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After taking a pair of games from rival Naperville Central on Thursday, Naperville North can win the DuPage Valley Conference baseball title outright with another victory against the Redhawks today.

If the Huskies do claim the DVC title - is it the kind of momentum-builder that can help them dethrone defending state champ Neuqua Valley and win a sectional title?

Naperville Central is a team built on pitching and defense, two pillars that collapsed in the sixth inning of Thursday's 9-8 loss to Naperville North.

The Redhawks were cruising in a continuation of game suspended after four innings two days earlier, with Central leading 4-2. North had just committed two errors in the top half of the sixth, allowing four runs to score, and it was almost as if Central couldn't handle it.

"8-2 lead, it seems like we did kind of loosen up there a little bit when they started (rolling), getting a few runs here and there," Central catcher John Holm said. "There was a couple double play balls in that inning that just didn't hop for us."

North converted three hits, three walks and an error into six runs and a tie ballgame. The pressure tilted all the way back to Central once Ben Kelsey delivered that walk-off hit in the seventh, and Jake Naumann, the North ace who pitched a perfect inning in relief to earn the victory, walked out for game two.

"I was hopin' the whole game I'd have enough to finish off the second one," Naumann said. "Got some guys swingin' at first pitches, and it worked out for me."

Naumann knew he would be used in game one if the Huskies tied the game or took the lead, and the junior allowed only four hits and an unearned run in eight innings on Thursday.

"What wasn't workin' for Naumann today?" North catcher Mike Nodzenski said, flipping a reporter's question. "He was able to spot the fastball. He was able (to) throw his breaking ball for strikes at different speeds (and) in particular today he was able to throw a split-finger (fastball) to put guys away with two strikes."

Central threatened in the sixth, loading the bases on an error, two walks and a fielder's choice. Holm drove in Central's run with an infield single to make it a 4-1 game, but Naumann next induced an inning-ending double play ball from Marc Mantucca. It was the only inning Naumann allowed more than four hitters to the plate (six).

"You know when (Naumann's) on the mound that we got to play tough D and just scratch (out) runs here and there," Holm said. "We didn't do that today."

Benet baseball is already preparing for the regional semifinal it will be hosting on May 22. The seventh-seeded Redwings will play the winner of the No. 9 Plainfield North-No. 23 East Aurora game, but it's clear where their focus is right now.

"We've seen Plainfield North last few days. We got a group of people there (against Romeoville) today," Benet coach Jeff Bonebrake said after Wednesday's 7-6 victory over Marian Catholic. "We'll see. They're very good."

Bonebrake described Plainfield North as a team with a strong pitching staff, and a lineup that hits in spots.

"I think they're a lot like us," Bonebrake said. "It'll be a battle for us."

That's how Neuqua Valley pitcher Ian Krol described the atmosphere on Tuesday in Naperville -- an overcast sky, a gathering storm and the sound of sirens. Krol blocked it out, as well as any sense of his impending no-hitter.

"Actually, I had no clue," he said with a laugh after a 7-0, five-inning victory over Bartlett. "It always ends up like that.

"You're throwin', you're throwin', you're throwin'. You did everything and then...Someone comes up, 'Yeah, you're throwin' a no-hitter.'"

Krol speaks from experience after notching a no-hitter in a 2-0 win over South Elgin on April 19, and a five-inning perfect game in an 11-0 decision against East Aurora on April 29. His left elbow was a little sore on Tuesday, but the junior fought through it: "Everything was workin', I just didn't have the velocity I usually have."

The Wildcats (25-5, 19-2) can clinch the Upstate Eight Conference title outright with either a win in any of their three remaining games, or a loss by St. Charles North, which has five conference losses. The North Stars close with a three-game series against South Elgin and are scheduled to finish a suspended game against Neuqua on Friday.

It's still up for grabs whether MLB hopeful Ian Krol will put soccer aside to solely focus on playing baseball for Neuqua Valley next year.

"He's like 50-50 on that right now," said Ian's father Bob. "But I think we can convince him."

Bob said the big-league scouts and college recruiters have supported and encouraged Ian to continue playing multiple sports.

According to Neuqua Valley coach Robin Renner, his team has seven more Upstate Eight Conference games remaining, and St. Charles North already has five losses in conference. If both teams win out, Neuqua could clinch the title during next week's series against Bartlett.

