Stevenson 6, Warren 5
It took a lot of doing, but the Stevenson baseball team came through with some late-inning magic twice Thursday to beat visiting Warren in extra innings.
The Patriots trailed 4-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh and 5-4 going into the bottom of the ninth, but they pulled out an exciting 6-5 North Suburban Conference Lake Division victory over the Blue Devils
Stevenson (10-8, 4-2) had lost to Warren (11-7) on a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the seventh Tuesday, but the Patriots turned the tables Thursday in snapping a 3-game losing streak.
Scott Firth, who wound up earning the win in relief, lifted a sacrifice fly to drive in Matt Goll to cut Stevenson's deficit to 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth. Warren starter Chad Johnson was taken out after allowing two singles to open the inning.
The Patriots struck again against Warren reliever D.J. Schaefer in the bottom of the seventh as a walk by Pat Colburn, a single by Kyle Ruchim and a fielder's choice by David Savitt loaded the bases with no outs.
An RBI single to right by Danny Morales made the score 4-3, but Ruchim was cut down at the plate on a strong throw from Ryan Pyles, who would pitch the final two innings for Warren.
Goll's 4-2 fielder's choice out put the Pats on the verge of defeat, but Evan Leturno's two-out RBI single to left tied the game at 4-4.
"As a team we've been struggling the last couple of days to generate any offense and we knew Scott (Firth) would keep us in the game," said Stevenson coach Paul Mazzuca. "They showed a lot of resolve and fight, and I'm really proud of the boys."
The Blue Devils took a 5-4 lead in the top of the ninth when Reid Johnson walked, stole second, moved to third on a fielder's choice and scored on a wild pitch.
But Stevenson would not be denied as a lead-off single by Savitt, a walk by Morales, and a walk by Goll loaded the bases with no outs.
Leturno's infield RBI single tied the score at 5-5 before pinch-hitter Joe McWeeney batted for Firth with the bases loaded and one out.
The left-handed McWeeney fouled off numerous Pyles pitches before lining a game-winning single to left field on a 1-2 pitch to set off a Pats celebration.
"I fell behind and I just wanted to battle him and hit it hard somewhere," said McWeeney, who is a reserve at many positions. "I definitely wanted to put it in play and see what happens, and we wanted to get back on track after losing three in a row."
The Patriots out-hit Warren 13-5 overall with RBIs by Ryan Economos and Sean Kennedy helping to stake the Blue Devils to a 3-1 lead in the top of the third. An RBI single by Tony Roberts gave Warren its 4-1 lead in the fourth.
Alex Goldman had Stevenson's first RBI with a single driving in Leturno in the bottom of the second.
"You've got to give credit to Stevenson because they did a great job coming back both times," said Warren coach Clint Smothers. "Our two pitchers we brought in were not able to close the game out today."