Battery-powered Willowbrook stops Bartlett
Dave Cericola and Kurt Gitchell quickly developed the successful working relationship needed between a pitcher and catcher.
And their work together in Wednesday’s Class 4A Schaumburg sectional semifinal extended Willowbrook’s most successful season in 39 years. Cericola threw a 2-hitter with a career-high 12 strikeouts and he got all the support he needed on Gitchell’s single which led to 2 runs in the third inning and a 3-1 victory over Bartlett at Schaumburg Baseball Stadium.
“It’s nice,” said Gitchell, a senior transfer from Montini. “At Montini I won a regional but we never got past this game. It means a lot. It really does.”
The Warriors (23-15) won their eighth straight game since it received a No. 13 seed and joins the 1973 Elite Eight qualifier by reaching Saturday’s 11 a.m. sectional championship at Boomers Stadium. Alex Tiberi (8-2) will start against No. 10 Schaumburg (24-13), a 4-1 winner over No. 3 St. Charles East (25-11) in Wednesday’s second semifinal.
Cericola (8-1) started pitching strictly from the stretch position early this spring because he was more comfortable but he only did so with five baserunners by No. 16 Bartlett (19-20). He mixed a fastball, slider, curveball and changeup to retire 15 of the last 16 hitters after giving up an unearned run in the third on Robert Smith’s infield single and throwing error.
“He doesn’t throw a straight pitch,” said Gitchell, who usually calls nearly every pitch for Cericola.
“It’s up there, it’s definitely up there,” Cericola said of his top performances. “I came in on them with the slider and would keep them off balance with the curve. I came out throwing how I wanted to throw the ball.”
Which Willowbrook coach Vic Wisner said is typical of Cericola, who threw 66 of his 95 pitches for strikes to surpass his previous best of 9 strikeouts. He hit two batters but his only walk came with two outs in the fifth to Smith.
“I’ve never seen a high school kid be more prepared and compete like he does,” Wisner said. “This kid has a plan for every hitter. He and our catcher work so good and when he throws we’re so confident.
“He’s been better but this was pretty darn good. His slider was almost unhittable.”
Bartlett’s only other hit was a two-out single in the second by Ben Havel as it was trying to make its first trip to a sectional final.
“We ran into a pitcher who threw strikes and and kept us off balance and we couldn’t adjust,” said Bartlett coach Chris Pemberton. “I think we were a little bit too excited. We were trying to pull the ball when he threw off-speed stuff. Our nerves took us out of the game and we didn’t do what we needed to win today.”
Bartlett righty Robert Sadowski allowed only 4 hits but 4 errors led to 2 unearned runs. One of his 4 walks to Mark Garbacz to start the third and hitting Mike Rothmund with two outs set up Willowbrook’s go-ahead rally.
Cal Moltzan walked and Gitchell hit a grounder which shortstop Ben Grear made a diving stop in the hole, but his throw to second went into right field and Garbacz and Rothmund scored.
“We have a team that doesn’t stop fighting,” Cericola said.
An infield single in the fifth by leadoff man Dom Battaglia (2-for-3) led to an insurance run on Moltzan’s sacrifice fly to center. But Cericola didn’t need it as he retired the last seven hitters.
“This is something special for the community and the school,” Wisner said. “This is great for the kids.”
As was the last week for Bartlett as it beat rival Streamwood, top-seeded Geneva and Lake Park for its first regional title since 2002.
“We had a nice run,” Pemberton said. “They’ll remember the week we had and how we finished up strong.”