Peters provides Kaneland relief

Kaneland is headed to the supersectional for the first time in history, even if it didn’t go exactly like most of Bobby Thorson’s starts.

Who cares?

Certainly nobody at Kaneland, where the Knights were able to show off their pitching depth to win the Class 3A Rochelle sectional with a 6-3 victory over Marmion on Saturday.

When Thorson takes the mound he usually finishes what he starts — like he did a week ago with a 2-1 win over Sycamore in the regional title game. Not on a hot day like Saturday when the temperatures seemed to wear down both starting pitchers.

“I was beat, I was down, the heat was a killer,” said Thorson, who labored through 89 pitches in 5 innings, allowing 3 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks and a hit batter while striking out four.

That’s just what Thorson told coach Brian Aversa when Aversa came to the mound for a conference in the fifth inning with the Knights clinging to a 5-3 lead.

“He said, ‘This is it coach, I’m drained. The heat is getting to me. I can’t give you my best anymore,’” Aversa said. “With that communication we brought (Drew) Peters in, he was ready to go.

“When Bobby tells me he wants the ball, I know he wants the ball, it’s not ‘my arm is iffy and I want the ball anyway.’ He was very honest today. He knows we’re relying on him but he knows we’re deep as well. That’s a luxury to have this year.”

Marmion finished with just 3 hits against Thorson and Peters, and none after the Cadets appeared to have momentum on their side tying the game 3-3 in the fourth.

“You have to give them credit,” said Marmion catcher Kyle Kozak’s, the team’s best hitter at a .468 clip. “A lot of pitchers would get flustered. Thorson and Peters both pitched a heck of a game.”

Peters, who already has 2 postseason wins, got his first postseason save by working 2 scoreless innings. He walked 1 and hit a batter but didn’t allow a hit.

“That’s huge that we have a guy, a junior, who came in a big game and pitched like that,” Kaneland center fielder Joe Camiliere said. “He did a great job.”

Thorson struck out the first two batters of the game on cutters. But his 1-2-3 first inning was the only easy inning of his 5 on the mound.

The heat made it hard for Thorson to grip the ball, and the senior said he only threw 2 curve balls — both balls.

“I couldn’t throw off-speed stuff, my hands got all slippery,” Thorson said. “I’m proud of the 3 runs throwing just fastballs.”

Peters, who tossed a perfect game in a regional semifinal win over IMSA, said he isn’t used to coming into games when Thorson — now 6-3 on the year — starts.

“I usually think Bob is going to go the distance but I knew I had to be ready the whole time,” said Peters, who has returned from a sprained ankle and another injury when he fell and had to get 14 stitches in his head to give Kaneland a big postseason boost.

“Today was a big day. We had a 3-run lead so I had some confidence going in. Couple pitches missed spots but I knew the defense would be the key. Defense came up huge. Overall it was a huge win.”

Aversa didn’t name his starter for the supersectional. Davidson would be a likely choice with four days rest after starting Wednesday’s win over Marian.

Peters knows he’ll need to be ready again.

“Let’s hope he (Davidson) goes the whole distance,” Peters said. “It’s hard (relieving) because I’m usually the starter. Coming in these situations you have to throw strikes.

“This (sectional title) is unbelievable but we’re not done yet. We have a couple games left.”