Still no stopping Karger, Batavia in win over WWS
With three errors, it might be hard to give No. 3 Batavia a perfect 10 for its 7-2 win over No. 7 Wheaton Warrenville South Thursday in the Class 4A St. Charles North sectional semifinals.
You can save that perfect 10 for Adam Karger.
The Batavia senior threw his second complete game in the playoffs, shutting the Tigers out over the final 6 innings to improve his undefeated record to 10-0.
Not bad for someone who had 4 career wins coming into the year and often was talked about behind Brian Krolikowski and Jordan Coffey when it came to that talented Batavia pitching staff.
"At the beginning of the season I didn't expect it," Karger said of being unbeaten. "But I got a lot of confidence once I got to about 5-0. I knew I could pretty much lead the team if I pitched my game and let my defense back me up. We hit the ball well enough I don't have to shut people out every game."
Bulldogs coach Matt Holm knew what he had in Karger, especially after a summer that saw him go 11-0 in Legion games and strike out 19 in a summer league game against Sycamore.
The Bulldogs have a deep pitching staff, but they haven't needed it yet in the postseason. In their three playoff games, Karger has 2 complete games and Krolikowski another.
Look for Krolikowski (5-2) to go again Saturday against No. 1 seed Wheaton North (28-5) in the sectional championship game at 10 a.m. Jack DeAno, who is 7-1 with a 2.02 ERA, could get the call for the Falcons.
Like Batavia (29-6), Wheaton North has a school record for wins. The Falcons, who are coming off a fourth-place state finish last year, beat Batavia 6-5 in the regular season finale.
The Bulldogs will be playing for their second sectional championship.
"It is going to have to be a lot cleaner game on our part," Batavia catcher Ryan Welter said. "We're excited to see them again."
Just like it did in its regional win over Willowbrook Saturday, the Bulldogs fell behind 2-0 in the first inning. And just like it did Saturday, Batavia took the lead for good in the fourth.
WW South (20-14) scored its runs on a 2-run single by John O'Neil. Batavia made 2 of its 3 errors in the first inning. Welter ended the threat throwing out a runner at second, saving a run when the Tigers stole home on the same play.
"We were just a little nervous coming out," Welter said. "A little bit of jitters coming into a sectional game. We hadn't been in a sectional game for awhile. But we got over it."
Tigers starter Robert Grabek (7-3) held the Bulldogs scoreless through three innings while the Batavia defense kept WW South from extending its lead. In the third, Welter threw out another would-be base stealer, then Mike Olp drove a ball down the left-field line only to watch Drish gun him down trying to stretch it into a double.
Batavia took control in the fourth, scoring 5 runs on just 3 singles. Drish started the rally with a walk and steal. Krolikowski drove him home with the second of his 2 opposite-field singles to right.
Coffey walked, then the Tigers made a critical defensive error throwing away Karger's bunt attempt, scoring Krolikowski to tie the game. Henry DuQue gave the Bulldogs a 3-2 lead with another single to right. Welter's sacrifice fly and Tim Schofield's infield single scored 2 more runs for a 5-2 lead.
"You couldn't ask for anything better (than a 2-0 lead), our pitcher was pitching well, the game was going well for three innings," WW South coach Tim Brylka said. "Obviously in the fourth inning a couple walks, an error on the bunt, a couple hits and they took advantage in that inning."
Drish chased Grabek with his ninth home run of the year leading off the fifth. Schofield's second RBI single ended the scoring in the sixth.
Karger did the rest, getting stronger as the game went on. He finished with 6 strikeouts - all in the final 4 innings - while scattering 10 singles and 2 walks and throwing 120 pitches.
"I think my arm loosens up and I get in a rhythm," Karger said. "I think the biggest thing for me is to get into a rhythm. The farther we go in the playoffs the less I need to strike kids out. I knew I just needed to come out here and mix up my pitches and let them put the ball in play."