Pat Schmidt takes a rip Saturday at Joliet in the state title game vs. LaSalle-Peru. (PHOTO SUPPLIED)
JOLIET-(ENEWSPF)- Winning pitcher Ben Santori was backed an eight-run explosion in the third inning, as Marian Catholic broke a 1-1 tie and rolled to the IHSA 3A state championship with a 10-2 trouncing of LaSalle-Peru (34-7) on June 9 at Silver Cross Field.
Eight different players contributed to the 11-hit Marian attack, while Santori (4-2) whiffed five and was backed by a pair of double plays from the errorless Marian defense.
An error opened the door in the top of the third, then the Marian offense exploded. Brent Feldner reached on an error and pinch-runner Eric Hurley was sacrificed to second by Luiscarlo Avila. Rob Cifelli then ripped an RBI-single to give Marian the lead for good. Following a walk to Pat Swanson, Cifelli came around to score when Brad Bohlen’s infield single was parlayed into an error.
The inning continued with Brett Lilek cracking a two-run double, Patrick Schmidt ripping an RBI-single and Feldner crushing a two-run double. Hurley scored the final run of the inning on a wild pitch.
The Spartans had taken a 1-0 lead in the first when Cifelli singled, stole second and scored on Swanson’s base hit. Marian added an insurance run in the fourth, as Swanson singled, moved to third on Devin Pickett’s double and scored on Lilek’s sacrifice fly.
Cifelli, Swanson and Lilek each collected a pair of hits.
Marian’s other team state championship came in 1993 when the football Spartans defeated Geneseo Darnall for the Class 4A crown. Marian’s final mark of 25-17 includes a season-ending eight game winning streak and the Spartans now represent the team with the most losses to ever when a baseball state crown. The 25 wins is second all-time to a 26-win campaign in 1986.
Spartans rally around the school’s first-ever state championship trophy in baseball. (PHOTO SUPPLIED)
