Naperville Central gets 6 runs in 7th to grab win

The voices of experience spoke loud and clear for Naperville Central's baseball team.

Keyed by returning starters from the spring's sectional title squad, the Redhawks rallied for Tuesday's 11-7 victory over Hinsdale Central in the Glenbard South regional quarterfinals in the IHSBCA summer state tournament.

Hinsdale Central led 7-5 heading to the top of the seventh inning when Naperville Central exploded for 6 runs on 4 hits and 3 big errors.

Marc Mantucca, who will be a third-year starter next spring, started it off with a solo homer. Matt Soria, another third-year varsity player, tied the game with a sacrifice fly before an intentional walk to a third three-year player, Nick Linne, loaded the bases.

Matt Cmiel, the Redhawks' top hitter last season, smashed an RBI infield single to provide the game-winning hit. Cmiel, who came a home run shy of hitting for the cycle, had 4 RBI.

Bobby Czarnowski capped the inning by clearing the bases with a single and outfield error that extended the lead to 11-7.

Mantucca pitched 2 scoreless innings of relief to earn the win. The Redhawks will play Benet in a 2 p.m. regional semifinal today in Glen Ellyn.

Willowbrook will play Downers Grove South in the 4:30 p.m. semifinal. Willowbrook beat Hinsdale South 7-4; while Downers South beat Glenbard East 11-4.

"We lost a lot of good players, but we feel pretty good about this year," Cmiel said. "Hopefully we can do the exact same thing but make it to state this year."

Benet 9, Neuqua Valley 7: The Redwings scored 4 runs in the sixth inning and 2 runs in the seventh to advance to today's Glenbard South semifinals.

Connor Reilly went 5-for-5 with a double, triple and 5 RBI for Benet. His 2-run triple in the sixth made it 7-4 after winning pitcher Mike Chiaro tied the game by leading off the inning with a home run.

Neuqua Valley rallied in the bottom of the seventh behind a 2-run homer by Joe Ippolito, who went 3-for-4 with 4 RBI, and a solo shot by Cody Cooper, who had 3 RBI.

"It was fun to come out here and swing the bat well," Reilly said. "It's been good defense all season, but the bats have been missing. They showed up the past few games."

Glenbard North 5, South Elgin 2: The 10th-seeded Panthers upset No. 2 South Elgin in the Prospect regional quarterfinals. Glenbard North will play Streamwood at 1 p.m. today for a berth in Thursday's regional title game.