Baseball: Libertyville’s one win away from second straight state title after Buenik’s gem
Libertyville’s Brady Buenik saved his best outing of the season for just the right moment.
Buenik, who entered the game with a 4.76 ERA, held Mt. Carmel in check as defending 4A state champion Libertyville knocked off the Caravan 3-1 in the state semifinals at Slammers Stadium in Joliet.
Libertyville (30-10) will meet Maine South (26-15) in the state championship game. That game will be played at 4 p.m., with the time moving up due to a chance of rain later Saturday evening. It will be a rematch of last year’s supersectional game that Libertyville won.
Buenik was tremendous Friday. The junior, who is committed to Tennessee, went 6 2/3 innings. He struck out seven and allowed just three hits, throwing 112 pitches, 67 for strikes.
“Going into this game, I put everything behind me,” said Buenik, who had come into the game with 16 walks in 25 innings pitched.
“This is the one and most important thing at this moment in time. I figured if these guys have worked so hard all year, I can deliver for these guys. It means so much to me.”
Libertyville coach Matt Thompson said Buenik’s bullpen earlier this week solidified his starting role Friday.
“What was most impressive was that he was in the zone,” Thompson said. “He was confident and that why we were going with him.”
Thompson said he and his team are excited to be back in the title game.
“Our team is going to come out and play our brand of baseball,” Thompson said. “We are excited for the opportunity to defend our title.”
Buenik struck out the first two Mt. Carmel batters he faced and he was on his way.
“I feel like I just had to find a rhythm,” Buenik said. “Once I got that rhythm, I never got out of it.”
Libertyville got off to a great start in its half of the first thanks to Chase Lockwood.
Madden Cotts tripled to right to lead off the inning. The Wildcats proceeded to load the bases as both Trevor Wallace and Braden Tolzien were hit by pitches.
Lockwood, who is unable to pitch in the state finals because he pitched on Tuesday, came to the plate with two outs. Lockwood showed that he is as dangerous at the plate as he is on the mound, doubling in two runs to put Libertyville up 2-0.
“I tried a little hard today to help,” Lockwood said. “I thought it was pretty big because I felt it set the tone for us.”
Libertyville picked up another run in the third. Wallace led off with a single and went to second on a walk to Tolzien. Wallace was able to score when Ryan Wilberding’s long drive to deep center just went off the outstretched glove of the Caravan centerfielder for a double to make it 3-0.
“My BP swing was feeling good,” said Wallace. “And I knew today was going to be a good day for me.”
Wilberding, who had two long fly outs Tuesday in the supersectional win over Lane, said he is feeling comfortable at the plate.
“I have been seeing it real well recently,” Wilberding said. “I have had a lot of hard hit outs. And I am just happy one fell.”
Mt. Carmel made things look dicey in the top of the seventh.
Buenik was cruising until the inning. He got a fly out, then walked a batter, then a strikeout. But the tiring Buenik hit a batter and then walked another.
Aksel McKnight relived Buenik after 112 pitches. But McKnight also struggled a bit, walking the first batter he faced to make it 4-1. He then threw two consecutive balls before getting a strike and then a deep fly to center to end the game.
“We had five guys in the lineup from last year,” Thompson said. “And obviously guys with pitching experience. So, those guys have been leaders and they have helped the other guys that haven’t been here. So they are comfortable out there.”