Baseball: Maize’s big blast lifts Conant over Stevenson in sectional final

Matt Maize just wanted to hit behind the runners.

The Conant senior stood at plate with runners on first and second with no outs and his team trailing 2-1 to Stevenson in the top of the sixth.

“My approach is always backside,” said Maize, who is a right-handed hitter. “I was looking for us to do some damage, maybe a gap side to the right side. He threw me a fastball. He challenged me and I like to be challenged.”

Maize did more than get the ball to the gap. He took the first pitch through that gap and over the right-center fence for a three-run homer and a 4-2 lead.

It was a lead that Conant would never surrender as the Cougars held off Stevenson 5-3 Friday in the Class 4A sectional final at Stevenson in Lincolnshire.

The victory gave Conant (28-7) its first sectional baseball title in school history. The Cougars will now take their 12-game winning streak to Wintrust Field for Monday’s supersectional with Glenbrook North. The Spartans (25-10) beat Evanston 2-1 Friday to advance.

“It is the first one in school history and I am glad to be in the era that I am in,” Conant coach Derek Fivelson said. “I sent them a 12-minute video of the 1995 Seattle Mariners to watch. ‘Refuse to Lose.’ They all watched it. And all they kept saying in the dugout was ‘Refuse to lose. Refuse to lose.’”

Maize must love playing at Stevenson. He belted a three-run homer Wednesday in the sectional semifinal win over Libertyville while driving in five runs.

“I love it here,” said Maize, who now has four home runs for the season. “It is nice. It is nice to win for the team.”

Stevenson (25-14) was looking for its second consecutive sectional title. The Patriots got off to a nice start in the first.

Brandon Schultz led off with a double. He moved to third on a single by Sam Adelman. Schultz came home on a fielder’s choice by Frank Costabile.

But it was defense that saved Conant. Costabile was robbed by diving Conant shortstop Copper Hanson, who turned the play into a force out at second. Hanson then started a double play that ended Stevenson’s threat.

Conant tied the game in the top of the third. Jacob Szpiganowicz doubled to lead off the inning and scored on Jake Parpet’s single to make it 1-1.

That tie didn’t last long. Costabile blasted a homer to left center in the fourth to give the Patriots a 2-1 lead.

Both teams mounted serious scoring opportunities in the fifth.

Conant put its first two batters on. But Stevenson threw out a runner stealing and starting pitcher Ben Fawcett got a fly ball to end the threat.

Stevenson then loaded the bases with one out. Conant starter Franklin Kirchner got a strikeout and a force out at third on a ground ball to keep his team in the game.

Conant surged ahead in the sixth. Logan Gale induced a walk and Isaiah Rhodes singled to send Maize to the plate. It then took just one pitch to put the Cougars on top 4-2.

Stevenson tried to come back.

Again it was Costabile. He led off with an infield single and went to second on Nick Rayyan’s bloop single. Costabile stole third and scored on Joey Dolenga’s bunt to make it 4-3.

Rayyan, who also advanced on the bunt, then made his way to third on a wild pitch. But Kirchner shut the door with a strikeout and a liner to Szpiganowicz at second.

Conant added an insurance run in the seventh. Arjun Patel walked and later scored on Rhodes’ long double to right to make it 5-3.

Kirchner got the first two Stevenson batters before Schultz reached on a wild pitch off a strikeout. Kirchner got a fly to right to preserve the win.

“I knew it was all right because I have guys behind me all the time,” Kirchner said. “I don’t have to worry about anything when I am on the mound. And when Maize homered I jumped up so high I almost hit my head on the top of the dugout.”

Fivelson said that his team has won big games on opponents’ home fields.

“We went into BG and won the MSL championship,” Fivelson said. “We went into Hersey and won a regional title. We went into Stevenson and won a sectional title. All on the road.”

Stevenson coach Nick Skala said that he was proud of how his team battled back from a 6-6 start this season to the sectional title game.

“We were resilient,” Skala said. “Just gritty. It starts with our seniors. Back to back sectional championship games. It is tough to do. They are not going to know how impressive that is. This whole coaching staff is indebted to them.”