St. Viator outruns Glenbrook North

St. Viator was expeditious in its 3-2 come-from-behind victory over host Glenbrook North on Thursday.

Then Lions (22-14) managed just 2 hits for the game but rallied for a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh without a hit to advance.

"I am really excited," St. Viator coach Mike Manno said. "We just found a way to win today."

Glenbrook North scored runs in the first and third innings to grab a 2-0 lead.

St. Viator was hitless and scoreless through the first 4 innings, but Bobby Calmeyn changed all that when he homered in the fourth as the Lions closed to 2-1.

St. Viator was able to rally to win in the bottom of the seventh by getting a hit batter, a walk, stealing three bases and taking advantage of two Glenbrook North errors to score the tying and winning runs.

Ben Dickey started the inning by being hit by a pitch. He then stole second, and Glenbrook North walked Calmeyn on 4 pitches.

With Jack Napoleon up and facing an 0-2 count, the Lions worked a double steal. And when the Glenbrook North catcher overthrew third, Dickey scored the tying run while Matt O'Neill, who was pinch running for Calmeyn, stayed at second.

On the next pitch, Napoleon hit a soft roller just past the mound that was muffed by the second baseman, allowing O'Neill to scamper home with the winning run.

"I told the kids when we were behind to just stay the course," Manno said. "I told them if we could get guys on base we could capitalize on the situation, and we did just that."

Manno credited pitchers Jack McElroy and Mike Piet for keeping the Lions in the game.

"I thought our pitchers were great today," Manno said. "They made big pitches when we needed them."

Jack McElroy gave up 2 earned runs in 4⅓ innings, and Piet earned the victory with 2⅔ innings of scoreless relief with 1 hit allowed.

The Lions have won a regional title in three of the last four years. They next meet Deerfield, a team that St. Viator beat for two of those titles, in Saturday's 10 a.m. matchup at Glenbrook North.

Highland Park 6, Prospect 5 (9 inn.): The season came to an end for the Mid-Suburban East runners-up in regional semifinal play at Libertyville. Highland Park advances to face the sectional's top seed, Libertyville, at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Niles West 4, Leyden 2: The Eagles season ended in regional semifinal action at New Trier. Niles West will meet the regional host Trevians at 10 a.m. Saturday for the championship.