Glenbard South comes from behind to win MSC title
During the first inning of Wednesday’s game between Glenbard South and visiting Illiana Christian, the Raiders had dug themselves a hole.
They were not too far down and still visible. And they made sure they didn’t go lower. The Metro Suburban Conference title was at the lip of the hole, there for the Raiders’ taking if they won.
Glenbard South (23-10, 15-2) fell behind 4-0 after the first inning but turned on the offense in the later innings and won 8-5 to claim its first MSC title in just their second year in the league.
“It’s a joy (to win the title). The way this team plays, we lost those two (league) games to Riverside-Brookfield early on and have been fighting strong ever since,” said second baseman Zach Smith.
Smith hit a two-run single to center in the sixth to make it 8-5 and give the Raiders a much-needed cushion.
The Vikings (22-9, 13-4) pounced quickly in the first inning with the four runs on five hits and the help of a Raiders fielding error that resulted in two runs.
Glenbard South coach Mike Riley was obviously not pleased with what transpired but believed his team was still in a position to win the game.
“We needed to shut the door and we did. If we had to come back from seven, eight runs, it would have been tough,” he said. “We were getting good hit counts, 2-0, 3-0. And we were getting enough hits to come back.”
The Raiders’ zero on the scoreboard didn’t last long. Leadoff hitter Mitch Gasbarro tripled in the first and scored on Ethan Gasbarro’s groundball out.
It was another big day for Mitch Gasbarro. His second home run in as many days, a two-run shot, tied the game in the fourth. His home run in the bottom of the ninth the day before gave Glenbard South a 2-1 win to start the series.
“I feel confident and loose right now. The ball looks big,” he said. “We knew we had the bats and we were all feeling good. The first inning was kind of a fluke.”
Mitch Gasbarro finished the afternoon with three runs scored.
“Mitch is red-hot right now. He got another big hit today,” Riley said. “He did a nice job of working the count. He was 1-2 and worked it to 3-2.”
The Raiders’ three-run rally in the fourth began when Roger Dyrda beat out a groundball for an infield hit and was driven in by Tony Tenuta’s double and an Illiana Christian fielding error. Then came the game-tying home run.
Glenbard South made it 6-5 in the fifth. Smith was safe at first on a fielder’s choice and scored on Tenuta’s single.
In the sixth Ethan Gasbarro doubled and Doren Blake was intentionally walked to set the stage for Smith, whose hit scored them both.
Pitcher Brian Suffern earned his second win in relief in as many days. He pitched just one inning on Tuesday but went 61⁄3 innings on Wednesday. He struck out five.
Last year’s conference title was decided between these two teams. Illiana Christian won it during the third game of the teams’ series at Glenbard South.
“The series last year was incredible and a battle the whole way and so was this year’s. And that’s the way you want it. You want to play teams that are competitive. Otherwise you don’t get better,” Riley said.