Tough end to St. Viator’s long day
A long day ended in on a frustrating note — but St. Viator baseball coach Mike Manno knows it just makes for an earlier ride back to Naperville.
“The thing about this state tournament,” Manno said, “is you get another chance at it. Not all is lost.”
Maine South reliever Jesus Saavedra struck out St. Viator’s No. 3 and No. 4 hitters with the bases loaded to save a 5-4 Hawks win in the opening round of the Phil Lawler Summer Classic at North Central College.
St. Viator, which advanced to the final eight by virtue of its 10-1 win over Schaumburg on Monday morning in the rain-delayed Lake Park regional championship, drops into an elimination game against Machesney Park Harlem at 10 a.m. today at Benedictine University.
Saavedra hit Mike McGrath on an 0-2 pitch to lead off the seventh, and after a sacrifice bunt Nick Prazuch reached on an error and Brian Wilhite was plunked in the back to load the bases.
Saavedra fell behind both of the next two baters, but struck out Cosimo Cannella on a full count and got Joe Ferrante on a high fastball to end it.
“I definitely made it much more interesting than I wanted to,” Saavedra said through a sheepish grin. “He went after a high fastball and helped me out a little.”
St. Viator (14-9) was somewhat fortunate to have an opportunity to pull a win out late. Maine South (17-10) had 21 baserunners, and drew 8 walks — but only one of those free passes scored. The Hawks left the bases loaded in the first, second and fourth innings, and stranded two more in the fifth and sixth.
“We were down 5-2 at one point,” Manno said, “and I said to my coaches I felt like were down 10 at that point. I felt like they had guys on bases all day but we had damage control at times. We’re a pretty good team and we have pretty good pitching. They usually keep us in games.”
Jimmy Frankos was 3-for-3 and reached base for times for Maine South, but Prazuch robbed him of a sure fourth hit in the sixth to preserve the 1-run game. Prazuch made a running catch of a Frankos deep drive, and on the full sprint crashed into the fence.
“That was a great play,” Frankos said. “I thought it was gone.”
Prazuch also went 2-for-3, his single starting a fifth-inning rally that pulled St. Viator within 5-4. Prazuch tripled on the first pitch of the bottom of the first, but was stranded there.
Wilhite also had 2 hits for St. Viator, McGrath had an RBI single in the second inning and Joe Rossi a run-scoring double in the third.
“We had our chances at the end. You can’t ask for much more,” Manno said. “Their pitcher just did a good job overpowering us. You have to tip your cap to him.”