Neuqua won't repeat

JOLIET -- You don't usually expect to see much develop in an inning after the first 2 batters have been retired.

But that's exactly when Prairie Ridge High School came to life against Neuqua Valley during the fifth inning of Friday's Class 4A semifinals at Silver Cross Field.

The Wolves got 4 hits and 2 walks and took advantage of a pair of errors with 2 outs to score 6 unearned runs and that proved to be the difference in their 7-1 victory.

Prairie Ridge (31-8), which is making its first state appearance, moves on to Saturday's 7 p.m. finals, where it meets Oak Park (29-9-1), which beat Wheaton North 11-1 in 6 innings.

"This is just a great feeling," Wolves coach Dave Haskins said.

Michael Heesch (10-1) collected the complete game victory after limiting Neuqua (32-7) to just 4 hits while striking out 10 hitters, including 5 of the last 6 batters he faced.

In the fifth, Neuqua starter Geoff Rowan (5-2) got a fly out and a strikeout before Bobby Martin singled, Logan Olson walked and Nick Martini reached on an error to load the bases.

On a full count pitch, TJ Swank walked to make it 2-1 and Nolan Jacoby (2-for-3) drove in another run with an infield hit and Martini came home on an error.

Will Mack (2-for-3, 2 RBI) followed with an RBI single to left, Chad Ljunggren added a run-scoring single to center and Mack scored the final run on a wild pitch.

Neuqua, which won the Class AA title last year, fell short in its hopes of becoming the first team in 49 years to repeat as state baseball champions.

The Wolves have won 25 of their last 27 games with one of those defeats coming to the Wildcats.

Both teams opened up the scoring by getting a got a run on 3 hits in the fourth inning. Neuqua struck first when Ian Krol doubled and came home when Travis Weldon singled to left.

Prairie Ridge answered with a run in its half of the frame after Jacoby got a 2-out double and scored when Mack singled.

In the earlier semifinal contest, Oak Park scored twice in the first inning and added 3 more runs in the third to grab an early 5-1 advantage.

Drew Golz (8-1) went the first 5 innings and allowed only 3 hits while striking out 8 to get the win for the Huskies.

Jo Jo Maldanado went 4-for-4, scored 4 runs and had 6 RBIs. He had an RBI double in the first and a 3-run homer in the third.

Sam Picchiotti was 2-for-4 with 2 runs scored for the winners while Travis Otto went 2-for-3 and scored the lone run for the Falcons (24-14).