Sandburg ousts Downers South
It wasn't only Sandburg's power-hitting capability. Or its eagerness for small-ball. Or timely defense or Joe Greenfield's fastball.
It was all of the above that eliminated Downers Grove South 12-2 in 6 innings Wednesday in the semifinals of the IHSBCA Phil Lawler Summer Classic at Naperville's North Central College.
"I think people didn't really know going into the season just how much different stuff we had," said Sandburg left fielder Brett Huff, whose 3 doubles drove in 2 runs.
Lacking eight graduates from the spring club that lost in supersectionals to Class 4A runner-up St. Rita, Sandburg (21-4) hopes to add to its 2007 summer title. The Eagles advance into the Lawler Classic final, 7:30 p.m. today at Lisle's Benedictine University, in a rematch against St. Rita, which beat Waubonsie Valley 6-5.
"I think if you'd have picked Sandburg to be in the state summer finals after losing eight kids you probably would have gotten really good odds on that," said Eagles coach Doug Sutor.
Odds favor the team whose leadoff man gets on. Sandburg's did in the first four innings and again in the decisive sixth. It started with the Eagles' first batter, Nick DeWolf, taking the first pitch by Downers South starter John Dillon (3-1) off his right shoulder and scoring on Huff's first hit.
"They just outplayed us in every aspect, really," said Downers South shortstop Dan Walsh. "We can compete with them, but they just came to play more than we did today. It's pretty much as simple as that."
After Sandburg claimed a 4-0 lead after 3 innings, Downers South (27-5) pulled within 4-2 in the top of the fourth. Jacob Wolf led off with a single and advanced to third on Pat Korienek's 1-out bouncer up the middle. Matt Wivinis' sacrifice fly scored Wolf, then Nick Tenerelli doubled home Korienek. Sandburg seemingly caught a break when Tenerelli was called out trying to stretch it to third for the third out.
Walks, wild pitches, stolen bases and a Huff RBI double combined to put Sandburg up 8-2 after four innings and it added a run in the fifth.
Greenfield (3-0), who allowed 5 hits in a complete game, escaped a jam in the fifth when Kyle Engel lined into a double play with Mustangs on first and second. Beginning with Huff's third double and ending with Neal Pipolo's 2-run double, Sandburg's 4-run sixth ended Downers South's summer.
"It leaves us kind of bittersweet, where you're really satisfied and proud to be here and to have accomplished this," said Mustangs coach Darren Orel, whose club matched the 2006 squad for furthest advancement. "This is as close as we've gotten so we can be proud of that, but at the same time we just know we've got to work that much harder."