Baseball: Yorkville's Liaromatis 1-hits West Aurora

Dustin Tomas certainly deserved a better fate as the starting pitcher for West Aurora.

But the Blackhawks' senior hurler, despite his defense turning three double plays, picked the wrong day to face Yorkville ace Ty Liaromatis.

In the teams' Class 4A Yorkville baseball regional semifinal on Thursday afternoon, Liaromatis allowed a mere hit in the Foxes' 1-0 victory.

In a classic postseason duel lasting all of 79 minutes, Liaromatis retired the side in order in six of the seven West Aurora at-bats to ease the eighth-seeded Foxes (22-10) into the championship against the top seed of the Hinsdale South sectional complex, Neuqua Valley, Saturday morning.

The No. 9 Blackhawks, who won their first conference championship since 1995 this season, had their campaign close out at 23-8.

"That's what we have been doing all season," said Tomas, who ended his year at 6-2. "We played good defense and had good at-bats. They were the better ballclub today."

Yorkville scored the only run of the game in the bottom of the fifth when Luis Rodriguez had the only extra-base hit of the contest - a double to left center - to score Luke Williams.

"We had a good scouting report on these guys," Liaromatis said. "Once we got the one run, I told myself, 'It's over.' "

Spotting his fastball with exceptional location and keeping the West Aurora batters equally off-balance with slower pitches, Liaromatis retired the first 10 Blackhawk batters.

The Blackhawks' Alec Losselyoung coaxed a walk to become the first West Aurora baserunner; the junior was soon at third when JJ Rivera had the Blackhawks' only hit, a single to right field.

Rivera moved into second when the Foxes committed an error trying to gun down Losselyoung.

But Liaromatis (5-1) soon extinguished the only West Aurora threat of the game with consecutive strikeouts.

"Their pitcher threw a heck of a ballgame," West Aurora coach John Reeves said. "It was a well-played all-around game. It was a 1-0 game. Someone had to lose. Unfortunately, it was us."

West Aurora turned its three double plays in the second, fourth and sixth innings.

All three twin killings ended Yorkville at-bats.

Thomas also went the distance in surrendering 7 hits.

West Aurora right-fielder Anthony Malczyk ended the Foxes' second with a diving catch and throw to first-baseman Eddie Wilson.

"Previously this season I have had a chance for four or five diving catches," Malczyk said. "I just wanted a highlight for the game."

Shortstop Ryan Tuescher and second-baseman Losselyoung initiated the Blackhawks' inning ending double play in the fourth.