Neuqua Valley 2, Lincoln-Way East 1
For a program that won a state championship last year, Neuqua Valley coach Robin Renner paid his players the highest of compliments after Wednesday's game.
"That was one of the finest baseball games that Neuqua Valley has ever played," he said.
Strong words, but also well deserved.
The Wildcats scored a run in the bottom of the eighth inning to claim a 2-1 win over Lincoln-Way East in the Class 4A Neuqua Valley sectional semifinals in Naperville.
Top-seeded Neuqua Valley (30-6) will play today's winner between Benet and Lockport in Saturday's sectional final.
Two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases with one out in the eighth for the Wildcats' Brian McNabb, who stepped to the plate to face reliever Brian Russell.
On the first pitch by Russell, who just entered the game for starter Dietrich Enns (7-3), McNabb blooped a single down the right-field line to drive in Jordan Williamson with the game-winning run.
As Russell warmed up only a few moments earlier, Renner and McNabb discussed dropping a suicide squeeze bunt. McNabb, though, wanted to drive the ball.
"We were in the game the whole way, we just needed a little spark to get it done," said McNabb, who also drove in the Wildcats' first run with a fourth-inning RBI single. "I sat on a fastball, he threw it and I hit it."
The clutch hit capped a magnificent performance by the Wildcats, headed by junior ace Ian Krol (7-1). The hard-throwing lefty went the distance, striking out 11, walking three and scattering 5 hits. Krol's only mistake came in the top of the fourth inning when he surrendered a leadoff solo home run over the center-field fence by cleanup hitter John Lorenz.
Considering Lincoln-Way East (22-11) scored 25 runs in Saturday's win over West Aurora, Krol's effort on the mound was something to see.
"Everything was just spot on today," Krol said. "I had a couple of walks, but other than that I felt pretty good."
Defensive gems highlighted the game for Neuqua Valley. Second baseman Ryan Wagner made a few nice stabs and started a seventh-inning double play. Catcher Geoff Rowan threw out two runners trying to steal second base.
"You've got to tip your cap to the way they played defense and the way the pitcher went after it," said Griffins coach Paul Babcock.