Sanders' blast sparks Driscoll

Driscoll's baseball team took another small step toward Joliet on Saturday afternoon.

In dispelling the Westmont Sentinels 8-1 on Driscoll's home field, the Highlanders locked down the regional title, advancing to sectionals and a date with either Holy Trinity or Chicago Latin.

Driscoll (22-8) looked sharp from the get-go, scoring 3 first-inning runs -- two of which came off the bat of first baseman Kyle Sanders.

The brawny Sanders struck again in the bottom of the fifth, launching a deep home run well over the left-field fence to give the Highlanders a 6-1 advantage.

"We were swinging it really well today," Sanders said. "We all felt good taking BP … and that's how it translated into the game."

Driscoll's 8 runs provided more than enough support for starting pitcher Corey Eisenmann, who ran his record to 7-3 on the year.

Eisenmann scattered five hits across seven innings, fanning eight Westmont hitters in the process.

"As soon as those first few innings went by and we scored a few runs, it was pretty good," Eisenmann said. "You just knew our team was going to click, and we're clicking right at the right time.

"It takes a lot of pressure off when you know you have offense behind you and all you have to do is throw strikes."

Westmont (13-14) registered its lone run in the top of the fourth, courtesy of back-to-back doubles. Shortstop Matt Kardynalski's double to the left-field wall scored John Nowak, cutting the Highlanders' lead to 5-1.

While Westmont accomplished its goal of reaching a regional final, the Highlanders proved too much in the end.

"That's always our goal, to get to the regional final," Westmont coach Marc DeLisle said. "Everybody in the regional was decent, so we were happy to be here."

While Driscoll coach Sean Bieterman also pegged a regional final as a goal for the Highlanders, he admitted loftier goals are in sight.

"We do have to go game by game, especially in baseball," Bieterman said. "Anything can happen, but there is a larger goal here too. We want to make sure that we're going to execute and put ourselves in a position to compete for a state title.

"When you play like this, you put yourself in that position."

Driscoll shortstop David Schwabe capped the game's scoring in the bottom of the sixth with his 2-run home run to left. Schwabe and Sanders combined for five of Driscoll's 9 hits while also driving in 5 runs.