Naperville North: May 2009 Archives

Naperville North took a 3-0 lead into what turned out to be a disastrous third inning. Naperville Central tied up Saturday's regional final on a bizarre double steal that completely changed the momentum.

With runners on first and third, Central's Matt Cmiel broke toward second and drew a throw from catcher David McWilliams. It was right on line but no one was there, and it skipped straight into center. Nick Linne scored easily from third and Cmiel raced all the way home as Mike Fattore lost his footing in the outfield.

That was a pivot point in a 19-6 Central win that no one could have seen coming.

"Based upon our last game with Central, (they) attempted with two outs to score a run," North coach Carl Hunckler said afterward. "So we had on a play (where) the second baseman comes in front and the shortstop goes directly to the base.

"If there is a cut call, then (the) second baseman cuts it. (Shortstop) Alex Khoury sort of got blinded. For whatever reason, he didn't pick up the ball. So the ball should have went right into second. We didn't think we were gonna be able to throw that kid out anyway (because) of his speed. ... Mike Fattore came in so hard and it was slippery out. He slipped and didn't get up right away.

"But, again, it was now 3-3, two outs, nobody on base. We got to give them some credit too."

No. 7 Naperville Central celebrated a regional championship on its home field Saturday after crushing Naperville North pitching in a 19-6 mercy-rule win.

The Huskies (25-8) came in seeded second in the Class 4A Lockport Sectional and jumped out to a 3-0 lead but they unraveled in an eight-run third inning. During that sequence Central (22-14) scored eight unearned runs with two outs.

The Redhawks added four runs in the fourth, and seven more in the sixth to back up sophomore pitcher Dan Ludwig (6-1), who threw a six-inning complete game.

Central's Bobby Czarnowski went 4 for 4 with two RBI and three runs scored. Matt Cmiel was 3 for 4 with two RBI and three runs scored for the Redhawks.

Naperville North placed pitcher Jake Naumann, catcher David McWilliams, outfielder Nick Laskowsky and pitcher/outfielder Charlie White on the all-DuPage Valley Conference baseball team.

If the IHSA wanted a District 203 regional final, No. 7 Naperville Central did its part, advancing with Wednesday's 14-5 victory over No. 10 Hinsdale Central.

Now it shifts to No. 2 Naperville North (24-7), which will play No. 18 Lincoln-Way Central (16-15-1) Thursday afternoon at Naperville Central.

No matter the opponent on Saturday, the Redhawks plan to throw sophomore Dan Ludwig (5-1, 2.20 ERA), who last week allowed three runs in six-plus innings and received a no-decision in a 4-3 comeback win against North.

On Wednesday the Redhawks (21-14) fell behind 4-1 early but Ben Lucas answered with a three-run homer that tied the game in the third inning. They finished Hinsdale Central (17-14) with a seven-run fifth inning that saw only two hits as 10 Redhawks marched to the plate.

That inning was prolonged by two errors - Pat Kaminska's sacrifice bunt scored two runs and Nick Linne's simple groundball to third later added three more.

"All year long, we've played pretty solid defense for the most part and today we let it slip from us," Hinsdale Central coach Tom Dorrance said. "We gave them too many runs. You can't give a good team like that that many opportunities. Too many balls between our legs, too many bad decisions, too many guys (not) in the right spot."

The postponement at Naperville Central pushed No. 2 Naperville North (24-7) back one day to Thursday, when the Huskies will take on No. 18 Lincoln-Way Central (16-15-1). That game is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Naperville Central.

The Knights won't be carrying an impressive seed around the Lockport Sectional, but they've been competitive. According to Prep Baseball Report publisher Sean Duncan, the Knights lost seven games by one run, and absorbed five non-conference defeats in the seventh inning.

Here's Duncan's game story from Lincoln-Way Central's opening-round win over Plainfield Central.

Naperville North's Devon Moon will play baseball next season at Army. The Black Knights recently earned an NCAA bid by winning their third Patriot League championship in the past six years.

North defeated Naperville Central 11-8 on Thursday at North Central College.

NAPERVILLE NORTH 11, NAPERVILLE CENTRAL 8
North 250 202 0 - 11 18 3
Central 200 240 0 - 8 14 4
3B: NN - Helms, Laskowsky; 2B: NN - White, Bloodgood; NC - Czarnowski.
WP: Naumann (8-2); LP: Dave Ludwig (3-5); S: White (3).

