Kaneland beats Montini on Marczuk's walkoff double

Jake Marczuk was not in a favorable position after the opening two pitches.

"I was confident I could come back in the count," the Kaneland junior said of his bottom-of-the-seventh at-bat Wednesday afternoon in Maple Park.

Marczuk eventually worked the count full before delivering the hardest-hit ball of the Knights' nonconference game against Montini.

The junior roped a double to the right-center gap and scored pinch-runner Tyler Paulson to give Kaneland a 2-1 walk-off victory.

"I was just looking for my pitch," Marczuk said of his selective approach with two strikes. "I just kept a close eye (on the pitches called balls). I was just waiting until I got my pitch and drove it."

Kaneland southpaw Matt O'Sullivan came on in relief of right-handed starter Colton Fellows to strand the Broncos' Chris Syregelas in the top of the seventh to earn his second win against no defeats.

But Fellows was masterful during his six-inning stint against the Broncos, who suffered their second straight loss after opening with seven consecutive wins.

On a blustery day with bone-chilling winds moving from the left-field foul pole to the first-base line, runs figured to be at a premium.

"When the wind is blowing straight in as hard as it was, it's definitely a pitcher's day," said Fellows, who struck out six while allowing only half as many hits. "I stayed warm in the dugout and was able to control my pitches. With the wind blowing in, you get a little more velocity."

Montini starter Alex Luka (2-1) was equally brilliant for the Broncos.

The southpaw certainly deserved a better fate in the Knights' second when he induced a routine infield pop with two outs.

But the ball was dropped, allowing the Knights' Austin Wheatley to score the first run of the game.

"Our pitcher threw an absolute gem," Montini coach Rich Janor said.

An unearned run also robbed Fellows' potential shutout.

In the Broncos' fifth Cooper Hynes' leadoff single was followed by a Kaneland (3-4) infield boot.

Courtesy-runner Anthony Visicky tied the game two batters later on a grounder.

Kaneland Joe Laudont doubled with one out in the Knights' sixth, but Luka stranded runners at the corners.

The final Kaneland at-bat began with Jacob Bachio singling sharply to right.

After Bachio was sacrificed to second, Paulson entered the game to score the game-winner.

"It was nice to get that walk-off hit to win the game," Kaneland coach Brian Aversa said.

"We didn't come out swinging," Janor said. "You're not going to win a game when you only get 3 hits, even on a cold day."