Schaumburg 2, Conant 1
Facing Conant starter Austin Wright for the second time in eight days, the host Schaumburg Saxons knew they were going up against one of the best, if not the best, pitcher they had faced all season.
"We've got to dial it up," Schaumburg coach Paul Groot said 40 minutes before first pitch.
Mission accomplished as the Saxons kept pace with the lefty's 90-plus mph fastball.
But not to be outdone by the Cougars' ace, Schaumburg senior Andy Brandt proved to be the superior southpaw on Wednesday, striking out five and allowing 5 hits in 6-plus innings as the No. 1-seeded Saxons defeated Mid-Suburban West rival Conant 2-1 in a Class 4A regional semifinal.
Schaumburg (22-6) advances to Saturday's 11 a.m. regional final against the winner of Thursday's game between No. 8 Batavia and 10th-seeded York.
"I knew I had to have my best stuff because we were going against Austin Wright and I knew that he's always good against us," Brandt said after throwing 50 of 69 pitches for strikes. "I knew I had to get ahead in the count and keep us in the game for as long as I could."
No. 17 Conant (9-16) broke through in the second inning after Wright (2-for-3, double) laced a leadoff single to center and junior Jeff Vercillo laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt. No. 6 hitter Chris Hoffman launched an RBI single into left over the outstretched glove of third baseman Alec Fontanez.
But that was all Conant would get off Brandt (8-2), who handcuffed the Cougars with an impressive array of fastballs and knee-buckling off-speed pitches.
"(Andy has) been great all season," said Schaumburg catcher Dominick D'Agata, who went 1-for-2 with a double. "They weren't sitting back as much, and Andy did the job into the seventh."
Wright (3-3) wasn't as fortunate against the team he started against in last Wednesday's 3-2 loss in 9 innings. Schaumburg senior Steve Mahler reached safely in the second on an infield throwing error, then stole second. Kyle Pusateri (single, double) moved the Saxons' center fielder to third on a flyout before senior Matt Kiszkowski came through with a two-out, RBI single through the left side.
"I just didn't have my best stuff today," Wright said after striking out six and allowing 6 hits.
Eastern Illinois recruit George Kalousek followed suit in the fifth with a two-out, RBI single to right that gave Schaumburg a 2-1 lead on Wright's 100th pitch.
"Early on, (Austin) was starting to get the curveball over, but he just couldn't find it," said Conant coach Jerry Song. "He didn't have his best stuff -- the end result wasn't bad for not having your best stuff."
Brandt was pulled in the seventh for Saturday's starter, Kalousek, after surrendering a leadoff single to Vercillo, but the Schaumburg left-hander had every reason to smile after out-dueling the conference rival's ace.
"It felt really good," he said. "As soon as I got ahead, I knew I would stay ahead and get them out."