Baseball: One classy fourth-place finish for St. Viator

JOLIET - Despite losing the Class 3A baseball third-place game Saturday, St. Viator and coach Mike Manno still felt like winners.

The Lions lost to Bartonsville Limestone 6-0 at Silver Cross Field in Joliet in a game that was shortened to 6 innings due to time constraints placed by the IHSA. But Manno was able to insert all 21 players into the lineup to get them a taste of state finals baseball.

"We were trying to play to win," Manno said. "But we felt it was important for our parents to see all the hard work these kids have put in all year.

"Today's game is for the parents. They need to see their kids on the field. I thought it was real important to give each player an opportunity they would never forget. It is a lasting memory."

Manno showed that spirit when he contacted Limestone coach Derek Renz on Friday night. Manno wanted to insert Dan Sullivan into the starting lineup, despite the fact that Sullivan could not play due to an illness that he suffered that ended his season two weeks ago after a 10-day stint in the hospital.

Sullivan would bat in the second spot, be introduced, head to the batter's box. And then before a pitch was made, he'd be lifted for a pinch hitter.

"It has been in my head all along," Manno said. "And if we got to the championship game, I would have tried to do the same thing. Danny has been an instrumental part of this team this year. The least I could do was reward him a chance to step on that field one more time."

Renz jumped at the opportunity to show true sportsmanship in a championship setting.

"Mike reached out to me about his guy," Renz said. "My heart goes out to Sullivan. That is a real tough thing for a senior to go through. Of course we were on board. I think kids like that need to be recognized and enjoy the experience.

"It was a special moment for them and their kids. But it was also a special moment for our kids as well."

Limestone pitcher Bryce Meyer, who also knew about the situation, knew how important his role was.

"I can see how hard it would be for him to go through that," Meyer said. "To give that guy a shot like that, it is the best thing I could do for him."

Sullivan, who was not aware of the situation until it played out, was touched by the thoughtfulness of his teammates as well as people he had never met before.

"I did not know," said Sullivan, who was named all-state with his .400 batting average, 13 home runs and 35 RBI. "I was told to come in full uniform today and I was skeptical why. It was a great moment."

St. Viator (25-17) missed his bat in Friday's 10-2 semifinal loss to eventual state champion Lemont as well as on Saturday when the Lions managed just 5 hits against Meyer.

"It was a tough weekend for us hitting," Manno said. "Especially coming off of games with double-digit hits."

One of those who did get a hit was reserve Kyle Hammarlund, who bunted for a single and went to second on a throwing error.

"I am usually the guy diving around during BP trying to get himself dirty," said Hammarlund, who was covered in dirt after diving into second base. "I was able to get in there and actually do it, and not have done it to myself on purpose."

Limestone (31-8) took the lead in the top of the first thanks to a contested balk call that allowed the Rockets to score a runner from third. They tallied 4 more times in the third thanks to a homer by James Welton and a 2-run single by Brady Boyd.

"It was not the result we were looking for," St. Viator's Jack Sexton said. "But it was definitely worth it and satisfying."

Mike Ragauskis, who will play at Oklahoma next year, said the experience was terrific for the entire team.

"Just to be down here was pretty cool," Ragauskis said. "It is ultimately not what we wanted. Our attitude today was just to come out and have fun."

The Lions got off to a great start in the season, winning their first five and 10 of 12 to begin the season. But the Lions then hit a bad stretch, losing 7 in a row, before recovering to close out with a 10-game winning streak before the two losses in Joliet.

"The best thing is not many teams have gone through the adversity that we have," Manno said. "Losing guys to injury, losing guys to sickness and a 7-game losing streak. But at no time did our kids not show up to play."

Kevin Napoleon, one of the co-captains of the Lions said that it was great to be with his teammates on Saturday.

"It was hard to come out and play in the third-place game," Napoleon said. "But we got to spend one more day with our team. It was a fun day. It was just a little more laid back then if we were playing for the championship."

Chris Lolli, who was the designated hitter, said the ups and downs of the season were well worth it.

"It was a great experience going from the top to the bottom and back to the top, "Lolli said. "It was really great to do well here at the end."

The Lions' Shaun Falbo, who missed part of the season with a back injury, said that his team didn't want to stop playing.

"When we were going through that big losing streak, no one thought that we would be here," Falbo said. "It has been great. Especially to play as many games as we could in coach B's last season."

Also at the end was St. Viator assistant coach Bill Bentivenga, who is hanging up his coaching spikes after 41 years. Bentivenga was an assistant at Palatine High School for 30 years until he retired from teaching. He then came over to Viator and coached another 11 years.

"It is time for me to walk away, and I am ready," said Bentivenga, who had a fourth-place medallion hanging around his neck. "It has been fun. I have loved both places I have been at. It has been great.

"I am a Palatine guy and I will always be. But Viator has been an absolutely special place for me."