Willowbrook splits with Downers Grove South

Willowbrook senior pitcher Matt Tiberi may not have the blazing fastball like some of his counterparts but, based on what he showed on Saturday, he doesn’t need it.

Tiberi craftily tossed a 4-hitter in a 2-0 win over Downers Grove South, helping the Warriors salvage a split of their West Suburban Gold doubleheader in Villa Park.

Kansas State-bound Matt Wivinis (2-1) threw a 3-hitter for the Mustangs (6-5, 1-1) in Game 1, dominating the Warriors (7-3, 4-1) in an 8-0 Downers South victory.

Knowing his team lost the first half of the doubleheader motivated Tiberi (3-1) even more for Game 2.

“Going into that game we basically had nothing to lose,” said Tiberi, who struck out eight and needed only 83 pitches to blank the Mustangs. “It felt great, all my stuff was working the way it should. I don’t know, I just had a good feeling going into today.”

Willowbrook managed only 2 hits in the second game and scored both runs without a hit in the second inning. After Nick Petruzzi and Dan Fahlgren led off the inning by walking, Petruzzi eventually scored on a groundout and courtesy runner Val Bernardi scored on a wild pitch.

Willowbrook had 3 hits in the first two innings of the first game and then had only 1 hit over the next 10 innings. Thanks to Tiberi and an errorless defense, however, the Warriors pulled out Game 2.

“He’s just been a bulldog every time he’s come out,” Willowbrook coach Vic Wisner said of Tiberi. “He’s done a real nice job.

“That was good baseball right there for us,” Wisner said. “I’m just really happy with how we responded.”

Downers South scored 6 unearned runs in the first game thanks to 6 errors by the Warriors. The Mustangs broke open a 4-0 game in the top of the seventh behind home runs by Nick Vanek and John Lithio.

Wivinis was tremendous in an 86-pitch performance in the opener, striking out six and walking two. After allowing the 3 hits in the opening two innings he didn’t allow another the rest of the game.

Downers South’s Nick Rizner pitched well in Game 2 while subbing for Louisville-bound standout Nick Burdi, who missed Saturday’s action because of the flu.

“What a pitching performance by Rizner,” said Mustangs coach Darren Orel. “And what a shame for him that we couldn’t score a run, but I couldn’t be prouder of him.”