Baseball: Barrington's Holler silences Elk Grove in MSL title game

Barrington's Nate Holler nearly kept Elk Grove completely silent in the Mid-Suburban League baseball championship game Thursday in Elk Grove.

Holler retired the first 19 batters he faced before he gave up the only hit of the day by Elk Grove - a home run. He then struck out the final two batters he faced as Barrington held off the Grenadiers 2-1 before an overflow crowd to claim its second MSL title in the last three years.

"It was amazing," said Holler, who struck out 9. "I was hitting every spot. I knew after the sixth inning I had a perfect game. (Elk Grove's Zach Schwartz) was battling me and hit a good pitch."

Holler, who improved to 9-0 on the season, had a perfect game going into the seventh. He retired the first batter in and faced Elk Grove's No. 2 hitter, Zach Schwartz.

Holler quickly got him down 1-2 in the count, but Schwartz would not go away. He fouled off 5 of the next 6 pitches, with the other pitch a ball. Holler tried to zing a fastball past Schwartz, who promptly blasted it over the right field fence for the Grens' first hit and run.

"I wasn't going to let him get that fastball by me," said Schwartz, who now has 2 home runs on the season. "I kept fouling them off. I was waiting for that fastball. I knew right after the impact of the bat that it was gone."

After a visit from Barrington pitching coach Dan Pohlman, Holler composed himself to fan the final two batters to give Barrington (27-6) the title.

"He was amazing," Barrington coach Pat Wire said of Holler. "You could tell he had the look of a killer instinct. He was out for blood today and I thought he pitched magnificently."

Holler got a superb catch from right fielder Max Raynor in the fifth inning to protect the perfect game. Holler finished with 66 strikes out of his 94 pitches.

"It was something else," catcher John Seagrist said. "It was amazing to catch and so much fun. It was magical."

Elk Grove coach Terry Beyna, who is retiring as head coach at the end of this season, said that Holler kept his team off balance.

"He threw strikes with different pitches," Beyna said. "He was extremely comfortable on the mound. He really set the tone for their game."

Barrington guy enough offense early to help Holler.

The Broncos missed a golden opportunity in the first when the first three batters walked. Elk Grove starter Ryne Singsank then settled down to get the next three batters to end the threat.

Elk Grove wasn't as fortunate the next two innings, allowing Barrington to score in each inning after getting the first two outs.

In the second Barrington's Nate Gazda walked. Rayth Petersen followed with a bloop single to left. Gazda, who was off with contact, was waved home by Wire when the ball was bobbled in the outfield to make it 1-0.

"If the ball hits the bat I am on my way," Gazda said. "Until coach stops me I am going. When I got to third and saw my coach waving me home I turned on the turbos."

Barrington again struck in the following inning.

Seagrist singled and courtesy runner Tommy Fitzpatrick moved to second when Jon Gardner walked. Wire had both runners moving on a double steal. That strategy paid off when Fitzpatrick scored on a passed ball strikeout to make it 2-0.

Wire said he liked how his team has pushed itself to get this far.

"We win games and give ourselves a chance to be here," Wire said. "We give ourselves a shot. If we get it, we get it. I am just happy for our kids. They worked hard to get this."

Beyna, whose team is 16-10, said that he was happy his team got to oaky for a title at home.

"You play the MSL championship game on your home field and we have had a good year," Beyna said. "Of course this is not the finish you want. The game is played between the lines and they were a little bit better than us."