Crystal Lake Central 4, Glenbard South 2
Before this spring, Glenbard South's last regional baseball title came in 1974, and the Raiders had never won a sectional title until this year.
Crystal Lake Central placed more landmarks on hold, edging the Raiders 4-2 in Monday's Class 3A Alexian Field supersectional in Schaumburg.
After a 37-pitch first inning, Tigers senior left-hander Chad Staudt (4-3) settled down to scatter 5 hits, quieting a Raiders squad boasting a .316 batting average.
"I get more comfortable as the game goes on, especially with the hitting we have. And putting up runs like that, it just helps a lot," Staudt said.
On three days of rest, righty Andy Manson (6-6) pitched 5 innings and allowed 3 earned runs for Glenbard South (23-15). Tony Scotellaro threw 2 scoreless innings.
"I thought our pitchers battled hard, and normally if we give up 4 runs we're usually going to win that game," said Raiders coach Mike Riley. "We're a fairly, pretty good-hitting team, and today just didn't get it done."
Hard-hitting catcher Joe Biagini seconded that.
"He (Manson) gave us a chance to win, that's all we can ask from our pitchers. We have to take care of the rest," said Biagini, 1-for-2 with a double and a walk.
By the time Glenbard South came to the plate, Crystal Lake Central (19-14) led 2-0.
In the top of the first, Jake Heckman flared a one-out single. Tigers catcher Josh Fick turned on an inside fastball and sent a massive shot over the fence in right-center some 368 feet away.
"He got all of that," said Tigers coach Jeff Aldridge. "Sometimes we take Josh for granted, but there's a reason why a lot of teams in our conference won't throw to him."
Manson recovered with consecutive strikeouts, and the Raiders made it 2-1 in the bottom of the first.
Will Hill led off with an infield single and stole second. Hill advanced on Joe Ramirez's fielder's choice, then scored on a wild pitch.
The Tigers went up 3-1 the next inning. Adam Nisenson pulled the ball down the right-field line, rattling around long enough for Nisenson to reach third base. One out later, Will Streit singled Nisenson home.
The teams traded runs in the fifth, the Tigers' an unearned run that came across after a bad-hop grounder, a walk and a botched double play.
In the bottom half, Hill smoked a double to the wall in left-center. He took third with his 22nd stolen base of the season, and he scored on Ramirez's sacrifice fly.
Schaudt retired six of the Raiders' last seven batters to ease the Tigers into the 3A semifinals Friday against Highland -- and send Glenbard South home, but with a promising future.
"Our senior class has really left something for our juniors and sophomores and freshmen to look upon and see that Glenbard South can do something in this 3A system," Hill said.