Baseball: Hinsdale Central rolls to regional crown
Hinsdale Central's Lucas Montesantos stayed focused on the mound throughout Monday's game against Oak Lawn.
The Spartans attempted to rattle the junior pitcher on numerous occasions, including in the top of the fourth inning.
Trailing all game after the Red Devils scored 3 runs in the bottom of the first inning, the Spartans tried to incite a rally by shaking their fence and yelling loudly in front of the dugout.
Yet Montesantos, even with runners on base nearly every inning, shook off the slight distraction by opening the fourth inning with a strikeout.
"My whole life, I've really liked pressure," Montesantos said. "I didn't want them to underestimate me and wanted to show them we're a tough team."
It was just another example why the unflappable Montesantos is a key factor behind the best season in Red Devils' program history since 2006.
Montesantos had his imprint all over the Red Devils' 9-2 victory over Oak Lawn in a Class 4A regional championship game. He pitched 6⅓ innings, allowing 2 hits, striking out 9, walking 3 and allowing just 1 earned run.
The Red Devils played stellar defense behind Montesantos with several players making highlight-reel plays, most notably center fielder Jack Costello and second baseman Rick Mulvihill.
"Lucas has been every game for us on the mound, and offensively," Hinsdale Central coach Jason Ziemer said. "He's the prototypical pitcher you want on the mound in a game like this. He clinched the conference for us against Glenbard West.
"He's a competitor, and is everything to you want in a player and a teammate."
At the plate, Montesantos (6-0) drilled a 2-run triple to highlight a 3-run fifth inning that put the game out of reach. The Red Devils (22-3) captured the program's first regional title since 2006, advancing to play at Downers Grove South on Wednesday. The Red Devils defeated the Mustangs 7-6 in their lone meeting on May 31.
"This feels amazing and is hard to describe, but our work isn't done," Montesantos said. "It feels really good. My fastball was not the best it's been, but I mixed up the velocity. I had to do a lot to compensate because I didn't have the best control. I still have a lot of stuff to clean up."
Before smashing his 2-run triple to right-center field, Montesantos struck out in his previous plate appearance.
"That triple felt really good because this winter I thought I wasn't going to be a hitter," Montesantos said, his jersey caked with dirt from his slide into third base. "I just sort of put away all my inhibitions and let myself hit this year. It's been the best (hitting) year for me."
The Red Devils scored 5 runs in the first three innings to seize a 5-1 lead, sparked by a 3-run first inning. Junior right fielder Blake Edmonds, who was 2-for-4 with an RBI and 2 runs scored, led the offense.
"Everybody on the team brought something to this win," Edmonds said. "I just tried to stay simple and not do too much at the plate today. We're so happy to win this regional."