Baseball: Coughlin's slam lifts Lake Forest past Palatine

Cal Coughlin and Lake Forest stunned Palatine 7-4 Saturday in the semifinals of the Class 4A Palatine baseball regional on Saturday.

Coughlin, who has signed to play at TCU next year, belted a grand slam with one out in the bottom of the seventh to move the Scouts (19-13) into Monday's regional final against Stevenson.

"The guys in front of me did their job to make it a pretty easy scenario for me," Coughlin said. "I wanted the opportunity to bat again."

Palatine (17-19) had built a 4-2 lead after play resumed after the game was suspended because of rain on Friday in the bottom of the third with no score.

With the bottom of Lake Forest's order up in the seventh, the Scouts got a leadoff walk, and after an out, a pair of bloop singles off Chris Refka, who pitched the whole game for Palatine. An infield single by Tommy Verden set the stage for Coughlin's walk-off homer.

"We thought with Refka coming back the second day we may be able to catch up with him a little bit," Lake Forest coach Ray Del Fava said. "The bottom of our order did a great job of keeping the game going."

It was a heartbreaking loss for Palatine, who had battled to lead until Lake Forest's final at-bat.

"It is what could have been, but not what it is," Palatine coach Paul Belo said. "It's just the reality of the situation.

"I am proud of our kids. They did what they were supposed to do when they were supposed to do it."

Belo gave credit the Lake Forest's bottom of the order for coming through for them.

"We had scouted them and we thought that their lower part of the lineup would struggle," Belo said. "And they did, up until the last inning.

"We established the fastball. But you know what, their kids did a great job of staying on the pitch."

After Friday's rain stopped the game in the bottom of the third, play resumed on Saturday and Rekfa came out firing for the Pirates. He kept the Scouts in check in their half of the third.

The Pirates used that performance in the top of the fourth to rally to score 3 runs with two outs thanks to 4 consecutive hits.

J.T. Streepy, who reached on an error, scored on Rekfa's double. Refka came around on Dan Schneberger's single. Charlie Van Dyke singled and Jake Andersen doubled home Schneberger to make it 3-0.

Lake Forest score on a fielder's choice in the top of the fifth to cut the lead to 3-1.

Palatine answered right back with Matt Lamm walking, stealing second, going to third on a passed ball and scoring on a throwing error to make it 4-1.

Lake Forest chipped away by tallying another run in the fifth on a throwing error.

"We fought to the end," Lamm said. "They got the big hits when they needed it."

Second baseman Anthony Portera said it was difficult for him and his teammates.

"It was frustrating," Portera said. "It just happened so fast. I am shocked right now."

Schneberger, who is a senior, said it was a disappointing loss for his team.

"It was a tough way to go out," Schneberger said. "I love these guys, but we had no intention of going out like this."