Palatine matched Stevenson in hits with 7 in Wednesday's Class 4A Fremd regional baseball semifinal in Palatine.
But twice as often, the Pirates were overmatched by Clemson-bound right-hander Scott Firth as Stevenson, the second seed in the Barrington sectional, came out with a 6-0 victory.
"A dominating performance," said Stevenson coach Paul Mazzuca after Firth had 14 strikeouts and no walks and threw 74 of his 98 pitches for strikes.
"Overall this year we haven't given him the greatest run support," said Stevenson shortstop Kyle Ruchim, who drove in the first 3 runs with singles in the first two innings. "If we give him that - unbelievable. He was on.
"What makes him so special is his off-speed stuff. His change is great and his curveball, some kids were missing it by a foot today."
Firth hit 92 mph on the radar gun in the first inning and his fastball was consistently around 89-91 mph in his third shutout as Stevenson (27-6) advanced to Saturday's 1 p.m. regional final against No. 7-seeded Fremd or No. 10 seed Glenbrook North.
Firth (6-1) went to a three-ball count on only two hitters and finished with what he thought was a career-high for strikeouts.
"The ball was definitely coming out of my hand really well," Firth said. "My curve was definitely really sharp. Part of that was having good energy and getting a good leg push."
No. 15-seeded Palatine (17-18) loaded the bases in the second on singles by Jim Smearman, Byron Skinner and Joe Campe (2-for-3), but Firth got Cody Bobbit on a groundout.
"That was definitely a big spot because it was still pretty early and they were kind of hanging around," Firth said. "That was a spot where I felt I needed to buckle down and get out with no runs or minimize what they got."
Andy Prombo (2-for-3), the Pirates' only senior in the starting lineup, and Campe singled to start the fifth inning, but Firth left runners at second and third with 2 strikeouts.
"Overall I was happy with the way we attacked him and I don't think we backed down in any way," said Palatine coach Paul Belo.
"We couldn't recognize his off-speed (pitches) and that became our nemesis."
Ruchim had a 2-run single with two outs in the second. With two outs in the fourth, Matt Geissler had a 2-run single and Patrick Wilson had an RBI double.
"Our pitching and defense is pretty much always going to be there," Firth said.
"If we manufacture runs and swing the bats, we definitely could be a team to watch out for as we keep moving on."
Palatine winning streak hits 10
There has been a simple reason Palatine has become the hottest team in Mid-Suburban League baseball.
Pitching.
That continued Saturday as junior Phil Brand was the winner and the Pirates (14-12) extended their winning streak to 10 games with a 4-2 nonconference victory over visiting Lincoln-Way Central.
The win was Brand's third in Saturday nonconference games during a streak where the Pirates have allowed only 29 runs.
They have also recovered from an 0-4 start in Mid-Suburban League games to play themselves right into the West division title hunt at 7-4. They'll visit Fremd, which shares the West lead with Conant at 8-3, at 4:30 p.m. Monday.
Palatine continues to roll
By Marty Maciaszek | Daily Herald Staff
Palatine has grown up in a hurry in the last week.
The Pirates have only one senior in their starting lineup but the immediate outlook continued to look brighter in Wednesday's Mid-Suburban League baseball crossover moved to Prospect because of field conditions.
A strong start by junior right-hander Byron Skinner, flawless defense and timely hitting led the Pirates (8-12, 3-4) to a 4-1 win and fourth straight victory.
"This team has incredible potential," said Skinner, who threw a 5-hitter with 10 strikeouts and 5 walks in 62/3 innings. "We're a bunch of kids who like playing with each other.
"We're all hitting and playing defense and that's what we need to do. You feel good as a pitcher getting the defense like we did today."
Skinner used a fastball, slider and changeup to throw 71 of his 111 pitches for strikes. The only Prospect (8-11, 2-5) run came on Jason Leblebijian's single in the first.
Skinner rebounded from Miles Osei's line shot single off his leg in the fourth to strike out the next three hitters on nine pitches.
