Bartlett takes Marmion out 10-4 in regional semifinals

Small ball, long ball - Bartlett did it all in a 10-4 win over Marmion Thursday in the Class 4A St. Charles East regional semifinals.

That doesn't even count catching the ball.

The Hawks started their scoring using a bunt to set up one run. They got another run on a throwing error on a steal attempt.

Then their big bats came alive, with all three hitters in the middle of their order - Greg Partyka, Mike Mancusco and Tucker Erickson - clubbing home runs.

Throw in an error-free game that included a specular catch by left fielder Alex VanNess and the eighth-seeded Hawks (21-12) were well on their way to a Saturday matchup against top-seed Wheaton North for the regional title.

"That's the formula for success for any team," Bartlett coach Chris Pemberton said. "If we make sure we can play small ball if we need to, we can't rely on having the big inning."

Pemberton said closing the year playing Waubonsie Valley and Neuqua Valley in their final two Upstate Eight series helped get the Hawks peaking for the postseason. Marmion (22-4), the Suburban Catholic Conference champs in its first year at the 4A level, uncharacteristically struggled in the field Thursday with 3 errors.

"Our fielding and our pitching and getting runners on base and playing small ball, that has carried us all year, and we didn't get a chance to do much of that today," Marmion coach Dave Rakow said. "We made a couple errors, put (starter) Brian (Burns) in some tough spots on the mound, and he left the ball up a couple times where I'm pretty sure he wouldn't want to."

C.J. Foster's sacrifice fly scored David Brouch to give Marmion a 1-0 lead in the first. The Hawks quickly tied the game 1-1 on Partyka's RBI single off Burns (5-2).

It looked like Burns had given Marmion the lead back in the second with a home run to left. VanNess raced back and into the wall while reaching over and robbing Burns of a go-ahead homer.

"That was a great play by Alex," Partyka said. "He's having a great year and continued it with that catch. That gave us great confidence and momentum. An amazing play."

Bartlett center fielder David Palma made another web gem in the third, diving to rob Matt Milroy's drive into the right field gap.

"It probably swung the momentum in their favor when your fielders are making plays like that," Rakow said. "It fires everybody up. One or two of those drop and it's a whole different game."

Bartlett went ahead 3-1 in the third on Mancuso's solo home run and Erickson scoring on a throwing error.

Marmion cut the lead to 3-2 in the fourth. Will Sterne doubled with two outs and Chris Tydd singled him home. Those two, Marmion's No. 8 and 9 hitters, combined to go 4 for 6.

The Hawks turned to their power game to widen their lead. After going 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position the first three innings, Partyka changed that in a big way with one swing - a 3-run home run to the opposite field in the fourth after Burns had walked the previous 2 batters.

Bartlett chased Burns in the fifth with 2 more runs. Run-scoring hits from VanNess and George Tintera gave the Hawks an 8-3 lead. Erickson ended the fireworks with a 2-run homer in the sixth.

Devin Rowland pitched 5 2/3 innings to improve to 8-1. He scattered 8 hits, striking out six and walking four.

VanNess was just as good at the plate as he was in the field, going 3-for-3, scoring 3 runs and reaching base all 4 times.

Bartlett will try to repeat the effort Saturday against Wheaton North, the top-ranked team in the Daily Herald Top 20.

"They are a solid team all-around," Pemberton said. "Everyone contributes. It's a challenge we look forward to."

Rakow was hoping to have his ace Milroy for that game. The Illinois-bound senior went 2-for-3 in his final game, with Palma's catch robbing him of a perfect day.

"We thought about it (starting Milroy)," Rakow said. "If we were playing just to win one game we'd throw Matt. But we were thinking of trying to make a dent in the playoffs and save Matt for Wheaton. We talked about it but it wasn't something we debated long."

Marmion ends its season earlier than last year, when it reached the Class 3A sectional championship. The 2008 Cadets won their first regional since 1969 with a school-record 19 wins.

The Cadets didn't go as far this year, but they broke that school record for wins and won the SCC title before being bumped up to 4A for the postseason.

"I don't think we were overmatched at all. We came out flat and didn't hit the ball," said Milroy, who added he is certain he is going to Illinois next year even with the MLB Draft coming up and his name in the mix.

"I got a chance next year to play. I feel bad for the guys that don't have a chance to play next year to go out and lose a game like that."