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Waubonsie wouldn’t mind seeing Neuqua again

After sweeping Neuqua Valley in a three-game series last week, you’d think Waubonsie Valley’s baseball team would want no part of the Wildcats the rest of this season.

Not the case. In fact the Warriors are banking on a fourth meeting.

Waubonsie Valley, the 14th seed in the Class 4A Neuqua Valley sectional, plays No. 20 Romeoville in Monday’s Lockport regional quarterfinals. The winner of that game faces No. 3 Neuqua Valley in the semifinals.

That means the Warriors’ only path to playoff survival goes through Neuqua Valley. If the fourth meeting comes to fruition, Waubonsie Valley will ride the confidence of the program’s first three-game sweep of the Wildcats.

“This is good for a confidence boost for these guys,” said Warriors coach Dan Fezzuoglio. “We know what our potential is, we just need to continue to work on that.”

Should the fourth meeting occur, it won’t be hard for Neuqua Valley to find its motivation.

“We’ve all got it now and put it in our back pocket that our first game of the regional is probably going to be against them,” said Wildcats coach Robin Renner. “And, you know what, we’ll go at it with both barrels and see what happens then.”

Burdi’s back:Downers Grove South#146;s playoff chances took a giant swing upward last Tuesday when senior flamethrower Nick Burdi took the mound against Addison Trail. Burdi, committed to Louisville, threw 4 shutout innings in front of a crowd of about a dozen professional scouts. Mustangs coach Darren Orel is hopeful that Burdi, who missed a few starts because of the flu and a mild back injury, will be back in top form by the time regional play begins next week.#147;I think he#146;s in real good position to be full strength come playoffs,#148; Orel said of Burdi, who pitched a total of 4#8534 innings in the three weeks leading up to his start against Addison Trail. #147;If he#146;s at full strength it gives us a really good opportunity in a playoff situation.#148;The goal for the Mustangs, seeded fifth in the Class AA Neuqua Valley sectional, is to pair Burdi with Kansas State-bound Matt Wivinis in a potent one-two pitching tandem. If both seniors are at their best, Downers South will be an extremely tough out in the postseason.#147;(Burdi) worked real hard at the beginning of the season to put himself in a good position and, obviously, things just happened,#148; Orel said. #147;It#146;s really positive to see the things he#146;s done to get back to that place.#148;Downers South opens play at the Hinsdale Central regional against Monday#146;s winner between Oswego East and Bolingbrook. If the Mustangs win that game on May 26, they could face a regional final against defending Class 4A champion Naperville Central.Conference update:While some area teams are celebrating conference titles, others remain in nail-biting mode trying to snag their own crowns.Wheaton Academy became the first area champion by claiming a share of the Suburban Christian Gold title with Aurora Christian. On Tuesday Wheaton North clinched a share of the DuPage Valley Conference title and can seal the outright championship by beating Glenbard East on Wednesday. Defending DVC champion Naperville Central can grab a share with a win over Glenbard North on Wednesday and a Glenbard East victory over Wheaton North.Glenbard South saw its Metro Suburban Conference title hopes take a hit with Tuesday#146;s loss at MSC-leading Illiana Christian, but the Raiders can still win the outright title by beating Illiana on Wednesday and Thursday. A Glenbard South win on Wednesday would set up a winner-take-all showdown Thursday in Glen Ellyn.The most confusing conference race remains the Upstate Eight Valley with Waubonsie Valley at 15-8, South Elgin at 15-8 and Lake Park at 13-8. Waubonsie Valley#146;s final two Valley games are against Lake Park, while the Lancers also have a Saturday doubleheader against Bartlett. South Elgin has two games remaining with Bartlett and a makeup against Batavia.

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