"Our pitchers have been throwing strikes and letting guys put it in play," said Palatine sophomore second baseman Joe Campe, who was 2-for-3 with a double to start a decisive 2-run third. "We're confident we're going to make plays."
Palatine tied it with an unearned run in the first off John Coen, who had 8 strikeouts in 42/3 innings. With two out in the third, Mike Luschen had an RBI single, Dan Haze beat out an infield hit and Skinner (2-for-3) lined an RBI single to center.
"Those were things we weren't doing early," said Palatine coach Paul Belo. "We weren't getting the clutch hit. We're starting to get it and really pulling together."
Tom Galvan had a two-out RBI single in the fifth. Campe also thwarted a potential rally in the fifth with a nice backhand on Leblebijian's hard grounder for an inning-ending forceout.
"(Skinner) pitched a great game and pitched aggressively," said Prospect coach Ross Giusti. "It's disappointing when you don't counter with any aggressiveness."
Skinner walked the bases loaded in the seventh but closer Alex Foley got the dangerous Peter Bonahoom on a first-pitch grounder to shortstop Cody Bobbit for the save.
"We're all feeling really confident," Campe said. "We're playing loose and getting timely hitting. We knew it was a matter of time until we started playing like we can."
Huenecke
stands out in College Debut
January 25, 2008 - 9:16PM
The Arizona Western College baseball team did not get its season - or Friday afternoon's game - off to an ideal start.
Long before sun began to dip down on opening day of the 2008 Caballero Classic, the host Matadors were in the shadows of a five-run deficit and never found a way to shine a light back at ACCAC foe Glendale Community College in an 8-2 loss.
Haskins
heads to Prairie Ridge
This promises to be a memorable spring for Dave Haskins.During Haskins' first year as a varsity head baseball coach at Prairie Ridge he'll also become a father. Haskins and his wife Kate are expecting their first child, a girl, on April 28.
Emerich
Commits to Eastern Kentucky University
RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University baseball team has inked
two more recruits to bolster their already strong 2009 class. Outfielders Nick
Addison and Jeff Emerich have committed to play baseball for the Colonels next
season, Head Coach Elvis Dominguez announced yesterday.
READ MORE...
Biela's First Pro Season a Productive One
Andrew "Butch" Biela completed his first season of professional in grand fashion hitting .350 for the month of August. The former All-State, All Mid-West Region Pirate centerfielder (drafted as a catcher in 13th round), is currently finishing his instructional stint for the Pirate (Pittsburgh) organization.
Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Posted Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Pirates, Knights look to lead MSL
By Marty
Maciaszek
Posted Friday, March 23, 2007
 |
|
The Mid-Suburban League baseball division races are 16-game tests of skill and will.
And will the skill of Palatine in the West and Prospect in the East put them above the rest in about two months?
2007 Season Preview: Getting Defensive
By Paul Belo
Posted 3/16/2007
Depth and experience look to keep the Pirates at the top of the Mid Suburban League. The start of the 2007 season will have the Palatine nine on the defensive. This year’s team will look to defend their West Divisional Title and capture the Mid Suburban League Championship crown for the first time since 1990.
Palatine’s Biela commits to ISU
By Marty Maciaszek |
Daily Herald Sports Writer
Posted Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Warmer weather would be a pretty good
lure for a lot of top high school baseball prospects in the Chicago area.
Palatine senior center fielder Butch Biela was already hooked
on Illinois State.
Several current and former Pirates volunteered to help dozens of under-served kids in the community participate in baseball drills and play games at Palatine High School late last month.
