Baseball: Prairie Ridge gets past MSL West champ Barrington

A pair of teams that had combined for 57 wins this year, Prairie Ridge and Barrington, were each desperate for one more victory.

They combined for 6 errors and 16 runners left on base, along with some shaky pitching at times.

In the end, it was Prairie Ridge which delivered the big hit to edge Barrington 7-6 in a regional title game Saturday at Barrington.

Prairie Ridge (31-6) will meet Huntley or Hononegah on Wednesday at the Huntley sectional.

"I am proud of my boys," said Barrington coach Pat Wire said. "But it is a shame that we had a regional final between a 30-win Prairie Ridge team and a 27-win Barrington team.

"It was a great game and I am sure it was awesome for fans. The pitching wasn't sharp. But that was the mojo. That is the nature when you have two good teams battling."

Prairie Ridge coach Glen Pecoraro also won a regional title last season.

"They don't get easier," Pecoraro said. "When you looked at our regional and you saw that you had to get through Barrington or potentially Dundee-Crown.

"I am not sure there were tougher regionals in the state. I am hoping that this sets a precedence going into the sectional."

Barrington (27-9) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a RBI single by Zach Balogh, one of his 3 hits on the day, scoring Tristan Michaels.

Prairie Ridge came right back in the bottom of the inning, scoring three times.

A throwing error, a fielder's choice RBI by Jacob Carpentier and an RBI single by Ryan Schmidt gave the Wolves the lead.

"That first inning was huge for us," Pecoraro said. "We fell behind and then came back with some key hits to give us the lead, and it gave us some confidence."

Barrington catcher Colin Starvel, who was playing with an injured thumb, belted a homer over the left field fence in the second inning to pull the Broncos within 3-2.

"It felt good, but it didn't mean anything in the end," said Starvel, who was icing his hand after the game. "I did they best I could and fought through it, but we still lost."

Prairie Ridge took advantage of a pair of Barrington errors to push 2 runs over the plate in the third to increase its lead to 5-2.

The Wolves then went to Dallas Baptist-signed Ethan Routzahn.

But this was not a pitcher's day on either side.

In the fourth, Barrington scratched out a run on an RBI double by Michaels, scoring Jeff Korus, who had singled.

Prairie Ridge answered right back with a sacrifice fly by Carpentier, scoring Luke Annen to make it 6-3.

Carpentier then made a huge defensive play, his second of the game.

The first baseman, who made an over-the-head catch earlier, dove for a foul ball with Barrington runners on second and third and no outs in the fifth.

Barrington came away scoreless in the inning.

"I felt the grass under my feet," said Carpentier, who was racing near the fence. "I knew I could get to it."

Undaunted, Barrington came away with 3 runs in the sixth to tie the game, thanks to a wild play.

Michaels, who had 3 hits, singled in Tyler Acosta, who had doubled.

The Broncos then loaded the bases and Balogh had a sacrifice fly, scoring Michaels.

With two outs, and two strikes on Blake Swanson, Wire put his runners on first and second on the move. Swanson swung on a pitch outside and in the dirt.

The throw to first was in the dirt and pinch runner Blake Gosswein was able to score from second.

The tie was short-lived as Jon Tieman dropped a single to right, scoring Hunter Martin, who had been hit by a pitch and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Annen.

Annen then came in to close, retiring the Broncos in order. It was the only time either team went down without a baserunner.

"It was disappointing for us," Balogh said. "We fought hard. We had a fun season and a great group of guys. I will remember this the rest of my life."