Long shuts down Naperville Central

Mariano Long can’t stand losing to Naperville Central. He’s felt that way ever since the Redhawks beat Long’s Naperville North team in the Plainfield South sectional semifinal two years ago.

That’s why Long — now a senior — was so disappointed when the Huskies dropped the first two games of a three-game set against their cross-town rival this week. It’s also why he cherished the opportunity to take the mound for the Huskies’ 12-1 home romp Thursday.

“I hate losing to Central. I hate it,” Long said. “I wanted to win this series more than any other, and we didn’t get it done the first two games.

“I wasn’t going to let the third one go by.”

Long pitched five strong innings, scattering four hits and striking out five while allowing just an unearned run. He worked out of a few early jams before finding his rhythm in time for Naperville North’s offense — with significant help from Naperville Central’s defense — to blow the game open with four runs in the third and fourth innings.

Long “was efficient,” Naperville North coach Carl Hunckler said. “I don’t think he had his greatest stuff, but when we got the lead and that he came out and he challenged people.

“That’s the way Mariano is. He’s just tough. He’s going to challenge people. That’s why he’s our No. 1” pitcher.

Naperville North (18-13, 12-6 DuPage Valley Conference) wasted little time against Naperville Central ace Ian Lewandowski, loading the bases on two singles and an error before senior Conner Adamski smacked a two-run double to the gap in left center. The Huskies tacked on another first-inning run on a fielder’s choice and led 4-1 after junior Nick Solak came up with an RBI double in the second.

“It was nice to see us not sitting back on our heels, being aggressive,” Hunckler said.

But that’s when Long ran into some trouble, loading the bases by sandwiching a Lewandowski single with a pair of one-out walks.

No matter — Long struck out the next two batters to end the threat and the Huskies rolled from there.

“That was a game changer right there,” Long said. “They’re a good team. They have the ability to come back. I had to shut the door.”

Lewandowski lasted 3 innings and took the loss after allowing 11 runs on eight hits. But the senior didn’t exactly get much help from his defense — only three of the 11 runs he allowed were earned as the Redhawks made six errors in just four innings.

The loss was Lewandowski’s first of the season, though his ERA remains a sterling 0.82.

“We didn’t step up and make plays when we had to,” Naperville Central coach Mike Stock said. “Ian wasn’t very good today, but we could’ve helped him out.

“All series we’ve minimized (Naperville North’s) innings. ... Today we had our opportunities (to do that), and we didn’t.”

Naperville Central (19-11, 12-5), suffered a damaging blow to its bid to catch conference leader Wheaton North. The Redhawks have had trouble closing out series in recent weeks, dropping the finales of sweepable sets against Glenbard North and Wheaton North.

Both Naperville Central and Naperville North trail Wheaton North in the DVC with just a few games to play.

“I wish we had competed like we had all year,” Stock said. “We’re not going to overreact, though. We’ve played too much good baseball. We’ll be fine.”