Allen's confidence breathes fresh life
BY BILL MCLEAN | STAFF WRITER
Paul Belo resuscitated a life last winter. A baseball life, that is. Palatine High School second baseman Bill Allen was coming off a frustrating summer following his sophomore year, when he pressed in practically every at-bat and probably wondered how limited his role would be as a junior on varsity.
|
DATE |
2006 SCHEDULE |
LEVEL |
SITE |
TIME |
RESULT |
|
3/22/2006 |
CARY GROVE |
V |
A |
4:30PM |
1-1 TIE (5INNINGS) |
|
3/25/2006 |
GLENBARD EAST - DH |
V |
A |
11AM |
2-0 L |
|
3/27/2006 |
ST. CHARLES EAST |
V |
H |
11:00AM/ 1PM |
9-3 W |
|
3/28/2006 |
HOMEWOOD-FLOSSMOOR - DH |
V |
A |
11:00AM |
2-0 W |
|
3/29/2006 |
ST. VIATOR -DH |
V |
H |
11AM |
8-1W |
|
4/1/2006 |
PRARIE RIDGE -DH |
V |
H |
3:00 PM |
8-1 W |
|
4/1/2006 |
WARREN - DH |
V |
H |
11:00 AM |
4-3 W |
|
4/4/2006 |
NAPERVILLE CENTRAL |
V |
A |
4:30PM |
14-7 L |
| 4/6/2006 | ROCKFORD BOYLAN | V | H | 4:30 PM | 6-6 TIE (6 INNINGS) |
|
4/7/2006 |
MAINE WEST |
V |
A |
4:30PM |
CANCELLED |
|
4/8/2006 |
LIBERTYVILLE - DH |
V |
A |
1:00PM/ 3:00PM |
12-1 W |
|
4/10/2006 |
BARRINGTON |
V |
H |
4:30PM |
11-5 L |
|
4/12/2006 |
SCHAUMBURG |
V |
A |
4:30PM |
13-2 W |
| 4/13/2006 | NOTRE DAME | V | A | 7:00 | 14-4 L |
|
4/15/2006 |
ANTIOCH |
V |
A |
10:00AM |
7-5 W |
|
4/17/2006 |
FREMD |
V |
A |
4:30PM |
7-6 W (8 INNINGS) |
|
4/19/2006 |
HOFFMAN ESTATES |
V |
H |
4:30PM |
6-5 L (8 INNINGS) |
|
4/21/2006 |
CONANT |
V |
A |
4:30PM |
11-6 L |
|
4/22/2006 |
GLENBARD NORTH- DH |
V |
H |
10:00AM |
5-4 W |
|
4/24/2006 |
ELK GROVE |
V |
A |
4:30PM |
7-3 W |
|
4/26/2006 |
BUFFALO GROVE |
V |
H |
4:30PM |
7-6 W |
|
4/28/2006 |
WHEELING |
V/ FA |
A |
4:30PM |
7-5 W |
| 4/29/06 | LAKES | V/JV | A | 10:30AM | 14-9 W |
|
5/1/2006 |
ROLLING MEADOWS |
S/ FB |
A |
4:30PM |
2-0 L |
|
5/3/2006 |
PROSPECT |
V |
A |
4:30PM |
6-3 L |
|
5/5/2006 |
HERSEY |
V |
H |
4:30PM |
10-7 L |
|
5/8/2006 |
ANDREW |
V |
A |
10:30AM |
3-2 W |
|
5/8/2006 |
BARRINGTON |
V |
A |
4:30PM |
4-3 W |
|
5/9/2006 |
FREMD |
V |
H |
4:30PM |
13-4 W |
|
5/10/2006 |
SCHAUMBURG |
V |
H |
4:30PM |
10-2 W |
|
5/16/2006 |
HOFFMAN ESTATES |
V |
A |
4:30PM |
13-3 W |
|
5/19/2006 |
CONANT |
V |
H |
4:30PM |
8-0 W |
|
5/20/2006 |
MSL-CHAMPIONSHIP vs. ELK GROVE |
V |
H |
11:00 AM |
3-2 L (8 INNINGS) |
| 5/22/2006 | BROTHER RICE | V | A | 4:30 PM | 9-7 L |
| 5/23/2006 | JOLIET CATHOLIC | V | H | 4:30 PM | 15-1 L (6 INNINGS) |
| 5/25/2006 | FREMD (REGIONAL SEMI-FINAL) | V | A | 4:30 PM | 8-5 L (8 INNINGS) |
Fremd steps up, stuns Palatine
Posted Friday, May 26, 2006
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