Baseball: Mac's walk-off hit gives Buffalo Grove MSL title over Barrington

Buffalo Grove's Alex Beihoffer knew before anyone else.

"I knew Brody (Mac) would be the one," said Beihoffer, who was standing on third base in the bottom of the seventh inning representing the game-winning run.

"I was one hundred percent confident in Brody. He has never stepped up before. But this time was his time. And he picked a big time to step up and I am so proud of him."

Beihoffer's premonition was prolific. Mac delivered a sharp single past a drawn in infield to lift Buffalo Grove past Barrington 3-2 in the Mid Suburban League baseball championship game in Buffalo Grove.

"It was awesome," Mac said. "It is really surreal. Getting called up last year and plying this year and winning the game was awesome."

The Bison had runners on second and third thanks to a leadoff single by Beihoffer. Nathan Barbakoff followed with a double down the left field line that may have scored Beihoffer had the ball not scooted under the fence for a ground-rule double.

Mac, who is a sophomore and batting in the ninth spot, then came to the plate with one out. But with first base open and Buffalo Grove's Jack Alport on deck, Barrington opted to pitch to Mac, who made the Broncos pay.

"It was a fastball outside," Mac said. "I was just trying to shoot it opposite side. And it got through the hole and I won the game."

It was the second consecutive MSL championship for Buffalo Grove (19-8). The Bison beat Barrington 4-3 last year.

"Brody Mac with the huge hit," Buffalo Grove coach Bill Montemayor said. "He is only a sophomore and he has gone up and down all year. I am just so happy for him."

It's been 20 years since Buffalo Grove hosted a Mid Suburban League baseball championship game. It has also been a tough year for Buffalo Grove to play or practice on their field this spring due to the rain.

"I told the guys when we won the East, don't take this for granted," Montemayor said. "It doesn't happen every year. They earned this moment and they came through again."

The win also gave Alport his second consecutive win over the Broncos in the title game. Alport went the distance, allowing seven hits and striking out one.

"It was fun then and it was fun now," said Alport, who will play at Beloit next year. "I couldn't do this without this great team. The defense and the timely hitting per usual was great."

Barrington (22-6-2) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.

JD Swarbrick singled with one out. He then scored when Logan Eisenbarth drilled a two-out double to the gap to put the Broncos on top.

Buffalo Grove tied the game in the bottom of the fifth. Beihoffer, who had two hits on the day, singled. He then went to third on an errant pickoff attempt and would score on Michael Wolverton's single.

Barrington got back on top in its next at-bat.

Eisenbarth singled and was replaced by courtesy runner Ben Yaney. With two out, Barrington loaded the bases on a single by Payton Sosse and a walk to Harley Thompson.

Danny Hoffman, who had a superb day defensively at second base, starting a pair of double plays and making a sweet running catch on a pop fly, singled. Yaney scored, but the Bison got Sosse at the plate on a close play to keep the lead to 2-1.

Buffalo Grove tied in the bottom of the inning. Alport, who had singled and went to third on Payton Diaz's single, scored on a double play ball hit by Matthew Wolverton.

Alport retired the Broncos in order in the seventh, setting the stage for their win.