Glenbard North keeps it close, can’t top Lyons Twp.

Lyons Twp’s baseball team enjoyed its fair share of blowout victories during the regular season.

The Lions grinded out a close one on Wednesday.

Glenbard North pushed one of the state’s elite teams to its limit, but Lyons Twp. held on for a 3-2 win over the Panthers in the Class 4A St. Charles North sectional semifinals.

The top-seeded Lions (33-4) advance to Saturday’s sectional title game to face Thursday’s winner between Glenbard West and St. Charles East.

“We’ve won a lot of games this year with the 10-run rule,” said Lions coach George Ushela. “We’ve told them all along that we’d be playing closer games in the tournament, and this was a good win.”

On a picture-perfect day for baseball, it was actually the cloudless sky that proved to be a difference-maker in the outcome.

Three pop-ups were lost in the su,n including one that went in the Lions’ favor in the bottom of the third inning. With fifth-seeded Glenbard North (23-12) clinging to a 2-1 lead, Panthers ace Andrew Bergmann nearly escaped a second-and-third jam with two outs.

A pop-up to short right field by Lions designated hitter Tom Walsh fell between two fielders, however, allowing the tying and go-ahead runs to score. With a 3-2 lead, Lyons Twp. ace Connor Cuff (9-0) had the cushion he needed.

“Key plays with the wind and the sun, it just could have gone either way,” said Panthers senior third baseman Jake Kline. “We just didn’t push across enough runs, but I thought we played a good game. It just shows we can play with anyone.”

Glenbard North scored 2 runs in the top of the first, benefiting from a dropped pop-up in short center field. Kline singled home the first run and Ryan Gallagher made it 2-0 with a sacrifice fly.

Walsh sent an opposite-field home run over the right-field fence to narrow the Lions’ gap to 2-1 in the bottom of the second.

“With these close games we’re getting a lot more focused,” Walsh said. “Everyone’s ready to compete.”

Glenbard North had its chances after falling behind 3-2, but the Panthers stranded six runners, including four in scoring position.

“When you get to these playoff games it’s going to come down to making the key plays and coming out with the big hit,” said Glenbard North coach Rich Smelko. “Unfortunately we didn’t swing it well enough today. But give the credit to (Lyons Twp.). That’s probably one of the best teams we faced all year.”