Plainfield South one tough sectional field
Every baseball team competing in the Class 4A Plainfield South sectional knows there's no place to hide.
All corners of the field loom like a minefield, including in the Lockport regional, where top-seeded Naperville Central (30-4) stands ready to make a run at matching its 2006 state title.
Two other teams in the Lockport regional also have won state titles in the last five years. With 2007 champ Neuqua Valley and the host Porters, the 2005 champions, mixed in with the Redhawks, the depth and strength of the Plainfield South sectional is clearly immense.
"Three of the last five state champions are in our regional. I mean, that's really something," said Redhawks coach Bill Seiple. "It's an incredible field of teams in this sectional."
Regional quarterfinals took place on Monday in Class 3A and 4A, and the semifinals will follow on Wednesday and Thursday leading up to Saturday's regional finals. Between now and then, plenty of quality teams will be eliminated as others move on.
Third-seeded Downers Grove South (30-5), eliminated in the first round the last two years, anchors a regional it's hosting. Like Naperville Central's pitching tandem of lefties Shane Conlon and Dan Ludwig, the Mustangs will lean on their duo of Nick Burdi and Jake Rone.
Those four pitchers are a combined 32-0 this season. It's no wonder Naperville Central and Downers South top the list of favorites to emerge from the sectional.
"We know we're going to have to be playing good baseball to win," said Mustangs coach Darren Orel. "On any given day we can beat anybody, but I also feel like there are a lot of teams that can win the sectional."
Fourth-seeded Naperville North (27-7) seeks its first regional title since 2004. Waubonsie Valley (24-8), winners in 19 of its last 20 games, may be the toughest No. 8 seed in the state, but the Warriors are faced with a possible regional final showdown against No. 2 Plainfield North if they can beat No. 10 Downers North on Thursday.
The Class 4A St. Charles East sectional may not boast the overall power of Plainfield South's field, but it's still a strong group headed by No. 1 St. Charles North. As a top-two seed for the third straight year, regional host Wheaton North (24-9) seeks its third straight regional title and fifth in seven years.
Despite graduating their top three starting pitchers from a year ago, the Falcons still forged a successful season behind a staff anchored by Mike Coduto and a stellar infield defense led by shortstop Mike Small and third baseman Justin Swider.
"Obviously, with losing our three pitchers no one really knew what to expect from us," said Falcons coach Dan Schoessling. "I think the guys we've counted on have really stepped up."
Third-seeded Willowbrook (25-10), a regional host, fell to 7-6 on April 15 before rattling off 18 wins in its next 22 games. Two interesting regional semifinals - No. 6 Lake Park against No. 11 Wheaton Warrenville South and No. 8 Glenbard North against No. 10 York - also await in the St. Charles East sectional.
"It's a credit to our kids that they never gave up," said Willowbrook coach Steve Gilliam. "They've fought through the season and you can see the confidence growing with the kids."
In Class 3A all five area teams are competing in the Glenbard South regional within the Johnsburg sectional. Glenbard South, the defending regional champion, is the top seed followed by Wheaton Academy and Montini, who play in Thursday's semifinals.