Ruchim, Stevenson 'end with a win' in 5-0 victory
The team best able to summon the motivation to win less than 24 hours after its championship dream has ended normally finds itself taking home the third-place trophy.
Stevenson found its motivation in a 5-0 victory in the Class 4A third-place game at Joliet's Silver Cross Field on Saturday, a contest shortened to three innings by lightning and rain. Huntley did not.
"I got up and said 'End with a win,' " said Stevenson senior Kyle Ruchim (8-2), who threw 35 pitches in 3 perfect innings. "And I think that's how the guys on the team approached it. That was maybe why we came out a little more focused than maybe we have been. By the same token it's definitely hard, but we're happy with the outcome."
Huntley (29-11), which battled St. Rita toe to toe in a semifinal Friday before dropping a 7-6 decision in the bottom of the seventh, couldn't muster the same enthusiasm.
"We just didn't come to play today," Red Raiders coach Andy Jakubowski said. "We had no intensity, we had no passion. (Friday) took a lot out of us, big time. It was a chore trying to get everybody motivated."
Stevenson (35-4) scored twice in the first inning against Huntley starter Jake Staab (5-2). Ruchim drew a two-out walk and Patrick Wilson followed with a 2-run home run on an 0-1 pitch, his seventh of the season.
"I was just looking for a pitch to drive, got a ball up in the zone and put a good swing on it," Wilson said.
The Patriots scored 3 runs in the second inning to open a 5-0 lead, a rally keyed by RBI singles from Jeff Ferstein, Corey Lasky and Kory Cutler.
Meanwhile, Ruchim cruised. He struck out the first four Red Raiders he faced and induced 3 groundouts and 2 flyballs.
Stevenson took a 7-0 lead in the top of the fourth. Ferstein led off with a walk and later scored on a wild pitch, and Ruchim drove in a run with a single.
However, at that point the game was delayed by lightning and persistent rain and was called within an hour to ensure the championship game could be played. By rule, the score reverted back to the last full inning played, resulting in the 5-0 final.
Despite the anticlimactic ending, the Patriots and Red Raiders spoke with pride as they reflected on their respective successful seasons, which yielded the first state trophies for either program.
"It's been a great run," Huntley senior Phil Pupillo said. "I would not want to be here with anybody else. This is the best team I ever played for. It's a great group of guys and pretty much a family. That's what carried us. We were a close group of guys and that's how we made it so far. It's not the greatest feeling to end on, but I've had worse."
"I'm real satisfied with what we did this season." Huntley senior Chris Klein added.
Stevenson coach Paul Mazzuca lauded his senior class for taking the program to new heights.
"We know it's the first time the school's been here, and we could not be more proud to represent the Stevenson program" Mazzuca said. "It's probably going to hit me more in a couple of weeks what this group of guys really accomplished. I'm amazed and very, very appreciative."