Fenwick finishes Jacobs' summer
After winning seven straight to earn a spot in the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association's summer league state championship semifinal on Thursday, Jacobs' summer season came to an end via a 7-3 loss to Fenwick.
Despite the loss, the Golden Eagles had a strong summer showing, finishing 15-9.
"This has been nothing but surprising," said Jacobs coach Jim Blaseck. "We have nothing to be upset about. I am very proud of my young men and what they did here."
Two walks and an error helped Jacobs take a 2-0 lead. With the bases loaded, Matt Igara walked, forcing in catcher Patton Hofer. Starting pitcher Mike Castillo (4 innings, 6 hits, 3 runs, 3 strikeouts) hit into a double play, but drove in Kyle Magnuson (1-for-4) for the Golden Eagles' second run.
Fenwick starting pitcher John Hurley (3 walks, 2 runs, no hits) was replaced in the first inning by sophomore Miles O'Donnell, who went on to shut down the Jacobs offense for the remainder of the game. O'Donnell allowed just 1 run on 5 hits in 7 innings.
"Hurley was struggling a bit, but was there to give me moral support all the way through," said O'Donnell. "I threw my best game of the season. I had to rely on my curve ball."
Fenwick didn't get on the board until the top of the fourth inning, when the Friars posted a 3-spot against Castillo to take a 3-2 lead. Rob Bach (4-for-4, double) singled and moved to second after Will Darley was hit by a pitch; Cam Verbeke loaded the bases by reaching on a bunt single. Bach scored on an RBI single by Joe Ketcik, Mike Stephany singled in Darley, and Verbeke came around on a sacrifice fly from Reid Rooney.
Jacobs got a run back in the bottom of the inning when Brandon Stroh walked, advanced on a double by Adam Camacho, and later scored on an RBI single from Jon Szalonek.
Fenwick added three more runs in the fifth inning against reliever Jake Vojtsek (4 hits, strikeout, 3 runs) when Bach, Darley, Verbeke and Ketcik put together four consecutive hits. Fenwick tacked on an insurance run in the seventh inning.
"I went with the sophomore pitcher and he said he was having fun," said Fenwick coach Dave Hogan. "We have been hitting the daylights out of the ball, and these guys are just ready to play.
"They would play again right now if they could."
Fenwick advances to tonight's championship game against Sandburg at 7:30 p.m. at Benedictine University.
"I feel good about the championship contest," said Hogan. "We are all set with our No. 1 (Joe Sweeney) and No. 2 (Verbeke) pitchers who are ready to go."
In spite of the season-ending loss, Jacobs walks away proud.
"This is really a test of your full roster, and all of our guys did a great job," Blaseck said.