Cook Co. baseball preview

Class 4A sectional preview

At Barrington

Semifinals: No. 4 Libertyville (23-11) vs. No. 9 Barrington (19-14), 4:30 p.m. today; No. 2 Stevenson (28-6) vs. No. 3 Lake Zurich (25-9), 4:30 p.m. Thursday

Championship: 11 a.m. Saturday

Advancement: Winner goes to the Rockford Riverhawks supersectional at 7 p.m. Monday against the Glenbrook South sectional champion.

Libertyville vs. Barrington: Playing close games all season appears to have paid off for Barrington as it scored 5 seventh-inning runs to beat St. Viator 6-1 and then beat Prospect 2-1 in 8 innings for the Highland Park regional title to improve to 7-8 in 1-run games. "Libertyville is always a good solid team and a very well-coached team," said Barrington coach Jim Hawrysko. "I told our guys (Monday), we've played a great schedule. We haven't ducked anybody and you've played in the MSL (Mid-Suburban League), which is a great baseball conference." Junior lefty Robbie McDonnell (8-2, 1.77 ERA, 89 Ks, 32 BB in 63 IP) will get the start for Barrington. Also making a difference were late-season moves of Evansville-bound Johnny Day (.360, 22 RBI) from RF to catcher, Tom Unak to SS, Tim Oakley from catcher to 2B and sophomore callup Ricky Alfonso to RF. "It's helped us settle things down a little bit," Hawrysko said. Junior CF Anthony Brignola (.446, 8 HR, 26 RBI) and Colorado-bound offensive lineman Gus Handler (.239, 7 HR, 31 RBI) provide plenty of pop. Libertyville coach Jim Schurr has solid pitching depth in Eastern Illinois-bound righty Troy Barton (6-4), who shut out Lake Forest 3-0, and SIU-Edwardsville righty Brooks McDowell (5-3). No. 9 hitter Kevin Johns and SS Tyler Schweigert homered in the 6-5 regional final win over Warren.

Stevenson vs. Lake Zurich: A battle between the two teams that battled for for the North Suburban Lake crown. Lake Zurich won it en route to its second straight NSC title behind SS-P Tanner Witt, Chas Evans and workhorse P Ricky Erickson. Stevenson senior and Clemson-bound righty Scott Firth beat Lake Zurich 3-2 on a 5-hitter with 10 strikeouts and shut out Palatine in the regional opener on a 7-hitter with 14 strikeouts and no walks. Junior SS Kyle Ruchim is a tough out for the Patriots.

At St. Charles North

Semifinals: No. 5 Conant (20-11) vs. No. 1 Wheaton North (27-5), 4 p.m. today; No. 2 Batavia (28-6) vs. No. 7 Wheaton Warrenville South (20-13), 4 p.m. Thursday.

Championship: 10 a.m. Saturday.

Advancement: Winner goes to the Rockford Riverhawks supersectional at 4:30 p.m. Monday against the DeKalb sectional champion.

Conant vs. Wheaton North: Conant won 20 games for the second time in history and faces a Wheaton North team that won its first 20 games after taking fourth in the state last year. But Conant has been resilient and overcome tough obstacles all year. "We know we're a good team," said senior SS-P Derek Wojcik. "It's a matter of us believing in the talent we have. We have to believe in ourselves." Conant coach Jerry Song believes senior righty John DiMatteo (3-1, 1.48 ERA in 33 IP) can get the job done as he'll start. Kentucky-bound senior Walt Wijas (5-5, 1.73, 92 Ks in 65 IP) got a win and a save in relief in the regional with 14 strikeouts in 7 innings and Paul Warble (4-1, 2.68) and Wojcik (4-2, 3.16) are all available. "We'll see if (DiMatteo) can keep them off-balance for 3 or 4 innings," Song said, "and hopefully Walt or Warble will be ready to go." Sophomore DH and cleanup man Joe Belmonte (.371, 16 RBI) suffered two small fractures in the orbit bone of his eye socket but Song is used to juggling a lineup that has relied on balance and speed with Wojcik (.379, 19 RBI), 2B Bobby Colucci (.348, 22 RBI), OF Mitch Comstock and OF Nate Rahn. The Cougars are expected to face lefty Aric Dama (8-1, 1.64, 53 Ks in 64 IP). Vanderbilt-bound OF Jack DeAno (.429, 8 HR, 33 RBI), Trey Martin (.330, 10 HR, 28 RBI) and 1B Jeff Schalk (.347, 6 HR, 32 RBI) lead the offense.

Batavia vs. WW South: Batavia has set a school record for wins behind Miami (Ohio) recruit P-OF Brian Krolikowski and OF Tim Drish, who have combined for 15 HR. WW South has been overshadowed all year by Wheaton North but the Tigers hope to show they're a threat behind RF Mike Olp and 2B Taylor Rhoades.

- compiled by Marty Maciaszek