Streamwood eliminates Saints to reach state semis

Steve Diversey said his Streamwood baseball team is "writing history," and the Sabres hope there's another chapter or two left to go.

The Sabres continued their longest run in the Phil Lawler Summer Classic with a 4-2 win over St. Charles East on Tuesday at Benedictine University.

Streamwood (29-5) bounced back from a loss to Nazareth on Monday to survive two elimination games against Palatine and the Saints. The Sabres will play another Upstate Eight Conference rival Neuqua Valley at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the state semifinals.

"We're making a name for our conference, our school and having fun," Diversey said. "We are senior-laden and we need to make a run if we are going to do anything. This is our year. We got rolling and haven't stopped. Confidence is a crazy beast."

The Sabres only replaced two starters from their spring team.

"To be part of something like this is special," said Richie Gorski, who recorded the save Tuesday. "We had high expectations going into the tournament but I'm sure none us thought we'd get all the way to the Final Four."

Gorski pitched the final 11/3 innings in relief of winner Dalton Lundeen.

Sabres leadoff hitter Nate Pearson walked to start the game, the first of eight by four Saints pitchers. After Saints starter Dan Ditusa also walked the next batter he was pulled for Johnny Hondlik, who also struggled with his control. Hondlik walked in a run and allowed another on a wild pitch.

"We put ourselves in a hole," Saints coach Dave Haskins said.

Catcher Jake Sheley threw out a runner trying to steal third to limit the damage. Streamwood settled for 2 first-inning runs on just 1 infield hit and 4 walks.

The Saints answered with a run in their half of the first on Joe Hoscheit's two-out RBI single that scored Jordan Hayes, who had doubled.

Streamwood made it 3-1 in the third. Alex Morrow led off with a single, stole second and scored on Pat Manning's RBI single.

Both teams plated single runs in the sixth. Gorski retired Sheley on a line drive to second base to strand the potential tying runs on base.

Lundeen allowed 7 hits and 3 walks but just 2 runs in his 52/3 innings. Pearson at shortstop and second baseman Brandon Larkin-Guilfoyle turned a pair of double plays to help halt rallies.

"Me and Brandon have been turning so many double plays this summer," Pearson said. "Our defense has been solid this whole tournament, keeping us in games."

The Saints end the summer at 32-5, losing twice Tuesday after entering the day on a 16-game winning streak. Luke Rojas led their 8-hit attack with 2 singles.

"With our spring (27 wins) and success in the summer the program is heading in the right direction," Haskins said. "We're young, they got their feet wet, and we are going to head into it (the 2011 season) very positive."

So is Streamwood - but not before trying to make more history the next two nights.

"It means a lot for our school and our team and our guys," Pearson said. "It's real exciting."