St. Charles East falls in Lawler semifinals

St. Charles East learned a lot about itself this summer in reaching the semifinals of the Phil Lawler Summer Classic - both in victory and defeat.

Lincoln-Way North ended the Saints' run Wednesday night at Benedictine University, coming from behind to win 5-4.

That Saints didn't let the loss get them down, partly because they know they gained valuable experience the past two weeks, and also because they played well in defeat Wednesday.

"I thought that was the most complete game we've played in this winning streak and run in the playoffs," Saints second baseman Jimmy Dale said. "They played a phenomenal game, we both played great defense, it was just a great battle and it was fun to be out there. It was just a good experience and helps us going into the spring and making another tournament run."

Lincoln-Way North (11-6) will play Marist for the state title at 7 p.m. Thursday.

St. Charles East (29-9) came up 2 wins short of adding a third summer state title to their 1977 and 2001 championships.

"It was a high-intensity game," Saints coach Len Asquini said. "Pressure situations from start to finish, the kind we want our kids to be in and maybe help us in the spring when we get to those same situations. That's why we want to go deep in the summer tournament. It's good for us. Every play is a big play."

The Saints took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first without a hit. John Dellostritto reached on an error and took second when Phoenix starter Tyler Laux walked Dale on 4 pitches.

Austin Gift grounded to second and the Phoenix tried to turn two only to watch the throw sail into center field, scoring Dellostritto.

With runners at first and third, Gift got in a rundown allowing Dale to score from third for the second run.

"They capitalized on our mistakes early on. We were able to make some big plays defensively later on," said Lincoln-Way North coach Mitch Nowicki, whose team only won 4 games this summer before the Lawler Classic, was the No. 13 seed in its regional, and now is playing for the state title.

"We had a pretty light summer and didn't win many games. We got hot at the right time and everybody came back and we are playing pretty good baseball."

Podany only allowed 1 hit in the first 2 innings but got into a big jam in the third. Number nine hitter Luke VanArtsen singled, Nick Figus walked and Ben Troike was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Tyler Strelczyk hit a chopper that bounced over Monty Carbonell's head at first base for a 2-run single that tied the game at 2-2.

James Quinn's RBI groundout put the Phoenix ahead 3-2, and Pat Troike capped the inning with a run-scoring single to right.

"When I didn't hit my spots they definitely hit the ball and made me pay for it," Podany said. "I had that one bad inning and if that didn't happen it's a different ballgame."

The Saints battled back to tie the game in the fifth. Niko Klebosits singled and pinch runner Thomas Paul took second on Brendan Benvenuti's sacrifice bunt.

Dale laced a 2-out RBI single to left to score Paul. Gift also singled, and when Laux uncorked a wild pitch that bounced all the way to the Phoenix dugout, Dale hustled home from second base to make it 4-4.

The Phoenix quickly regained a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the fifth on Strelczyk's sacrifice fly, an inning that could have been worse if not for Benvenuti's double play after catching a line drive in left field.

The Saints tried to rally in the sixth, loading the bases and chasing Laux with 3 walks. Benvenuti hit a soft liner that Ben Troike charged at shortstop and fired to first for the third out, one of several impressive plays the University of Illinois commit made.

"There might be one shortstop in the state that can make the play he made in the sixth inning and that's him," Asquini said. "That was a heck of a play. Brendan is the fastest kid on the team and one of the fastest kids to come through the program. For him to throw him out, that was a great play. He took two other base hits away from us. The University of Illinois is lucky to have him. He was a game difference out there."

The Saints went in order in the seventh, ending a successful summer season with a seventh state tournament appearance and third in the last six years.

"It was a lot of fun," Dale said. "And it gets us ready for the ultimate goal, getting down to state in the spring."