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Baseball: Huntley handles Barrington for sectional crown

The final groundout was still developing but it didn't matter.

In unison, the Huntley baseball players weren't going to be stopped as they started making a beeline toward starting pitcher Nick Laxner.

Seconds after the putout, bodies were flying everywhere in jubilation as the Red Raiders had just put an exclamation point on a 7-1 victory over Barrington in the Class 4A McHenry sectional final.

"That was a great moment indeed," said 13th-year Huntley coach Andy Jakubowski, whose team was the No. 1 seed in subsectional B and more than atoned for a sectional final loss from a year ago.

"Our motto at the start of the season was 'Get one percent better each day.' We use a lot of guys. Everyone has an important role and they thrive off each other's energy," Jakubowski said.

The Red Raiders will next play Loyola in the supersectional at Boomers Stadium in Schaumburg on Monday at 5 p.m. In its second supersectional in three years, Huntley will be looking for its first trip to the state finals since 2010.

Barrington, the No. 1 seed in subsectional A and no stranger to postseason success, got the Bronco faithful excited after plating the game's first run in the top of the first.

Laxner walked leadoff hitter Johnny Gagne on four straight pitches. Two batters later, Gagne sprinted home after Clark Elliott laced a 1-out double down the right field line for a 1-0 lead. But a strikeout and running stab by shortstop Jordan Goldstein ended any further damage.

"The first was a little rough. I struggled and was a little worried," said Laxner, who has been a part of an incredible turnaround for the Huntley baseball program as it was 9-27 just three years prior, his freshman year.

"So while we were batting (in the bottom of the first), I went to the bullpen to and worked on my location."

Well, it worked.

The senior right-hander ended up tossing a 4-hit gem with 8 punchouts and only 3 walks in going the distance to improve to 7-1 after it was all said and done.

Huntley (31-6) then answered in the bottom of the first with a 2-spot and 2-1 lead.

With 2 outs, right fielder AJ Henkle roped a single to right, plating designated hitter Matt Rodriguez (fielders choice) and Evan Tocmo, who was courtesy running for catcher Kamrin Hoffman (hit by pitch).

Second baseman Zach Model was then hit by a pitch by Bronco starter Daniel Ensign to load the bases. But second baseman Elliott's diving catch prevented further damage.

Ensign ended up getting the hook in the first and wound up taking the loss in the end, as Barrington ended up using four pitchers on the afternoon.

After getting out of that first-inning jam, Laxner and the Red Raiders settled down and found their groove the rest of the way.

Huntley plated another run for a 3-1 lead in the third when Henkle smacked his second double and later scored on a balk by Bronco hurler Michael Zavoli, who threw 3⅓ innings after relieving Ensign.

"I felt a little more comfortable, and especially after we scored a couple more runs," said Laxner. "The offense and defense did their thing."

With a 3-2 count and 2 outs, Rodriguez smacked a 2-run double down the right field line to plate Goldstein (single) and Michael Boland, courtesy running for Hoffman (walk) and a 5-1 cushion.

With 1 out a bases-loaded walk to Hunter Rumachik plated Goldstein (single), followed by Henkle's sacrifice fly to score Boland, who courtesy ran for Hoffmann (single).

Barrington then turned a nifty 6-4-3 double play to end the inning but not before the damage was done.

"That was the first time we've had a lead in the postseason (1-0 in the first), but give Huntley credit," said Barrington coach Pat Wire, whose team finished 23-8-2.

"We rallied early but then couldn't string any hits together. That's a very good team (Huntley) and we ran into a buzz saw today. They beat us in all three phases of the game and I wouldn't be surprised if they won it all. But I was really proud of our guys. We had a great year and showed a lot of grit."

Mike Owsley and Elliott had doubles, while Jake Meyer and David Mitchell had a hit apiece for the Broncos, who only managed 6 baserunners to 16 for Huntley.

Laxner gave up 3 runs in a dramatic eighth-inning 6-5 come-from-behind victory over McHenry in the semis Thursday.

"They (the offense and his team) picked me up and bailed me out the other day, so I was more than happy I could return the favor," he said.

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