The Milkman cometh
PLAINFIELD -- Who says the Milkman no longer delivers?
Tim "The Milkman" Gindville delivered a 3-for-3 day to lead a 10-hit attack, and Tom Helwich kept Plainfield Central in check as Lincoln-Way Central defeated the host Wildcats 4-1 in a Class 4A regional quarterfinal game Monday afternoon.
(Michael DiNovo/For The Herald News)
Lincoln-Way Central (16-15-1) is scheduled to play No. 2 seed Naperville North in the semifinals of the Naperville Central Regional on Wednesday at 4:30.
Plainfield Central, which came in as the No. 14 seed in the Lockport Sectional, ends the season at 15-18.
The Knights, who have won 5 of their last 7 to move above .500, certainly didn't look like a No. 18 seed as they stymied nearly every opportunity Plainfield Central had.
"All year we've played close games," Lincoln-Way Central coach Marty Dykas said. "We've lost a lot of them -- seven by one run, including to St. Rita and Brother Rice. But that's why we play the good teams, so we can play hard and have it pay off at the end."
It certainly seemed to pay off in the top of fifth. The Knights led 1-0 when their No. 9 hitter, senior right fielder Dan Murphy, led off the inning with a single - the first of five in the frame. Junior shortstop Kevin Kojs then put down a perfect sacrifice bunt and, when Plainfield Central didn't pay attention, Murphy went all the way to third on the play.
"That was just heads up by Dan Murphy to take third on that play," Dykas said. "That seemed to fluster them and we got some hits after that."
One of those hits was by junior center fielder Chad Podkulski, who poked an RBI single down the first base line to score Murphy. Podkulski, who was 2-for-4, then stole second and stayed there as Helwich lined out for the second out.
But the Knights weren't done as senior first baseman Mike Goshorn ripped a single to left to plate Podkulski. Goshorn galloped to second on the throw home and scored when Gindville capped the three-run outburst with a line single to left - his third single in as many at bats.
"This feels great," Gindville said. "I just felt like I was seeing the ball real well at the plate."
While his teammates were giving Gindville grief about his nickname of "the Milkman," the senior third baseman didn't want to divulge the reason behind the name.
"That's just what they're always saying," smiled Gindville, who certainly delivered on Monday. "All I know is our team is hitting now and finding the gaps. That's what you need to do at this point and we're on a roll."
However Helwich wasn't always on a roll on the mound, but the big junior southpaw came up with the key pitch nearly everytime he needed it. Plainfield Central had at least one runner reach base in every inning, and stranded eight -- including five in scoring position.
Helwich (6-2) went the distance, allowing 6 hits while walking 5 and striking out 7.
"Tom just seems to find a way," Dykas said. "Sometimes we forget that he's only a junior since he's been on varsity since his freshman year, but he just refuses to lose."
"I was trying to get ahead with my fastball and use my off-speed after that," Helwich said. "They would get a couple of runners, but the defense always made the plays for me."
One of those plays was by Gindville on a chopper to end the second as the Wildcats left the bases loaded. Junior catcher T.J. Seibt also nailed two would-be base stealers as Lincoln-Way Central played error free ball.
"He (Helwich) threw a good game, but offensively we're usually better than that," Plainfield Central coach Bob Dobbertin said. "We had scored a lot of runs this season-like 270, and this wasn't our usual performance."
The Wildcats didn't score until the seventh. Senior third baseman Andy Garcia drew a one out walk and was forced at second when Lincoln-Way Central second baseman, junior Sam Mampe, reached up and snared a hopper up the middle - which he nearly turned into a game-ending double play.
But senior right fielder Matt Hemmer just beat Mampe's throw to first. That brought up Derek DeYoung, who was held hitless in his first three at bats. Not this one though, as the slugging junior second baseman lined a triple to right field and Hemmer came home with Plainfield Central's only run.
It was the 45th RBI of the season for DeYoung, who dinged 11 homers this spring.
"Derek shattered all the power records here," Dobbertin said. "He entered the game batting .484 and came up with the big hit there.
"We knew they had a good pitcher. but outside of the second and the seventh we never really threatened and that would have changed the complexity of the game."
Helwich made sure there was no other threat as he ended the game with a strikeout on a high-heater.
"I was just trying to get ahead there and definitely wanted the complete game," Helwich said. "Now we want to go string a couple of more together."
The Knights scored first in the fourth. Gindville had a one-out single up the middle and stopped at third on a double to left center by Mampe (2-for-3). Seibt, who had a single in the second, scored Gindville on a ground out to second.
Senior right-hander Al Parks took the loss to finish the season with a record of 4-6. He allowed the 10 hits, but walked none and struck out two.
Parks, senior center fielder Creighton Goss, senior catcher Tony Bjorklund, and junior shortstop Nick Traina had the other Wildcat hits.
