Baseball: Best foot forward for sectional champ St. Viator
With top hitter Dan Sullivan still in the hospital, St. Viator knew that there would be big shoes to fill.
Fortunately for the Lions, Brett DeSelm has big shoes, too.
DeSelm stepped in for Sullivan quite nicely. The junior had 3 hits, drove in a run and made two solid plays at first base to lead the Lions past Lakes 5-3 Saturday in the Class 3A sectional finals at St. Viator in Arlington Heights.
It was the first sectional title for St. Viator since 1965, when the Lions took second in the state.
St. Viator (24-15), which has won 9 in a row, advances to Monday's 4:30 p.m. supersectional at North Central College against Fenwick.
"I am speechless," St. Viator coach Mike Manno said. "I am torn because one our best players isn't here to celebrate with us. But these guys have been playing for him."
DeSelm, who came back just a couple of weeks ago from an injury to his elbow, knew how Sullivan felt about missing the game. The senior slugger remained under care Saturday as he battles an infection.
"This is all for him," DeSelm said. "I took his spot. This is all for him.
"He has been talking to me, cheering me on and giving me some tips. He has been a great leader, even from the hospital. I was just trying to do what I could. It was next man up."
Manno has liked DeSelm's approach with Sullivan sidelined.
"He has been unbelievable," Manno said. "He did a great job for us the other day. He has just stepped in nicely and the pressure hasn't got to him."
The Lions were facing a Lakes team that had found its footing the past few weeks. The Eagles (19-14-1), who were seeded seventh in the sectional, had won nine in a row coming in and had never advanced to the sectional tittle in school history.
"When we seeded this sectional, we were a 10-14 team," Lakes coach Ray Gialo said. "I couldn't be happier by the work the kids have put in to get here."
Lakes got comfortable early thanks to a pair of home runs to right.
The Eagles jumped to a 2-0 lead in the third when Brandon Khan singled and Ryan Selig launched a homer to right-center.
Ben Milewski made it 3-0 Lakes in the top of the fourth when he nailed a pitch that sailed over the short right field wall at St. Viator and the Eagles appeared to be in command.
But the deficit and home runs didn't get to Lions' starter Kevin Napoleon. But the senior credited his maturity for keeping himself composed.
"Last year, I wasn't very good at keep my emotions on the mound," Napoleon said. "I definitely improved that thanks to my coaches. I knew my team was going to pick me up."
Manno had the same feeling.
"We have been in this position the last couple of weeks," Manno said. "And they just don't fold."
The Lions had a business-like approach to get themselves back in the game in their half of the fourth.
Jack Sexton had a leadoff single and DeSelm doubled to left-center to put runners on second and third. After Jack Coney was hit by a pitch, Mike O'Neill had a sacrifice fly to make it 3-1.
Another hit batter loaded the bases for Mike Ragauskis, who delivered a single to center, tying the game at 3. After another walk loaded the bases, Cole Kmet hit a fly to right. Lakes right fielder Stephen Mogged made a great throw to home to cut down a sliding pinch runner Tyler Landoch at the plate to keep the game at 3-3.
"I had to be the happiest in the world once I saw the way we came back," Napoleon said. "I knew my guys would pick me up."
Lakes threatened in the top of the fifth when it had runners on the corners with one out. When Napoleon uncorked a wild pitch, Khan broke for home. But the ball hit the brick wall behind the plate and bounded quickly back to catcher Michael Wittich, who dove for the plate and tagged out a sliding Khan.
The Lions used some stellar base running of their own to set up the eventual winning run.
After Chris Lolli singled to lead off the fifth, Sexton showed bunt. Sexton then pulled the bat back and slapped the ball as the Lions were in a hit-and-run play. The ball never left the infield, but the Eagles misplayed it, allowing runners on the corners for the Lions. DeSelm singled in Lolli to out the Lions up for good.
St. Viator added an insurance run in the sixth when Kmet blasted a long homer to right-center, making it 5-3. It followed a long drive to left by Shaun Falbo that Lakes left fielder Simon Varitek grabbed at the fence, taking away a home run.
"Coach (Joe) Ryback was telling me to go middle-away," said Kmet, who has 10 home runs on the season. "I finally made the adjustment at the end and saw a fastball outside and I just took at that way."
Napoleon, who retired the last seven batters he faced, struck out the final two and the Lions piled up in the light rain on Wittich at home plate.
"We are just trying to play calm," Manno said. "This has how it has been for a long time."
Gialo likes the direction his seniors and underclassmen have taken his program.
"I am really proud of these guys," Gialo said. "I think this a great experience for our young guys to get to this level and have something to build upon. For our seniors, this is the furthest we have been and they can hang their hat on that."