St. Charles East seniors deliver against Geneva

Three-year varsity veterans Johnny Erickson and Ryan O'Dell delivered clutch RBI hits and junior pitcher Wes Benjamin turned in an outstanding performance to lift fifth-seeded St. Charles East (26-11) to a 5-2 victory over No. 4 Geneva in Saturday's Class 4A regional baseball championship in Geneva.

Erickson, who had hit into a double play in the third inning, made the most of his second chance with his fifth-inning, 2-out ground-rule double to center that drove in both Anthony Scotello and Tommy Laudadio to tie the game at 2-2.

"I just wanted to try and be patient and drive a hittable pitch," said Erickson, who was 2-for-4 with 3 RBI.

It turned into a fortunate-unfortunate play for the Saints, as the Vikings' center fielder was unable to attempt a catch after slipping to the ground. But the ball rolled under the fence so courtesy runner Ryan Shaffrey was sent back to third.

"I knew I hit it well off the bat and usually they say if you hit the ball hard that something good will happen. Something happened in my favor and it was good to see."

After Geneva coach Matt Hahn brought in ace Riley Perry, O'Dell stroked a 2-run single up the middle to give the Saints their first lead at 4-2.

"Basically, I was just trying to get a bat on the ball," said O'Dell. "When you're in those situations you want to get those runs in any way you can."

Saints coach David Haskins couldn't have asked for a better situation with Erickson and O'Dell batting with runners in scoring position.

"Those seniors got it done with timely hitting," said Haskins. "Just being in a relaxed situation and trying to hit the ball up the middle."

Geneva used a similar approach to take a 1-0 lead in the first as Eric Renner doubled to right-center and came across on Chris Hipchen's RBI double.

The Vikings added an unearned run in the second and carried a 2-0 into the fifth behind sophomore starting pitcher Matt Williams (0-2).

Williams, making just his second varsity start, allowed 4 runs on 3 hits with 3 walks and 3 hit batsmen.

"We're asking a 15-year-old kid who doesn't have a driver's license yet to pitch in a regional championship game," said Hahn. "I thought he did a great job."

Hahn admittedly thought about having Perry face Erickson with the bases loaded in the fifth before letting Williams continue.

"He got us the fly ball," said Hahn. "Unfortunately, our center fielder fell down."

Benjamin (12-2), who threw 70 pitches in a winning relief role Thursday, found his rhythm through the middle innings, retiring 9 straight batters at one point and striking out the meat of the Vikings' order in succession in the third.

"I felt like I was getting into more of a groove there," said the left-hander, who tossed a 4-hit complete game with 1 walk and 8 strikeouts. "We also started throwing more inside on them and that helped."

After hitting back-to-back batters with 2 out in the sixth, Benjamin reached back for an inning-ending strikeout.

"I noticed some balls started creeping up a little bit higher but when I went out to the mound I told him, 'we were going to win or lose with you on the bump,'" said Haskins.

After Jim Martin's 2-out infield single in the seventh, Benjamin sealed the Saints' first regional title since 2005 by retiring the final batter on a fly ball to center fielder Robert Wendt.

"The year that he's had is absolutely incredible," Haskins said of Benjamin. "I've done this for 13 years and have had some great pitchers but I don't think I've seen a pitcher compete and be that successful as a junior so early."

While the Saints prepare to host Wednesday's 4 p.m. sectional semifinals against cross-town rival St. Charles North (33-4), the Vikings finished their season at 21-14.

"Six years ago, we would have been happy just to be in this game," said Hahn, whose team has played in 5 consecutive regional title contests. "Now we're disappointed if we don't win it. That speaks volumes about the work these kids have put in to get us to this point."

"At times it has been frustrating," said Vikings senior Alex Sroka. "But I played with a great group of guys - that's what I'll remember the most."