Blackburn, Neuqua Valley finish off Hinsdale South

After the first inning it looked like it might be an easy day for Neuqua Valley’s baseball team.

For Wildcats pitcher Nick Blackburn, though, the early score didn’t matter. He was there for the duration on a steamy Tuesday afternoon at Glenbard South in Glen Ellyn.

Blackburn fired a 3-hitter with 12 strikeouts in a 3-0 victory over Hinsdale South in the Glenbard South regional quarterfinals of the IHSBCA Phil Lawler Summer Classic. Neuqua Valley advances to the 2 p.m. Wednesday regional semifinals to play Benet, a 5-3 winner over Glenbard South.

“It was really hot and you’ve got to work as a team on days like this,” Blackburn said. “I’ve got to be able to just maybe take some off, throw pitches that they can hit and trust my team out there in the field.”

The Wildcats rolled to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning before Hinsdale South starting pitcher Emmanuel Morris settled down and silenced Neuqua Valley over the next four innings.

Blackburn worked his way out of a couple of jams, including second-and-third chances for the Hornets in the third and sixth innings. The senior stranded seven of eight runners in scoring position.

Several hard-hit balls — three to the outfield by Hinsdale South leadoff hitter Sean Beesley — turned into key outs for the Wildcats.

“We had a pretty good summer, and we feel good about our group,” said Hornets coach Paul Hoel. “After that first inning it was a zero-zero game. That was just too much to overcome.”

Neuqua Valley’s first five batters, and six of its first seven, reached base in the bottom of the first. An RBI double by Tanner Giesel, a run-scoring single by Dylan Goss and Jeff Evak’s RBI on a bases-loaded bunt accounted for the Wildcats’ 3 runs.

Half of Neuqua Valley’s 8 hits came in the first inning as the Wildcats managed to put only two runners in scoring position the rest of the game. The way Blackburn pitched, though, 3 runs were plenty.

“He is one competitive son of a buck,” Wildcats coach Robin Renner said of Blackburn. “I don’t know how many times they had guys on base, and he just finished.”

Tuesday’s results

at Lake Park

St. Viator 4, Glenbard North 3

Schaumburg 4, Lake Park 0

at St. Charles East

St. Charles North 3, Waubonsie Valley 2

at Glenbard South

Benet 5, Glenbard South 3

Neuqua Valley 3, Hinsdale South 0

Naperville Central 8, Glenbard East 1

Willowbrook 1, Wheaton N. 0