Smoy pitches in as Palatine prevails in Legion tourney

Arm trouble kept Erik Smoy from playing for Palatine's American Legion baseball team last summer.

A little trouble at the plate kept Smoy from getting much playing time for the Blue Jays in the Cook County tournament.

But Fairview Heights couldn't keep Smoy from playing a leading role in Wednesday afternoon's state tournament opener at McHenry County College in Crystal Lake. The Hoffman Estates graduate and Knox College-bound leadoff man went 2-for-3 with 2 walks, a sacrifice fly and 4 RBI as defending state champion Palatine (30-8) rallied from an early deficit to win 12-7.

"I heard they were state champs and I just wanted to be on a winning team," Smoy said. "And we're winning a lot right now."

Left-hander Sean Stutzman won his third postseason game by allowing only 1 run in 5 relief innings. That put the Blue Jays in today's 12:30 p.m. winner's bracket game against Moline (33-6), a 12-9 winner over Wheaton (23-10).

A 3-run homer in the third inning by Clint Terry (3-for-4) started Palatine's comeback from a 4-0 deficit. Smoy had a sacrifice fly in a 4-run fourth and broke a 7-7 tie with a two-out, two-run single in the fifth.

Zach Kolakowski and Eric Paulson each had three of Palatine's 16 hits off Fairview Heights (26-6), which coach Craig Steiner said was missing five players and three starters for health issues and other commitments.

"It's good when you can have everybody in the lineup able to hit and manufacture runs," said the UIC-bound Terry, who is expected to start today. "It doesn't put the pressure on one guy."

But the talent level does create some pressure to stay in the lineup. Palatine coach Jeff Ryder told Smoy on Tuesday he'd get another shot in the leadoff spot he held most of the summer because outfielder Matt Johnsen was expected to arrive late from classes he's taking.

"I was pretty excited because I was starting to get discouraged," Smoy said. "I didn't get as much time in County and I wasn't performing as well.

"I knew I had to come through today to keep my spot. It also picks me up when someone gets a hit because you want to get another hit, too."

Singles by Kevin Ciardiello and Paulson set up the 4-run fourth where Smoy's sacrifice fly was followed by two-out RBI singles from Zach and Zenon Kolakowski and Terry. Tyler Gregory had two-out singles in fifth and 3-run sixth.

Ryder started Zach Demmon (4-0) because he had been pitching well lately and to give Terry and extra day of rest. Demmon pitched two hitters into the fifth but Fairview Heights tied it at 7-7 on a 3-run triple by Jason Striegel (3-for-4) off Stutzman.

Stutzman, who pitched 6 innings Sunday, allowed only 4 more hits and had 5 strikeouts and 3 walks.

"(Demmon) did exactly what we were hoping for," Ryder said. "We came back with Sean and he'll be good for Saturday (championship game) if we get there."

In Wednesday's final game, Crystal Lake (24-9) beat Mattoon 10-4. Crystal Lake plays Wheaton at 4 p.m. and Mattoon (18-17) has a 9 a.m. elimination game with Fairview Heights.