Wheaton North clinched the DuPage Valley Conference championship outright on Wednesday with an 11-7 victory over Wheaton Warrenville South. That sucks most of the oxygen out of Thursday's series finale at North Central College between Naperville North and Naperville Central. The Huskies were rooting for a Wheaton North loss and a chance to gain a share of the DVC title. Now both teams can focus exclusively on getting ready for the postseason.

Naperville Central coach Bill Seiple was cryptic when asked who will pitch in Thursday's series finale at North Central College. After Tuesday's 5-4 loss at Naperville North, Seiple didn't know the final score of the Wheaton North-Wheaton Warrenville South game.

"How we deal with this depends on what happened to Wheaton North," Seiple said. "If we still have a shot, (we'll) do it one way. If we don't, we may do it another way."

With the defeat, and Wheaton North's 11-1 victory, Central (20-12 14-6) lost any hope of stealing a share of the DuPage Valley Conference championship. We'll be looking at some of Central's options going forward in Thursday's print edition.

NAPERVILLE NORTH 5, NAPERVILLE CENTRAL 4 (EIGHT INNINGS)
Central 000 012 01 - 4 5 0
North 300 000 02 - 5 8 1
3B: NC - Cmiel; 2B: NC - Kaminska; NN - Laskowsky, Moon.
WP: Klosak (2-3); LP: Kaminska (4-2).
Strikeouts: NC - Kaminska (3); NN - Torrez (5).

Eye black smeared across his face, Alex Helms slammed his helmet to the ground. This time it was Naperville North flooding out of the dugout to celebrate a walk-off victory at home plate.

Again Naperville Central came back from a three-run deficit and pushed a key DuPage Valley Conference game beyond the seventh inning. But with the bases loaded in the eighth, North junior Paul Bloodgood delivered the clutch hit on Tuesday, bouncing a two-run single to left that secured a 5-4 win.

The day before North unraveled late, leading 3-0 heading into the seventh inning before ultimately losing 4-3 in the ninth.

"We have to keep a positive mindset. And that last inning when we came up, everyone's like, 'Ok, we need to get one run,'" Bloodgood said. "Coach was saying, 'Why get one? Get two, end it right here.'"

Once Helms beat the throw and slid in safely for the game-winning run, the Huskies (22-7, 15-5) could jump around, because they still might be able to play for a share of the DVC title.

With the loss, and Wheaton North's 11-1 victory over Wheaton Warrenville South, Central (20-12 14-6) was eliminated from the race with one conference game left to play.

Whether or not Thursday's series finale at North Central College has meaning depends on what happens Wednesday in Wheaton. WW South travels to Wheaton North (23-4, 16-4), which will be looking to clinch.

Today we look at the brutal Lockport Sectional, which could produce the eventual Class 4A champion. Naperville North and host Naperville Central are stuck in the same regional. Benet might have to go through top-seed Lincoln-Way East. Once Neuqua Valley and Waubonsie Valley decide the Upstate Eight Conference race, neither team will have an easy draw in the postseason.

The pairings can be found here. What are your predictions?

LOCKPORT SECTIONAL SEEDS
1. Lincoln-Way East
2. Naperville North
3. Lockport*
4. Plainfield North
5. Neuqua Valley*
6. Downers Grove South
7. Naperville Central*
8. Benet
9. Joliet
10. Hinsdale Central
11. Waubonsie Valley
12. Romeoville
13. Lyons
14. Plainfield Central
15. Plainfield South
16. Providence Catholic
17. Downers Grove North
18. Lincoln-Way Central
19. Oswego East
20. Bolingbrook
21. Hinsdale South
22. East Aurora

*Before the IHSA went to a four-class system last season, the final three Class AA state champions were: Neuqua (2007), Central (2006) and Lockport (2005).

Naperville North has named Jeff Powers as its new boys varsity basketball coach.

Powers compiled a 201-110 record during 11 years at Timothy Christian and spent last season as a York assistant. Powers, who will be a physical education teacher at the school, follows Mark Lindo, a member of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

After nearly two decades, Lindo stepped down in March, though he remains at North as a teacher and baseball assistant. Lindo has also been inducted into the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association.

Under Lindo's direction, the Huskies won sectional titles in 1994 and 1998, but during the past two seasons they have finished a combined eight games under .500.

Powers takes over a program with significant varsity experience. The Huskies figure to return four proven players between 6 feet, 5 inches and 6-9, as well as a class that won the DuPage Valley Conference championship on the sophomore level.