Lightning, Then Thunder: L-W North Wins Summer Baseball State Title

Touching All the Bases: Lincoln-Way North and Prairie Ridge were knotted at 5-all on Thursday night in the Phil Lawler Classic title game when lightning forced an almost two-hour delay before a decision was made to postpone the game until Friday afternoon.

When the game resumed Friday afternoon at Benedictine University in Lisle, North’s Ryan Pellack was on first base with no one out in the top of the seventh inning. Pellack moved to second and then third base on a wild pitch and a passed ball, and Reed Hero drove Pellack home with an RBI single for the go-ahead run. Jack Troike then walked on four pitches, and the runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. But both were stranded there as Dominic Hartman grounded out and Tyler Gaynor struck out.

Momentum might have swung in Prairie Ridge's direction if the Wolves could escape with only one run surrendered, but North’s No. 9 hitter, Josh Handzik, hammered a two-run single to center field to give the Phoenix two insurance runs.

In the bottom of the seventh, Phoenix reliever Josh Reed escaped despite walking the leadoff man and surrendering a pair of singles. The Phoenix turned a huge 6-4-3 double play, and Reid got Christian Blatner to line out to Corey Kruspke in center field to end the game. That gave the Phoenix an 8-5 victory and the championship in the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association's version of the summer state tournament.

Patch’s MVP: Reed Hero, who was named the tournament MVP, drove in the game-winning run in the seventh inning with a sharp single to left field.

Lincoln-Way North’s Leaders: In addition to Hero, Jack Troike went 1-for-2 with two walks and three runs; Dominic Hartman was 2-for-3 with a sacrifice fly and two RBIs; Josh Handzik went 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs; Ryan Pellack went 2-for-4; Corey Kruspke doubled; and Dan Moore pitched three innings of relief, surrendering a pair of runs.

Prairie Ridge’ Leaders: Lucas Keller went 2-for-4 with a run; Nick Samuels went 3-for-4 with a run; and designated hitter Nick Bianchi went 2-for-3 with a run and a double.

Quotable I: Lincoln-Way North's Reed Hero on his game-winning hit: "I went up there and I was actually thinking about sacrificing myself, bunting and getting him (Ryan Pellack) over, and he got himself over so I figured I'd get to hit. He threw me a curveball for a ball and Pellack got to second. Then, (the pitcher) threw me a knuckleball and it gets past and Pellack's at third. So now I can swing swing as hard as I can, and he threw me a curveball. I stuck in there and it went right through the hole and I got the RBI."

Quotable II: Lincoln-Way North coach Joe Skarbek on his team's success this summer after a great spring in which the Phoenix were led by seniors: "How many juniors did we have today and that was after a 30-4 spring where we had all those seniors? Some ask, ‘Are you going to rebuild?’ Maybe not. Maybe we can keep it going and not miss a stride."

Team Records: Lincoln-Way North finished 21-4 for the summer. Prairie Ridge finished 36-21.

What’s Next: The spring 2012 season.