Bucz, Neuqua Valley blank Benet

When opportunity knocked, Neuqua Valley answered.

Three hits on top of strong pitching and tight defense sent the Wildcats past Benet 5-0 on Wednesday in a Glenbard South regional semifinal of the Phil Lawler Summer Classic.

Five unearned runs gave Neuqua starting pitcher Alex Bucz sufficient support while he threw 6 shutout innings.

"We got guys on base and we got hits when we needed to," said the senior right-hander. "Our defense made all the plays, so we definitely came through."

No. 1 seed Neuqua Valley (28-3) plays No. 2 Wheaton North at 4:30 p.m. Thursday in the Wildcats' second appearance in a summer regional final, and first since 2008.

"(Wildcats coach Robin Renner) said it was a great win, we played great defense, we were playing hard, and it's how we've got to play every game," said right fielder Chris Medhurst, who hit an RBI double and a sharp single. "But we need to hit more, he said also."

No. 4 seed Benet (17-11) and starting pitcher Mike Luka escaped a bases-loaded situation in the first inning but weren't as lucky in the third. Neuqua's leadoff batter, Jack Amaro, reached on an error that started a 3-run inning featuring Medhurst's clout and second baseman Drew Bailey's 2-run double. Neuqua added 2 more unearned runs in the fourth, Andrew Skowronski and Tanner Geisel scoring.

Meanwhile, Bucz located his 80-mph fastball and off-speed stuff. He threw 52 of 78 pitches for strikes, scattered 4 singles and rose to the moment.

Benet's Jim Lynch reached third base in the third inning and Andrew Jachna did the same in the fourth and Bucz prevailed. The Redwings loaded the bags with 2 outs in the sixth, but after Zac Lewinski fouled off six straight pitches, Bucz coaxed a fly to left fielder Nick Oleskowicz.

"It was definitely tense," said Bucz, fresh off a Caribbean cruise. "I didn't have a lot of runners on base the entire game, so having the bases loaded I was a little nervous."

Benet, which got 31/3 innings of 1-hit ball by reliever Mike Grzetic, threatened in the seventh on hits by Kevin Jendra and Matt Dorsett, but Neuqua closer Joey Grabarits persevered.

Benet coach Jeff Bonebrake said, "We've got a ways to go," but it's not that long a ways.

"We got beat by a good team," he said, "and we'll try to learn from this and try to get better for next spring. That's what summer league's all about."