As Neuqua catcher Geoff Rowan said after Wednesday's 1-0 victory over St. Charles East: "We're in control of our own destiny."

The Wildcats (21-3, 16-1) used a solo home run from senior outfielder Chris Kruppe, and another dominant pitching performance from lefty Ian Krol, to extend their winning streak to 15 games.

That conspired against St. Charles East's Chris Burgess, who scattered five hits and struck out six in five innings, in a game that was continued from where it was suspended on April 8.

"(Burgess) probably pitched, quite honestly, our best game of the year," St. Charles East coach Mark Foulkes said. "He threw three pitches for strikes. He did a good job (to) keep them off-balance. They hit the one pitch out, that made the difference."

For Neuqua, Krol has been an obvious difference maker, and so has a defense strengthened at the corner positions. The Wildcats last loss came on April 15 to St. Charles North.

"I really think it's the improvement in our infield, cause we started off a little shaky defensively...Our first game was like an 18-10 (win at Plainfield South). It was like a football score," Kruppe said. "You don't see any of those mistakes in the infield anymore. It used to just easy plays we weren't able to make but now we're turnin' double plays left and right and that's just, again, people relying on each other and everyone (trusting) each other."

Naperville Central's rotation sets up nicely for a three-game series that begins Thursday against Wheaton Warrenville South.

Pat Kaminska (3-2, 2.72 ERA) is scheduled to start the first game in Naperville, while Andy Pucher (5-2, 3.36) and Marc Mantucca (4-1, 2.28) are waiting for the doubleheader Saturday at Benedictine, which may or may not prove to have DuPage Valley Conference implications.

"Wheaton North's in the driver's seat. If they take care of business, it doesn't make any difference," Central coach Bill Seiple said. "We're not thinkin' about Wheaton North. We're thinkin' about us."

Seiple wasn't necessarily troubled by Central's 8-7 loss at West Aurora - it was more the way in which the Redhawks couldn't close out West Aurora.

"I didn't think we'd run the table but I also didn't think we'd come out any play a ballgame like this where we're walkin' guys and, you know, throwin' the ball around. We haven't done that all spring," Seiple said. "The DVC will take care of itself."

Central finishes its conference schedule with three games next week against Naperville North, and the crosstown rivals are set to meet again in a regional on May 22. That would make four games in 10 days against the Huskies. As Kaminska said, "It's gonna be nuts."

The IHSA released its Class 4A baseball pairings on Friday, and the brackets will have a distinct crosstown feel.

After what could be a critical three-game DuPage Valley Conference series in mid-May, regional host Naperville North and Naperville Central will meet again on May 22.

If Waubonsie Valley can win its play-in game against Plainfield South, it will advance to meet top-seeded Neuqua Valley in the same regional. The Wildcats swept a three-game series from rival Waubonsie last week.

Seventh-seeded Benet will host a regional and match up against the winner of Plainfield North-East Aurora.

All these teams fall under the Urbana Super-Sectional -- if the Redwings manage to advance out of this bracket, they won't be playing across the street at Benedictine (another host) and will instead make the drive down to University of Illinois.

Check out the pairings here. Any fearless predictions?

Neuqua Valley's baseball team claimed the No. 1 seed in its own sectional Wednesday.

The Wildcats, which won the AA state championship last year, top what's been called an insane field of competition. Insane, these days, doubles for difficult.

Without further deadpanned delay, here's the top 16 seeds:

1. Neuqua Valley
2. Downers Grove South
3. Lockport
4. Lincoln-Way East
5. Downers Grove North
6. Joliet Township
7. Benet
8. Naperville Central
9. Plainfield North
10. Naperville North
11. Hinsdale South
12. West Aurora
13. Providence Catholic
14. Romeoville
15. Wheaton Warrenville South
16. Waubonsie Valley

Waubonsie Valley had pushed Ian Krol well past 100 pitches on Thursday in Naperville, and the Neuqua Valley ace didn't return to the mound for the seventh inning.

The Warriors hadn't generated an extra-base hit, and already struck out 11 times. It was now up to Rob Skowronski to protect a 1-0 lead.

Jordan Williamson showed up to Neuqua Valley's 10-6 win over Lake Park on Wednesday with good news.

Turns out, Williamson only suffered a severely bruised hand and not a broken one when he got hit by a pitch Tuesday.

The junior center fielder and leadoff hitter will return to the lineup as soon as he's pain free, which could take a few days still.