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Peloza, Burba power Grayslake Central to third place

Few high school baseball teams win their final game.

Even fewer win the way Grayslake Central did on Saturday.

The Rams scored the game's only run in the bottom of the sixth inning to give them a 1-0 victory over Mt. Vernon in the Class 3A third-place game at Silver Cross Field in Joliet.

Not only was the game scoreless between Grayslake Central starter Kevin Peloza (9-0) and Mt. Vernon counterpart Tyler Ellis (8-3), but Ellis actually took a no-hitter into the bottom of the sixth.

The game appeared destined for extra innings — and who knows when Grayslake Central (28-14) would finally scratch a hit off Ellis — before the Rams finally broke through.

Justin Allen led off the bottom of the sixth with a single to center field. Pinch-hitter Jay Hoffman sacrificed pinch runner Danny Reed to second, and then Reed moved to third on a groundout.

With two outs, Pat Burba delivered the clutch two-out single to center field to put Grayslake Central ahead 1-0.

“From my previous at-bats I thought he'd lead me off with a fastball like he did the previous at-bats,” Burba said. “I just told myself I was going to jump on the first good pitch I saw, and that was the first pitch. I just drove it up the middle.”

After that, Peloza capped a stunning stretch of 20 straight scoreless innings by ending the game with a 1-2-3 top of the seventh. Peloza, who threw a no-hitter in Monday's supersectional win over Nazareth, pitched a 4-hitter with 6 strikeouts and no walks.

“We always remember our freshman year, we pretty much lost 20-plus games,” Peloza said. “And now to be here senior year, that's all we've worked for. It really paid off.”

Aside from the sixth inning, the Rams put only two runners on base. Joe Marisca was hit by a pitch in the third inning and Matt Loeffl walked in the fifth.

Mt. Vernon got their four singles in different innings, but Peloza didn't allow a runner to reach second base.

“The third-place game is tough because there's a lot of emotion extended in the semifinals,” said Rams coach Troy Whalen, whose team lost 6-3 to St. Francis in the semifinals. “We have a wind screen in dead center field that says '2009 3A third place.' And we said 'Guys we're going to put up new wind screen this year, and it's just a question of if it's going to say fourth place or third place.

“So now this one will replace the one in center field, and the '09 class will just move over a little bit,” he said.

Follow Kevin on Twitter @kevin_schmit

  Grayslake Central pitcher Kevin Peloza delivers a pitch during the Class 3A state baseball third-place game against Mt. Vernon at Silver Cross Field in Joliet Saturday. JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Grayslake Central pinch-runner Danny Reed scores the game’s only run during the Class 3A state baseball third-place game against Mt. Vernon at Silver Cross Field in Joliet Saturday. JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Grayslake Central’s Kyle Clark hustles to the base on an infield groundout during the Class 3A state baseball third-place game at Silver Cross Field in Joliet Saturday. JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Grayslake Central’s Kyle Clark and his teammates receive congratulations after the Rams beat Mt. Vernon 1-0 during the Class 3A state baseball third-place game at Silver Cross Field in Joliet Saturday. JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Grayslake Central players greet pinch runner Danny Reed as he returns to the dugout after scoring the game’s lone run during the Class 3A state baseball third-place game against Mt. Vernon at Silver Cross Field in Joliet Saturday. JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Grayslake Central players celebrate after their team beat Mt. Vernon 1-0 during the Class 3A state baseball third-place game at Silver Cross Field in Joliet Saturday. JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Grayslake Central first baseman Kyle Clark tags out Mt. Vernon’s Jake Pike to complete an inning ending double play to end the top of the sixth inning during the Class 3A state baseball third-place game at Silver Cross Field in Joliet Saturday. JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Grayslake Central players charge onto the field after their team beat Mt. Vernon 1-0 during the Class 3A state baseball third-place game at Silver Cross Field in Joliet Saturday. JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.comGrayslake Central's Justin Allen smiles after getting his team's first hit in the bottom of the sixth inning during the Class 3A state baseball third-place game at Silver Cross Field in Joliet Saturday.
  Grayslake Central players receive the trophy after their team beat Mt. Vernon 1-0 during the Class 3A state baseball third-place game at Silver Cross Field in Joliet Saturday. JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Grayslake Cebtral’s Pat Burba drives home the game’s only run with a single during the Class 3A state baseball third-place game against Mt. Vernon at Silver Cross Field in Joliet Saturday. JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
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