Baseball roundup: York, Wheaton North, Batavia among teams advancing to regional finals

St. Charles East grabbed a 2-1 lead in the first inning on Niko Vahmistrovs’ 2-run single before host Barrington rallied for a 3-run fourth on its way to a 4-2 Class 4A regional semifinal victory over the Saints (21-14) Thursday afternoon.

Kyle LaRose and James Feigleson walked, setting the stage for Vahmistrovs’ base hit in the first inning after the Broncos (24-12) took a 1-0 lead in their half of the frame.

The 4th-seeded Saints managed 4 hits — a double from Chris Dazzo, and singles by Dylan McCabe, Gavin Fuscone, and Vahmistrovs. McCabe finished 1 for 2 with a pair of stolen bases.

Fuscone was the hard-luck losing pitcher, allowing 4 runs (3 earned) and 7 hits with no walks and 4 strikeouts. LaRose pitched a pair of scoreless innings of relief.

Barrington advances to Saturday’s 11 a.m. regional championship against top-seeded McHenry.

York 3, Wheaton Warrenville South 1: The 9th-seeded Dukes (15-19) snapped a 1-1 deadlock with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh and held off 8th-seeded Wheaton Warrenville South, 3-1, in Thursday’s Class 4A regional semifinals at Willowbrook.

Jack Hansmann (1 for 3, RBI), Colby Baird (1 for 2), and Chris Winton (1 for 4, 2 runs scored) led the way offensively, as the Dukes capitalized on 4 errors by the Tigers (20-13-1).

Nathan Rickenbrode worked the first 5 1/3 innings for the Dukes, allowing a run on 5 hits with a walk and 5 strikeouts. Danny Raible tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief to pick up the victory.

York advances to Saturday’s 11 a.m. regional championship against top-seeded Willowbrook in Villa Park.

Wheaton North 3, Glenbard East 1: Senior Jacob Bergeron belted a 2-run, go-ahead home run in the top of the third to lift 12th-seeded Wheaton North (17-17) to a 3-1 Class 4A regional semifinal triumph over 5th-seeded Glenbard East Thursday at Lake Park.

Bergeron went 1 for 3 with a walk, run scored, and 2 RBI, while Kyle Eddy provided some insurance with a 2-out, RBI single in the sixth. Nick Pisciotta also went 1 for 3 with a walk and run scored for the Falcons.

Outfielders Rylan Johnson and Bergeron helped the cause with key defensive plays, as the Falcons advance to Saturday’s 11 a.m. regional championship against the host Lancers.

Alex Popham earned the win with a 5-hit complete game that included 1 walk and 4 strikeouts.

Senior Josh Ziemer drove in the Rams’ lone run in the bottom of the first, while sophomore Jackson Turco added a triple and scored a run.

Lucas Calderin went the distance for the Rams (19-13-1), allowing 3 runs on 4 hits with 5 walks and 4 strikeouts.

Batavia 2, Niles Notre Dame 1, 8 innings: Junior Michael Vander Luitgaren singled, stole second, and came all the way across with the eventual game-winning run in the top of the eighth when the catcher’s throw sailed into center field during Batavia’s 2-1, extra-inning Class 4A regional semifinal victory over 6th-seeded Niles Notre Dame Thursday at Bartlett.

Vander Luitgaren had a pair of hits for the 11th-seeded Bulldogs, who advance to Saturday’s 11 a.m. regional championship against the host Hawks.

Noah Collins (1 for 2, walk, RBI) and Ryan Cisneroz (2 for 4, double) paced the offense for Niles Notre Dame (12-17).

Burlington Central 7, Kaneland 3: Burlington Central (16-18-2) batted around during a 4-run first inning and never looked back during Thursday’s 7-3 Class 3A regional semifinal victory over Kaneland (16-15-1) in Burlington.

Tyler Kotwica and Daniel Koertgen delivered RBI singles to pace the Rockets’ fast start.

The 4th-seeded Knights got on the board when Chris Warner stroked an RBI single in the fifth before the 5th-seeded Rockets added a 3-spot in the sixth.

David Hintz belted a solo home run to make it 5-1, and Connor Sreckov’s RBI single upped the lead to 6-1 before the seventh run came across on a fielder’s choice.

The Knights tallied a pair of runs in the seventh thanks to RBI hits from Aidan Whildin and Brady Alstott.

Burlington shortstop Wagner Viebrock sealed the win with an unassisted double play in the seventh. Sam Maglares earned the win for the Rockets.

With the win, the Rockets advance to Saturday’s 11 a.m. regional championship against top-seeded Geneva.

Sycamore 2, St. Francis 1: Sixth-seeded Sycamore raised its record to 16-15 with Thursday’s hard-fought, 2-1 Class 3A regional semifinal victory over 3rd-seeded St. Francis in Wheaton.

St. Francis finishes its season at 16-20.

Sycamore advances to Saturday’s 11 a.m. regional championship against No. 2 seed Wheaton Academy.

Prairie Ridge 2, Cary-Grove 1: Sixth-seeded Prairie Ridge edged Cary-Grove, 2-1, in Thursday’s Class 3A regional semifinals at Cary-Grove.

The Wolves (23-8), who held the 12th-seeded Trojans (12-22) to 1 run in 3 victories this season, advance to Saturday’s 11 a.m. regional championship against No. 3 seed Grayslake Central.

Waubonsie Valley 4, Plainfield North 3: Trailing 3-1 after 6 innings, Waubonsie Valley rallied for 3 runs in the top of the seventh on the way to a 4-3 victory over Plainfield North in Thursday’s Class 4A regional semifinals at Plainfield North.

With the win, the 9th-seeded Warriors (21-15) advance to Saturday’s 10 a.m. regional championship against No. 1 seed Lockport.

Benet Academy 7, Downers Grove South 5: The 6th-seeded Redwings held off West Suburban Gold power Downers Grove South, 7-5, in Thursday’s Class 4A regional baseball semifinals in Lisle.

With the win, Benet (20-13) advances to Saturday’s 11 a.m. regional championship against WSC Silver champion Hinsdale Central.

The Mustangs finished their season at 22-12.

Naperville North 5, West Aurora 3: DuPage Valley champion Naperville North (19-13) escaped with a 5-3 Class 4A regional baseball semifinal victory over West Aurora Thursday at Naperville Central.

With the win, the Huskies advance to Saturday’s 11 a.m. regional championship against No. 2 seed Naperville Central.

The Blackhawks close out their season at 23-11.

Wednesday’s games

Naperville Central 8, Bolingbrook 0: Ryley Orlanes went 3 for 3 with a triple, double and a pair of stolen bases during Naperville Central’s 8-0 Class 4A regional semifinal victory over Bolingbrook Wednesday in Naperville.

Grant Umbright raised his record to 7-1, combining with relievers Bennett DeSantis and Ryan Gervase on a 1-hitter.

Aurora Christian 7, Aurora Central Catholic 6: The top-seeded Eagles (25-9) held off a valiant effort from cross-town rival Aurora Central Catholic during Wednesday’s 7-6 Class 2A regional semifinal victory at Johnsburg.

Noah Hensley reached all 4 times with a single, 3 walks, and 2 runs scored, supported by Owen Niedzwiecki (2 for 3, 2 runs scored), Preston Morel (2 RBI), Colin Gary (3 for 3, RBI), and Zach Zappia (2 for 2, double).

Nolan Robertson worked 4 innings of 5-hit ball, allowing 1 earned run with 3 strikeouts.

With the win, Aurora Christian advances to Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. regional championship against No. 5 seed Richmond-Burton.