Glenbard West’s run comes to end
For two weeks Glenbard West’s baseball team did a masterful job knocking off higher-seeded teams in the Class 4A St. Charles North sectional.
Just like in the regular season, though, the Hilltoppers couldn’t get past Lyons Twp.
The Lions beat Glenbard West for the fourth time this season, this time winning the sectional title with Saturday’s 7-2 victory.
Top-seeded Lyons Twp. advances to the Rockford RiverHawks Stadium 2 supersectional to face Streamwood, a winner over Cary-Grove, at 7 p.m. Monday.
The 14th-seeded Hilltoppers (19-19) roared past No. 19 West Aurora, No. 3 St. Charles North, No. 6 York and No. 2 St. Charles East in a stunning charge to the sectional final. But the run finally came to an end against the powerful Lions (34-3), who swept Glenbard West in their three-game West Suburban Silver series.
“Unfortunately things didn’t go our way, but I’m definitely proud of the way we played,” said Hilltoppers coach Brian Wojtun. “Obviously, they’re a great team.”
Lyons Twp. (34-3) jumped on Glenbard West with 3 runs in the bottom of the first, sparked by a sacrifice fly from Brian Rodemoyer and an RBI double by Tom Walsh. That proved to be enough support for Lions starting pitcher Zach Remijas (10-0), who has allowed only 7 runs all season.
“That was key,” Lions coach George Ushela said of the early runs. “It kind of set the tone. They’re all big wins, and you don’t take anything for granted. Glenbard West won four games to get here, so they were playing well.”
Glenbard West pitchers Garrett Stalker, Tyler Curtis and Ryan Kavanaugh tried to hold down the Lions’ potent lineup, but Lyons Twp. broke through for 4 runs in the fourth inning to build a 7-0 lead. Mike Pett’s RBI double and Spencer Mahoney’s 2-run single were the key hits.
“This is exactly what we’ve been working for all year, just taking it one game at a time,” said Mahoney, who went 3-for-4. “We were able to beat a good Glenbard West team today. They’ve made big improvements all year. I think we have, too.”
Glenbard West broke through for a pair of runs in the sixth inning when Tom Alt scored on Bob Targo’s fielder’s choice and Tyler Curtis, who pitched 3 innings of relief, scored on a wild pitch.
The Lions turned to a pair of relievers — Keith Lehmann and Steve Heilenbach — to close out the sixth and seventh innings. They combined to retire the only six batters they faced to end the game.
“The way this team turned things around this season was a tremendous accomplishment,” Wojtun said. “I’m just really proud and happy for them.”