. The two teams will also potentially run into each other in the Class 4A sectional semifinals.

Bruce?s clutch hit wasn?t the only late-inning dramatics by the Spartans. In the top of the seventh, Glenbrook South had rallied with consecutive singles by Chris Szafranski and Zach Jones with one out.  Mike Reinisch looked like he had delivered a third straight hit up the middle, but Synek made a full-extension dive to his right, flipped it to second baseman Brad Ruchman, who fired to first base for a game-ending double play.

?That?s the type of defense Brett Synek has made all season long,? said Glenbrook North coach Dominic Savino. ?Obviously that play took place in a very critical situation, but he?s brought that kind of defense all year for us.?

Peter Resnick, the Spartans? 6-foot-2, 185-pound junior closer, pitched two innings of scoreless relief to earn the win. Resnick, who operates from a low three-quarter/sidearm angle, is tough to hit, as his 83-85 mph fastball has sink and run. He also showed an effective changeup and a sweeping slurve.

Third baseman Ryan Slawin delivered a two-run single in the second inning to give Glenbrook North a brief 2-1 advantage, and left fielder Jack Day had a run-scoring double in the fifth to tie the game at 3-3.

Junior catcher Jason Scholl had a double and was walked twice for the Spartans, and Synek went 1-for-2 with two walks, including the intentional one in the sixth. Synek, a three-year starter who?s the team?s offensive catalyst, is committed to Oakton CC.

?I was not going let the best hitter on their team beat us,? said Glenbrook South coach Bob Rosinski.

Jones, a junior 6-foot-2 left-handed hitting first baseman, led Glenbrook South with three RBI and two hits, including a two-run single in the third to give the Titans a 3-2 lead. Jones should become one of the most coveted left-handed hitters in the state in the coming months. He has an advanced, relaxed approach and is quick and explosive to the ball. He also demonstrated excellent hands at first base, where he made two excellent scoops on throws.

Szafranski went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored for Glenbrook South. Six-foot-4 LHP Sully Stadler and 6-foot-2 RHP Josiah Carlson, both juniors, threw solidly for the Titans and showed to be very intriguing prospects to follow this summer.