Dalesandro, No. 3 JCA shut down Lockport in WJOL semifinal

April 5, 2014

By Drake Skleba
Senior Writer

LOCKPORT- In a 10th Annual WJOL/Don Ladas Memorial Baseball Tournament semifinal at Ed Flink Field, Joliet Catholic Academy slipped past No. 32 Lockport 2-1.With the win, the Hilltoppers advance to a 7:30 pm championship game date with No.21 Minooka. Minooka blanked No. 10 Providence 3-0 in the other semifinal at Providence. In this one, JCA’s junior right-hander Nick Dalesandro (2-0) outdueled Lockport’s junior right-hander Cole Bellair (0-2). Dalesandro went the distance, allowing one run and four hits with 10 strikeouts

“I had all of my pitches working today, except when I lost command temporarily in the fourth inning,” Dalesandro said. “My defense was great behind me and the play Dan (Devine) made to end the game was awesome.”

Joliet Catholic Academy (5-0) scored in the first inning on a clutch two-out RBI double from senior first baseman Aaron Markley. Lockport (5-4) tied the game up with three consecutive hits, after two out, from senior Jake Stanton, senior Ryan Dalton and senior Lorenzo Blazekovich. Blazekovich’s RBI single tied the game at 1-1.

In the bottom of the fourth, Markley led off the JCA fourth with his second hit of the game. After one out, senior Danny Weis was plunked by Bellair pitch. Zach Jackovich hit a routine double-play ball to short. The Porter shortstop tagged second base for the force but fired wildly past first and Markley scampered home with the eventual game-winner.
“I knew this was going to be a low-scoring game. I really concentrated on getting the big two-out RBI hit for us,” said Markley. “It is a great thrill for us to be playing Minooka tonight at Silver Cross. Two quality pitchers will be going, so I expect another low-scoring game.”

Dalesandro walked Blazekovich to leadoff the top of the seventh. He picked up strikeout No.9 and 10 , and on the final one Blazekovich broke for second. Hilltopper sophomore catcher Dan Devine fired a strike to junior shortstop Mitch Boe, who tagged out Blazekovich to end this thriller.

“I know I’m beginning to sound like a broken record about Nick (Dalesandro),” said JCA head coach Jared Voss.”Nick is a tremendous talent and pitched another magnificent game for us.”

Bellair went the distance for the Porters allowing one earned run and three hits. He fanned six.
“When two great pitchers hook up, the game is usually decided by the team that makes a fatal mistake,” said Lockport head coach Andy Satunas. “Unfortunately, we did today. I am so proud of Cole (Bellair). To shutdown the great hitters JCA threw at him today was a great accomplishment.”

Dalesandro, No. 3 JCA shut down Lockport in WJOL semifinal

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