Baseball: Wilberding’s grand slam keys Libertyville’s sectional championship win over Warren

Libertyville’s Ryan Wilberding slammed Warren Saturday in the Class 4A sectional final at Libertyville.

Wilberding, who missed 24 games this season with a broken bone in his right hand, delivered a huge blow. The junior belted a no-doubt grand slam to move Libertyville into the supersectionals with a 4-1 win over Warren.

“It was not fun sitting on the bench when I was injured and waiting,” said Wilberding, who returned to play in his team ‘s final regular season game against Glenbrook North.

“But today was probably the best moment I had in baseball.”

Defending 4A state champion Libertyville (28-10) won its 11th straight state playoff game. The Wildcats will meet Lane Tech from the Chicago Public League, which topped Glenbrook North 2-1 in its sectional final, in Monday’s supersectional at Wintrust Field in Schaumburg at 7:30 p.m.

Libertyville beat Lane (33-6) in the opening game of the season for both teams 6-4.

“Warren had a great year,” said Libertyville coach Matt Thompson, whose team beat its North Suburban Conference rival for the third time this season.

“There were two good pitchers out there that are not easy to hit. And they kept us off balance a little bit. Obviously, we had the one big hit with Wilbur again.”

With the game tied at 0-0 heading into the bottom of the third, Libertyville mounted a threat.

Bode Rohrbach singled and went to second on a sacrifice bunt. Trevor Wallace drilled a single to right with Rohrbach stopping at third.

Wallace stole second and after a strikeout, Warren opted to intentionally walk Braden Tolzien, loading the bases for Wilberding, who had struck out in his first at-bat. After taking a strike, Wilberding then parked the next pitch over Route 176, which runs just on the other side of the left field fence.

“They walked to get to me,” said Wilberding, who hit his second home run since his return five games ago.

“And I took it real personal. So, I made them pay. He threw me a slider and as soon as I hit it, I knew it was gone.”

Warren coach Clint Smothers did not second guess himself with the intentional walk.

“We are going to walk Tolzien every time,” Smothers said. “And if we had to do it 10 times out of 10, we would do it. One pitch changed the whole outcome.”

It was then up to the Wildcats pitching staff to hold the lead.

Starter Kaben Butt had kept Warren in check for the first five innings, striking out 4 and getting defensive help with a pair of double plays.

“I have improved throughout the season,” Butt said. “I love putting the ball in play. I work with the defense and they work with me.”

Warren (24-11) mounted its best chance to rally in the sixth. Connor Nissen singled and came home on Braylan McCarthy’s double and a throwing error.

After a walk, Butt gave way to Aksel McKnight with runners on first and third. After a strikeout, McKnight got a superb defensive play from Libertyville second baseman Madden Cotts to end the inning.

“It’s all about the hop step,” said Cotts, who went behind second base to field a ground ball and then tossed it back behind him to Wallace, who plays short, for the force play.

“You have to know where to go with the ball before the play even starts.”

McKnight retired Warren in order in the seventh for the save.

“I like the pressure on me,” McKnight said. “I just tried to keep the hitters guessing.”

Smothers said that he is proud of the way his team competed all season.

“Nobody expected us to be in this game,” Smothers said. “These kids haven’t quit all year. They are just competitive kids. It’s a great group, just a special group.”