Baseball loses 1-0 in sectional
Warriors come up short in 8-inning thriller
05.29.08 :: Baseball :: Posted at 12:26 PM
(Daily Herald) xNo matter the outcome his baseball team accepted Wednesday afternoon in LaGrange, Wheaton Academy starting pitcher John Lace had one heck of a time.
So when Lace's Warriors walked off the field after an eight-inning, 1-0 loss to Riverside-Brookfield in the Class 3A Nazareth Academy sectional semifinal, the sophomore starter felt no regrets.
"Eight innings, 1-0 -- this was exciting," a smiling Lace said. "I love this. This was probably the best game of my life so far."
For six innings Lace stood locked in a pitchers' duel with Riverside-Brookfield starter Jon Kleinmeyer, with each pitcher giving his opponent little chance to score.
The game's first real scoring opportunity came in the bottom of the seventh, when Riverside-Brookfield (23-12) had runners on first and second with no outs.
On a missed sacrifice bunt attempt, Wheaton Academy catcher Dan Spiotta fired to third base, catching a stealing Billy Vandemerkt. Third baseman Josh Rak then quickly tossed the ball to the right side of the infield, catching a second Bulldogs runner for an uplifting double play.
As quickly as Wheaton Academy (16-14-1) enjoyed momentum in the bottom of the seventh inning, it left just as quickly in the bottom of the eighth.
A single and two intentional walks loaded the bases for Riverside-Brookfield third baseman John Hearlston, who sharply lined the game-winning single into left field.
"That's just the game of baseball," said Wheaton Academy coach Willie Bosque. "You've got to cash in (on opportunities), especially when you're playing a good team like R-B. Those guys are going to get after it.
"I always tell our guys, 'Good teams will always give you a chance to beat them, and you've got to take that opportunity every time you get it.' "
The Warriors placed a runner in scoring position in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, yet came away empty each time.
"We had good pitching, good defense, but we just didn't get the timely hit when we needed it," Bosque said. "Those are the three key things you need to win big games."
With 13 juniors and two sophomores returning next season, Wheaton Academy hopes to be well-positioned for a similar postseason run in 2009. For now, though, Lace and company can feel proud of how far their 16 victories carried them.
"This is what I live for," Lace said. "I (didn't) have to be perfect. That's just the way God allowed the game to go, and I'm grateful for that."
Baseball wins regional championship
5-2 win vs. Nazareth Academy
05.22.08 :: Baseball :: Updated at 9:58 PM
The Wheaton Academy baseball defeated the top seeded Nazareth Academy, to clinch the regional championship.
The Warriors got on the board early scoring two runs in the top half of the first inning. Eric Albaugh led off the inning with an infield single. After the single, sophomore Ryan Dzingel followed with a single of his own, scoring Eric Albaugh from second. On the very next pitch Dzingel advanced to second on pass ball. With the count 1-1 junior Sterling Witt singled to left driving in Dzingel, and giving the warriors a 2-0 lead.
From this point on the game became a pitchers dual between Wheaton Academy’s LHP Eric Albaugh and Nazareths senior RHP, and Butler signee Ryan Salvino. The two combined for 10 strike outs in 5 innings.
In the top half of the sixth inning Salvino hit senior catcher Dan Spiotta and walked junior Dave McCarthy on 4 pitches. With one out in the inning and runners on first and second, the Roadrunners brought in the left handed throwing Matt Fulton to face the left handed swinging Eric Albaugh. With two strikes, Albaugh lined a double to left center field scoring courtesy runner Daniel kuppler making the score 3-0. Nazareth however would strike back in the bottom half of the inning. With two outs Nazareths Ryan Pacyka singled to left keeping the inning alive. With Pacyka on first, Sean Bolton delivered a two run home run deep to center to cut the lead to one.
In the top half of the seventh the Warriors answered with two runs. The first came on a pass ball allowing junior Sterling Witt to score from third extending the lead 4-2 . With two outs and the bases loaded, junior left fielder Dave McCarthy delivered the knockout blow with a single up the middle making the score 5-2.
This was all the support lefthander Eric Albaugh needed to finish off the bottom of the seventh and giving Wheaton Academy the win. Albaugh pitched seven innings striking out eight. He improved to 4-0 on the season.
With the win the Warriors improved to 16-13-1 on the season, and advanced to the IHSA Sectionals beginning next Wednesday May 28th at Nazareth. The Warriors will take on Riverside-Brookfield at 4:30.
Warrior bats remain hot in win
12-2 win over Chicago Christian
04.17.08 :: Baseball :: Posted at 8:33 AM
The Wheaton Academy baseball team is off to a 2-0 start in conference play by beating the Knights of Chicago Christian 12-2 on Wedneday afternoon.
The Warriors got on the board early scoring one run in the top half of the first inning on a missed played ball off the glove the Knights second baseman. But the Knights answered quickly in the bottom half of the second with a two run homer, giving them a 2-to-1 lead. The Warriors stayed under control and struck back with two runs of their own in the third inning of play. Junior leadoff hitter Eric Albaugh led off the third with a solo homerun to tie the game at two. After a single off the bat of Ryan Dzingel, Justin Potesta delivered a single to give the Warriors a 3-to-2 lead. In the fourth, the Warriors exploded for eight runs on four hits to put the game away.
Sterling Witt (2-1) went the distance as pitcher, allowing just two earned runs on four hits, 1 walk, with six strike outs.
Wheaton Academy improved to 4-and-2 on the year and 2-and-0 in conference play. The Warriors will be back in action tomorrow afternoon at St. Francis, game time 4:30.
Warriors out-slug Knights 17-10
Baseball Home-Opener
04.15.08 :: Baseball :: Posted at 10:48 PM
The varsity baseball team is off to a 2-0 start in conference play by beating the Knights of Chicago Christian 17-10 on Tuesday afternoon in their home opener.
Wheaton Academy got off to a slow start by giving up 3 runs in the first inning of the game, but quickly struck back with 8 runs of their own in 3rd inning of play. The offense was started by sophomore second baseman Ryan Dzingel who singled to right followed by a junior Justin Potestas 2-run home run over the left field fence. The offense continued to roll off the bat of senior third baseman Will Thrasher who delivered a two out 3 run double. Junior Josh Rak followed with a 2-run homer to make the game 8 to 4.
The Knights scored two runs in the top half of the fourth before Wheaton Academy came back with another big inning in the fifth, putting five runs on the scoreboard and putting the game out of reach.
John Lace (2-0) pitched out of jams for 4 2/3 frames, allowing six earned runs on eight hits and 3 walks. He struck out four and was relieved by junior lefthander Daniel Schmitz. Schmitz pitched 3 1/3 frames allowing 3 earned runs on five hits and one walk.
Dzingel was 3-for-4 with four with 2 RBI, a double, while Justin Potesta and Josh Rak were 2-for-4 with a 2-run Homerun.
Wheaton Academy improved to 3-and-2 on the year and will face the Knights in the series finale tomorrow at Chicago Christian.
View pictures of the team's trip to Florida.
Baseball
JV Baseball