By Drake Skleba
Senior Writer

LOCKPORT - Lockport senior RHP Cole Bellair retired the first 17 Andrew Thunderbolts he faced in Tuesday’s Lockport Regional Quarterfinal game on Tuesday. A two-out walk in the bottom of the sixth ended Bellair’s drive for perfection. A single from Andrew leadoff man Austin Peterson ended his no-hitter. Bellair settled for a two-hit shutout as Lockport (13-6) rolled to an 8-0 victory. Bellair finished with seven punchouts and a pair of walks.

“I knew I had something special going,” said Bellair. “The three-run second inning was very beneficial for me. It was great getting some run support. The 17 consecutive batters retired to start the game was a career best for me.”

Seniors Jeremy Quade and Tyler Hair led the Porter attack. Quade had three hits, including a double and plated a pair of Porter runs.Quade plated the first Porter run in a three-run Porter second. Quade made an rare play to preserve the perfect game with one out in the fourth.

Hair’s two-run double concluded the scoring in the Porter second. Hair also plated a Porter run with a sac-fly.

“Cole was magnificent for us,” said Hair. “This was a great win for us and I can’t wait for tomorrow to play Sandburg.”

With the win, Lockport will meet rival Sandburg in a Lockport Regional Semifinal at 7 at Flink Field on Wednesday.

“Cole was simply amazing on the mound for us tonight,” said Lockport head coach Andy Satunas. “He pounded the strike zone and we finally gave him some run support. Tyler and Jeremy had the huge hits for us in the second and I’m very happy to see our entire lineup hitting the baseball.”

Unbeaten Joliet Catholic Academy Rolls Plainfield North

By Drake Skleba
Senior Writer

LOCKPORT - Joliet Catholic Academy (13-0) crushed Plainfield North 10-1 in a Lockport Regional Quarterfinal game at Ed Flink Field. Hilltopper right-hander Danny Ersham (1-0) fired a one-hitter at the Tigers with four strikeouts. The lone Plainfield North run was unearned. Ersham allowed a two-out RBI single to Tiger junior Bryan VanDuser, scoring Matt Babuskow who reached on an error in the top the third with the Hilltoppers ahead 4-1. Ersham would finish the game with a flourish, striking out the final Tiger batter in the top of the seventh.

“I have been pitching really well this summer,” said Ersham. “My defense made all the plays behind me and I continued to pitch well.The plans are for me to be in the starting rotation in the spring and I have to continue to get better.”  

Monday’s JCA hero, senior second baseman Mike Quiram, continued his torrid hitting with a perfect 3-for-3 day with a double and an RBI. Purdue-bound Nick Dalesandro did it all for the Hilltoppers on Tuesday. The future Boilermaker was 2-for-2 with two runs, two stolen bases, an RBI and was drilled twice by Tiger pitchers.

“It was a good win for us. We did all the things we had to do to get this victory,” said Dalesandro. “I try to do as much as I can to help us win.”

With the victory, Joliet Catholic Academy advances to the Lockport Regional Semifinals, where the Hilltoppers will meet the winner of the Plainfield South-Plainfield Central Quarterfinal 4 game to be played on Wednesday at 10. The “Battle of Plainfield” winner will meet the Hilltoppers at 4:30.

“We continue to do the things we have been doing to win all summer,” said JCA head coach Jared Voss. “Danny was outstanding for us on the mound and is another example of where are other arms have stepped up and pitched well to keep us unbeaten.”

Sandburg Rallies Past Lincoln-Way East

By Drake Skleba
Senior Writer

LOCKPORT - Sandburg (13-2) trailed Southwest Suburban Conference Blue Division rival Lincoln-Way East 3-0 after one-half inning. Griffin catcher Cameron McCaslin’s bases-clearing double off of Eagle starting and winning pitcher Jim Roche gave the Griffins the early lead. Roche slammed the door on the Griffins over the next four innings and he and his Eagle teammates put a dozen runs on the board for a 12-6 Sandburg Lockport Regional Quarterfinal victory.

Sandburg scored a run in the bottom of the first and four more in the bottom of the second to erase the short-lived Griffin lead. Lincoln-Way East closed to 5-4 with a run in the top of the fourth. Sandburg answered with two in the bottom of the fourth and put the game away with a five-run fifth.

Roche led the way with a 2-for-2 day with a double and three RBI. Seniors Alec Martinez and Jim Landgraf each had two hits and a pair of Eagle RBI.

“I got shelled early but I battled back and pitched well after the first inning, “said Roche. “Everyone really hit the ball for us today. It was a great win.”

With the victory, Sandburg will meet Southwest Suburban Conference Blue Division archrival, Lockport in Semifinal 2 under the lights at Ed Flink at 7 on Wednesday night.

“I was really proud of the kids for the way they didn’t get rattled when they fell behind,” said Sandburg associate coach George Fear. “We hit really well up and down the lineup and Jim pitched well for us after the rough first inning.”