Grayslake Central wins sectional title

Kurt Schmidt (6) Grayslake Central, celebrates with teammate Stefan Falbo (23 after his hit.
(Joe Shuman/Special to the News-Sun)

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LAKE VILLA – For the second time in the last four years, Grayslake/Grayslake Central High has captured an IHSA sectional baseball title.

The Rams did it in 2005 when the school was called Grayslake High.

Here Saturday, while wearing the same Green/White colors, they did it as Grayslake Central – knocking off pesky Johnsburg 2-0 in a well-played contest.

Kevin O’Rourke was the man of the hour for Grayslake Central, pitching a shutout and allowing 4 hits while fanning 7 in 7 frames.

His effort matched the shutout work done by mound ace Aaron Snyder in a 2-0 sectional-semifinal win over Vernon Hills earlier in the week.

Grayslake scored once in the third and once in the bottom of the sixth, and let O’Rourke do the rest.

“Kevin had outstandings tuff from the first pitch of the game on,” noted veteran coach Troy Whalen. “Our defense was solid and, as has been our custom this year, we did just enough offensively to get the ‘W.’ ”

Kurth Schmidt had a double and an RBI, and Agelo Garbano had a pair of singles to lead Grayslake’s six-hit attack. The Rams are now 25-14.

Next up is a Monday game against powerful Nazareth Academy from the East Suburban Catholic Conference. That game is in the Round of 8 super-sectional and will be played at North Central College in Naperville at 4:30 p.m.

“The kids are excited for the season to continue,” said Whalen. “There are only eight teams left, so this is special.”