Schalla, Palatine knuckle down

Palatine’s David Schalla said getting a 1-0 lead before he delivered his first pitch on Thursday made a big difference.

“You always feel more comfortable when you have a lead,” he said.

Schalla also felt comfortable with a new pitch for the first time all season.

The junior right-hander was able to use his knuckle-curveball throughout the contest as he tossed a 4-hitter in an 8-1 victory over No. 8 Hersey (19-16).

No. 9 Palatine (22-14) advanced to Saturday’s 11 a.m. championship of the Class 4A Barrington regional to meet No. 1 Mundelein (27-7).

“This was the first time I’ve pretty much used the knuckle-curve,” said Schalla, who is now 5-3. “It was working well and I was able to throw it for strikes.”

Schalla gave up only 2 hits over the first 6 innings before Hersey’s Nick Nolan doubled and scored on Dalton Farel’s RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the seventh.

Two defensive plays highlighted the fourth inning for Palatine.

Third baseman Kurt Becker made a nifty backhand stab on pitcher Trevor Haas’ hard-hit grounder and threw to first baseman Joe Walsh for the second out.

Walsh then dove to stop relief pitcher Mike Danielak’s smash and flipped the ball to the hustling Schalla for the third out.

“My defense was laying out like crazy, making great plays,” Schalla said. “They made it a lot easier.”

And it got easier for Schalla as the Pirates tacked on 2 runs in the third, fourth and sixth innings.

Before cleanup hitter Dan Haze made it to the plate, the Pirates led 1-0 as Becker doubled to right-center and came home on No. 3 hitter Walsh’s single to center.

In the third, Walsh gave the Pirates a 2-0 lead when his sacrifice fly to right brought home Vince Portera (1-for-1, 2 walks).

Haze then added an RBI single to left center to bring home Cody Bobbit (2-for-5), who had reached on an error.

Palatine got 2 runs in the fourth on Portera’s RBI double to right-center and Becker’s single to right.

“We said we had to jump out right away and keep it going,” said Pirates assistant coach Frank Mariani. “After being up 6-1 over Prospect (in Saturday’s Mid-Suburban League championship game) and giving it away, we tried to win every inning this game. That was our goal.”

The Pirates went ahead 7-1 in the sixth when Portera led off with a walk and Bobbit followed with a bloop single to right center. Becker then bunted safely to load the bases.

Portera and Bobbit scored moments later on an error and fielder’s choice.

Becker ended up 3-for-3 with a walk and sacrifice bunt.

Teammates Jesse Bobbit and Scott Schneberger each went 2-for-4. Schneberger was robbed of a third hit in the second inning when center fielder Joe Perricone made a terrific backhand catch while on his knees in left center.

“Kurt (Becker) has been real consistent at the plate all season,” Mariani said.

And Schalla was consistent for the first time with his knuckle-curve.

“He finally got it down,” Mariani said. “He was in control of it so he used it instead of his changeup. He has been working on it all season and today he had control of it, so we went with it.

“When he gets all his pitches over the plate, it’s a pleasure to call the game for him. When he gets his breaking ball over, it’s a big plus.”

Hersey (19-16) leadoff batter Tyler Perkowitz (2-for-4) had hits in the first and third innings.

“They outpitched us,” said Hersey coach Bob Huber. “They out-defended us and outplayed us.

“We have a lot of respect for Palatine. I thought we had a good plan but we couldn’t execute. The better team won.”