Downers Grove South blanks Marmion

Downers Grove South's one-two combo was too much for Marmion Academy to handle in the Class 4A Downers Grove south regional final on Saturday.

The Cadets fell 10-0 in five innings as the Mustangs took home the regional championship with the help of senior pitcher Zach Taylor and senior shortstop Joe Becht who combined for 4 hits, 3 RBI and 3 walks.

"We didn't play the way we wanted to today but we ran into a really good team at the same time," said Marmion coach Dave Rakow. "You make any mistakes against a team like this and they're going to capitalize and they did that today."

Taylor and Becht - who have been in the leadoff and No. 2 spot since sophomore year - got things going in the first for the Mustangs as Taylor walked and stole second and a bunt from Becht put runners at the corners.

Downers Grove South then put numbers on the board off Marmion pitcher Jake Esp with four hits resulting in three runs. The Mustangs got RBI from Danny Oriente, Matt Zinnecker and Ryan Taylor.

"We needed a heck of a pitching performance today and Jake just didn't have one of his better outings," Rakow said.

The Mustangs put one run up in the second as Becht drove in Zach Taylor and then put five runs up in the fourth, which forced two pitching changes from the Cadets.

Once again Zach Taylor got it going for Downers Grove South with a double, and was driven home by Becht.

"Me and Joe go way back," Zach Taylor said. "We were one-two sophomores for three years now. It's a good day, but it's also a sad day. It's our last game on the field so it will be memorable. "

The Mustangs then loaded the bases for Ryan Taylor who ripped one down the center of the field driving in two and then pinch hitter Joe LaCivita drove in two more.

In the fifth the Mustangs ended it as Danny Spinuzza - who made an outstanding diving catch in the fourth - was driven in by Becht to force the slaughter rule.

Zach Taylor finished with game not allowing a run in five innings, giving up just four hits with two strikeouts.

"They're special, they really are," said Mustangs coach Darren Orel. "Joe I think this is 107 games, I think Zach this is 105 and that's a lot of varsity games. They've been playing together three years now at the varsity one-two, one-two and its all them. They're on their own."