Class 4A Sectional Semifinals

Plainfield South

No. 6 Plainfield North (30-7) defeated No.11 Lincoln-Way Central 2-1 in eight thrilling innings on Thursday. Tiger senior Brad Porter singled home 6-foot-6 Scott Vachon, who had doubled, with the game-winner in the bottom of the eighth.The Tigers move on to an 11 o’clock date with No.2 Naperville Central (34-4) for the sectional crown on Saturday.

 

Barrington

Warren (29-9) defeated Carmel 5-2, scoring four unearned runs in the sixth, to move to the sectional championship game against North Suburban Lake rival No. 3 Stevenson (32-3), Saturday at 11.Blue Devil sophomore SS Patrick Kenney, who had homered earlier, was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to give Warren a 3-2 lead. Virginia Tech-bound catcher Scott Heelan put the icing on the Blue Devil win when he ripped a two-run single. Blue Devil senior LHP Zach Schneider picks up the win and improves to 11-2.Carmel bows out at 27-9.

 

St. Rita

Oak Park (26-10) exploded for nine runs in the sixth to upend Mt. Carmel 12-8. Oak Park’s Joe Gerace hammered a grand slam and drove home five runs to lead the Huskies to the sectional championship game with the hosts St. Rita (29-9) on Saturday at 11. Mt. Carmel bows out at 28-11.

 

Niles West

There will be a new champion in Class 4A this year as Glenbrook South (24-10) rallied past defending Class 4A champ New Trier 6-4. Glenbrook South’s Luke Harrison’s two-run double won it for the Titans. Titan ace Shawn Michols won again on the mound and improves to 12-1. Glenbrook South will meet Central Suburban South champ Maine South for the sectional championship on Saturday.

 

Elgin Larkin

Cary-Grove (25-12) defeated South Elgin 10-9 in 10 wild innings on Thursday. The Trojans trailed 9-8 in the bottom of the ninth and tied the game on a double by junior Tyler Lau. In the bottom of the 10^th the Trojans won it on junior Danny Leisten’s game-winning infield hit, scoring the fleet-footed Eric Chandler with the game-winner. Chandler, one of the top tailbacks in the state, helped lead the Trojan football team to the Class 6A championship Thanksgiving weekend in Champaign. With the win Cary-Grove will face Huntley (27-9) on Saturday at 10 for sectional crown. The game will be the unofficial Fox Valley Conference Valley Division championship game. The Trojans and the Red Raiders shared the regular season Valley title.

 

St. Charles East

Wheaton North (28-9) defeated Lake Park 7-6 behind a complete game effort by Falcon ace senior RHP Mike Coduto (8-1). Senior SS Mike Small had four hits and junior 1B Nick Barry went deep with a man on to lead the Falcon attack. Wheaton North will meet the host Fighting Saints of St. Charles East (27-11) at, note the new time, 3:30 for the sectional championship.

 

3A Sectional Semifinals

Johnsburg

Grayslake Central (30-7) won its 30^th game and SIU-bound RHP Matt Murphy (10-0) won his 10^th of the season, as the Rams defeated Montini 6-4. Senior Jackson White drove home a pair for the Rams, who will meet Marian Central Catholic (25-9) on Saturday at 10.

 

Nazareth

Riverside-Brookfield (22-12) slipped past Lake View 2-1 behind senior LHP Alex Brown (8-3). Brown fired a four-hitter, striking out seven. Bulldog junior Charlie Morrissey had a pair of hits and plated a run and senior Billy VandeMerkt drove in the other R-B tally. The Bulldogs will meet the host Roadrunners of Nazareth on Saturday at 10

 

DeKalb

Marmion (22-11) defeated No.20 Burlington Central 7-6 on a sensational game-ending catch by Marmion’s 6-foot-6 centerfielder Mark Peters. Burlington Central’s (32-3) junior Nick Hahn hammered what appeared to be a game-tying blast with two out in the bottom of the seventh. The 6-foot-6 Peters leaped and grabbed the ball and then flipped over the fence and hung on to the the ball for the game-saver. Marmion will meet the hosts DeKalb in the sectional championship at 2:30.