Running grab seals win for Foxes

Yorkville's Nathan Messenger (right) steals second ahead of the tag of Aurora Central Catholic's Brian Droeske in the fifth inning Thursday. Messenger went on to score in the Foxes' 3-1 regional semifinal victory.
(Heather Eidson/Staff Photographer)

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YORKVILLE -- Baseball, like all sports, can be a game of inches.

Yorkville was on the right side of a close play in the seventh inning in its Class 3A regional battle against Aurora Central Catholic on Thursday. Left fielder Max Carey made a running catch in the gap to take away a potential tying double, preserving the Yorkville victory and sending the second-seeded and host Foxes to the regional championship game against top-seeded Oswego at 2 p.m. Saturday.

When the ball jumped off the bat of Kenny Litrenta, it appeared destined to split the gap between Carey and center fielder Josh Michelson. But the spin on the ball from the left-handed Litrenta pushed the ball toward left field just enough for Carey to make a running catch. With two out, base runners Thomas Barkei and Brian Droeske undoubtedly would have scored if the ball had found grass.

Carey's catch made a winner out of Corbin Lucas (6-5), who went the distance. He scattered six hits, walked only Droeske in the seventh and struck out eight. Lucas outdueled Litrenta, who gave up eight hits, walked one and struck out six.

Nathan Messenger was at the heart of the offense for Yorkville (13-20), but not by knocking the cover off the ball. He got things going in the bottom of the first with a one-out bunt single, which turned into two bases on an errant throw to first. Josh Cooper, a sophomorwe catcher, knocked in Messenger with a base hit for a 1-0 Yorkville lead.

"We've had problems all year getting timely hits with runners in scoring position, and we did that today," said Yorkville coach Eric Miller, who also liked his team's aggressive base running.

The Chargers (11-22) tied the score in the third when Droeske (2-for-2 and the walk) singled to left, advanced on a Tyler Goodson sacrifice bunt, and scored on a two-out single to center by Steve Hollon.

Yorkville took the lead in the fourth. Luke Lucchetti, the Foxes' designated hitter, led off with a single and moved to third on a base hit by Justin Aloisio. Lucchetti scored on a Luke Gilbertson ground out.

In the fifth, Messenger reached on another bunt single and stole second. Andrew Borneman (2-for-3) laced an opposite-field double that scored Messenger and provided some crucial insurance for the Foxes.

"Their third baseman (Droeske) was playing even with the bag, so I figured unless he's Derek Jeter, I've got a pretty good shot," Messenger said of his bunting. "We did the little things to win a ballgame against a good team."

Aurora Central Catholic had a shot to score in the fifth inning when Droeske singled and reached third base on a sacrifice bunt and a stolen base. But Lucas struck out two Chargers to keep his team in front.

"All my pitches seemed to be working today," Lucas said. "When I got behind in the count, they were taking advantage, but when I got ahead, I got outs. It feels good to knock (the Chargers) out after they did it to us last year."

Aurora Central Catholic coach Michael Armato was happy with his team's effort all season, especially after losing standouts Nick Czaja and Mike Adams to injuries all season.

"Thought we might have a gap shot to tie the game," Armato said. "Little things like the error in the first inning and a couple miscommunications later made a difference, but (the Foxes) got a couple key hits when they had to. We played hard, and that's all I can ask."