St. Charles North makes more history
The year of firsts continues for St. Charles North.
Five weeks after punching its first trip to the IHSA state tournament, St. Charles North's baseball team made more school history Thursday with an extra-inning win over rival St. Charles East.
Zach Mettetal scored the winning run on a Saints throwing error in the eighth inning, giving the North Stars a 4-3 win, the St. Charles East regional crown, and a spot in next week's Phil Lawler Summer State Tournament.
It's the first time St. Charles North (14-1) will play at the summer state tourney. They are one of eight schools to qualify and will start their bid for a summer state title at 12:30 p.m. Monday against Brother Rice at North Central College.
It's a double-elimination format with the top four teams advancing to the state semifinals Wednesday.
"A lot of firsts for me and the team and the program," Mettetal said. "I don't know what to expect but it's just fun doing all this stuff. Very thankful."
The North Stars made the most of their 3 hits while the Saints couldn't capitalize on their 11. Saints starter Keegan Kochis didn't allow a hit until the sixth inning while striking out nine until walks and Mettetal's 2-run single finally got to him.
"Their guy on the mound was tough," North Stars coach Todd Genke said. "For whatever reason this team understands, just like this spring, you have to beat us for 7 innings. You might beat us for 3 or 4 but we have that mentality to keep grinding and finding ways. It wasn't pretty but we found ways to get enough guys on and bring them around."
St. Charles East (21-13-2) scored first Thursday. Nico Piaskowy and Justin Galante singled off North Stars starter Ryan Litavez (5 1/3 innings, 10 hits, 3 runs) leading off the second, and Pat Griffin bunted them to second and third. Courtesy runner Thomas Paul scored on a rare 2-out error by Mettetal.
The Saints made it 2-0 in the third when Thomas Adams and Niko Klebosits singled to put runners at the corners, and coach Len Asquini stole a run when Klebosits broke to steal second and Adams raced home while the North Stars tagged out Klebosits.
Kochis had struck out five straight hitters entering the sixth but walked Sean Nemetz and Steve Hamer to start the inning, and after 2 stolen bases, Mettetal tied the game at 2-2 with his single up the middle - the North Stars' first hit of the game and the only one Kochis allowed.
Kochis left after hitting Brenden Norberg to load the bases, and Sean Krueger gave the North Stars a 3-2 lead when he walked against reliever Josh Soderstrom.
The North Stars' 3-run sixth ended a string of 21 straight scoreless innings by the Saints this week.
The Saints tied the game at 3 in the bottom of the sixth on Steve Abruzzo's RBI single before North Stars reliever Christian Erickson escaped a bases-loaded, 1-out jam by inducing a double-play grounder.
Erickson pitched the final 2 2/3 innings to get the win. The game ended when catcher Nemetz picked a runner off first base.
"I had a lot of confidence in him (Erickson)," Genke said. "He loves having the ball in his hands. I like his moxie, I like the way he competes."
The North Stars, who also defeated Geneva 8-2 on Thursday to complete Wednesday's suspended game, scored the winning run in the top of the eighth. Mettetal singled, stole second, went to third on Sam Faith's fly ball to right, and scored when the throw from right got past the Saints third baseman.
"You don't want to lose that way and that's what we were telling our kids," Asquini said. "Great battle. A little short for us. Still, it was a good summer. We grew quite a bit not only athletically but as a group too."
* In other regional final action Thursday, No. 6 seed Huntley defeated No. 4 Burlington Central 5-1 to win the crown at Lake Park, and No. 9 Naperville Central knocked off No. 7 Metea Valley 10-3 to take the title at Hinsdale South.