Loyola brings the lumber vs. Leyden

With just 7 innings separating his team from the program's first supersectional berth, Leyden coach Gary Wolf was prepared to use a number of pitchers to record those 21 outs.

It didn't take long for him to realize that he'd likely be implementing that plan.

Leyden starter Sam Cochiaro lasted 19 pitches, Ricky Zapata went 1 inning, and the Eagles ended up throwing four pitchers at No. 4 seed Loyola. But all Wolf's defensive juggling and trips to the mound weren't enough as No. 2 seed Leyden (26-8) lost 11-4 to the Ramblers on Saturday in the Class 4A Niles West sectional championship in Skokie.

Loyola (24-13) advances to Monday's 4:30 p.m. supersectional at Benedictine University where it will face Wheaton North, a 10-2 winner against Schaumburg in Saturday's Larkin sectional final.

"Actually that was one of the best bullpens I've had in a long time," said Cochiaro, who allowed 2 runs in a third of an inning. "Honestly, I don't know what happened."

The senior right-hander hit Mike Fallon (2-for-4, 2 RBI) with his first pitch, gave up a bunt single to Alex De La Rosa (3-for-5) on his second offering, then walked Chris Serritella. After surrendering a bases-loaded walk to Charlie McElveen and throwing a first-pitch ball to T.J. Pantle, Cochiaro was replaced by Zapata.

"If (Cochiaro) was throwing strikes and they were hitting it we would have kept him in," Wolf said, "but Loyola is way too good of a team to be giving up free passes."

Zapata (2 hits allowed) balked in a run before throwing his first pitch, but didn't allow any more runs in the first.

"I thought we were lucky to escape the first inning only down 2-0 … but that second inning broke our back," Wolf said.

After digging a 7-0 hole against New Trier in last year's Niles West sectional final, the Eagles found themselves in that same unenviable position as Loyola tacked on 5 runs in the second, highlighted by a 2-run home run from Serritella.

Loyola southpaw Jack Havey allowed 8 hits and struck out seven in 6 innings. The junior also went 2-for-4, including a bases-clearing double in the sixth.

"We thought we would have done well here with all our experience, but we just didn't play our game today," said Leyden senior Cameron Stephens, who drove in 3 runs and launched a 2-run, 400-foot home run to center in the third.

Leyden shortstop Tim Mackey hit a solo shot in the fourth before taking over pitching duties for Josh Serrano (2 strikeouts in 3¿ innings) in the sixth.

"We're fighters, but getting behind 7-0 is not what we wanted to happen," Mackey said.