Dalesandro outduels Godfrey in Bajenski Memorial

May 23, 2014

By Drake Skleba
Senior Writer

CRESTWOOD - It was only a quarterfinal game in the 3rd Annual Steven M. Bajenski Memorial Tournament at Standard Bank Stadium on Thursday night. Fortunately for all of us who witnessed the classic, the game had the feel of a state championship game. With Joliet Catholic Academy junior Nick Dalesandro being opposed by Providence Catholic’s LSU-bound Jake Godfrey, we all had a pretty good idea we were in for a show.

And a show was what we received. Defending Class 3A champion Joliet Catholic managed to break through in the sixth to pull out a 2-0 victory and advance to Friday’s semifinals.

Through five innings both pitchers put five goose eggs on the Standard Bank scoreboard. Dalesandro had allowed two harmless singles with eight strikeouts and he was being out-pitched by Godfrey, who had a no-no through five innings with eight punchouts. Dalesandro picked up strikeouts nine and 10 in the sixth, allowing his third hit of the game, another harmless single.

“We battled all night against a great pitcher tonight,” said Dalesandro. “Jake pitched a hell of a game tonight and I had to battle to keep the game scoreless. I tried to throw strikes and I was careful with some of their good batters. Mitch and Keegan helped me out with their RBI in the sixth. We have to come out with the same intensity we had today and win this tournament as we did last year.”

In the bottom of the sixth, a leadoff walk to Hilltopper leadoffman Rylan Bannon would be the undoing for the talented Godfrey (3-5). Bannon would move up to second on a wild pitch and score the first run of the ballgame on an RBI single from junior shortstop Mitch Boe.

“We knew it was going be tough with the big guy on the mound,” said Boe. “We ground it out with him and came away with the victory. I stuck to my approach looking for his fastball and I eventually got one and took it right back at him. I can't wait for No.1 St. Rita tomorrow.”

Boe would steal second and after Godfrey’s 10th strikeout of the game, score a big insurance on a clutch two-out RBI single from senior right-fielder Keegan Tyrell.

“Nick pitched a great game for us and we played great defense and had some timely hits and came away with the big victory,” said Tyrell. “I had the same approach as Mitch and then got a hanger and drove it off Jake.”

Palm Beach Atlantic-bound JCA closer Kyle Polaski would mow down the Celtics in the top of the seventh with two strikeouts to nail down the save.

“It was a battle of two heavyweights out there tonight,” said JCA head coach Jared Voss. “It was just a great game. Jake was amazing for Providence and Nick was outstanding for us. We were able to scratch out a couple of runs in the sixth to get the win. Mitch Boe is the smallest No.3 hitter in the league, but he came up big for us in the clutch.”

For Providence (21-12), even in defeat the Celtics won tonight, qualifying as the fourth semi finalist in the tournament. The Celtics’ reward will be a 7:30 p.m.Friday night date, with the No.1 team in Indiana, the Andrean 59er’s. Andrean (21-2) eliminated No. 3 Lemont 8-6 at Benedictine University on Thursday. The game will follow No.1 St. Rita-No.10 JCA at Standard Bank Stadium in Crestwood.

If you can’t get out to Crestwood Friday night, you can watch all of the action LIVE with your truly with the call at www.highschoolcube.com
“Great ball game tonight. Jake pitched great as well as Nick for JCA,” said Providence head coach Mark Smith. “They got the big hit when they needed it. We played well. It was a great high school baseball game.”

Dalesandro outduels Godfrey in Bajenski Memorial

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