Bruns, Trojans dump Huntley
The Huntley baseball team was beaten only seven times this season. Two of those losses, including the final one on Thursday, were inflicted by Cary-Grove and pitcher Corey Bruns.
Bruns beat the Red Raiders 4-3 with a complete-game 4-hitter on April 20, and the Army-bound senior proved in the rematch it was no fluke. The 6-foot-3 right-hander relied on his changeup and stellar defense behind him to blank Huntley 6-0 in a semifinal of the Class 4A DeKalb sectional.
Bruns scattered 6 hits and 4 walks, the Cary-Grove defense helped him escape a few jams unscathed and the offense came through with 2 solo home runs and some timely hits to propel the Trojans to a sectional final for the first time since 2006.
"Every phase of the game went right today," Cary-Grove left fielder Eric Chandler said. "That's what we need to keep doing to keep moving on."
Cary-Grove (29-8-1) will play Larkin (22-16) for the sectional title at DeKalb High School on Saturday at 11 a.m.
Bruns (9-3) tossed his fifth complete game and second shutout of the season and won for the seventh time in eight decisions.
He found trouble in the second inning, when he walked Huntley leadoff man Chris Klein and Phil Pupillo on full counts and Tanner Funke's sacrifice bunt advanced the runners. But Zach Liebman grounded sharply to third base and the throw to catcher Luke Mottashed was in time to get the sliding Klein at the plate.
Bruns gave himself a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second by launching a 1-0 fastball from Liebman (9-2) to right center for a solo home run with one out.
In the third inning Huntley had a runner on first with one out. Coach Andy Jakubowski called for the hit-and-run, but Andre Sopena lined directly to second baseman Mark Thomson for an easy double play.
Chandler made it 2-0 in the Cary-Grove half of the inning by pulling a high fastball over the right-field fence for a solo home run.
"I worked the count then swung at a stupid pitch to get the second strike," Chandler said. "I fouled a couple off and then just got one high in the zone. The last couple of games I've just been trying to get my pitch - high and inside - and he left one there."
Cary-Grove took control with a 3-run fourth inning, keyed by Thomson's 2-run chop through the shortstop hole with the bases loaded and Chandler's sacrifice fly.
Bruns pulled off his best escape in the top of the fifth. A one-out walk and a pair of singles loaded the bases for the Red Raiders with the heart of the order due, however, Bruns induced a harmless infield popup from No. 3 hitter Craig Lipp on a first-pitch fastball.
"The whole game I was trying to pitch Lipp inside, keep him off-balance with off-speed," Bruns said.
"I was a little overanxious," Lipp said. "It got in on me. I didn't really see the pitch as well as I thought I did."
Bruns struck out cleanup hitter Klein on a low changeup to leave the bases loaded. The Raiders stranded seven baserunners, four in scoring position.
"Partly it was our lack of execution," Funke said of the missed scoring chances, "but (Bruns) is a great pitcher."
Cary-Grove took a 6-0 lead in the sixth inning by cashing in on yet another scoring opportunity. Kegan Mascarella stole home after Stuart Gaulke purposely got hung up between first and second.
"They had as many opportunities to score as we had probably," Cary-Grove coach Don Sutherland said. "Our defense or Corey stopped them, and our offense always got that one run in."
Huntley took solace in a 30-win season and its first regional championship since 1987. Afterward, Jakubowski spoke of seniors Like Lipp, Funke, Liebman and catcher Jimmy Gordon with high praise.
"Thirty wins this year and it was all because of them," he said. "They were the foundation, and they've helped for our success to come. I thank them for everything they did in four years."