ihsa STATE baseball - Marian Catholic High School

Marian Catholic
Spartans (25-17)
IHSA Class 3A
State Champions
TRIBUNE | 3A title: Marian Catholic caps
17-loss season with first state title
By Benjamin Miraski, Chicago Tribune reporter Through all the ups and downs of a season, the Marian Catholic baseball team had one believer — coach Phil Wail. The Spartans made good on Wail's confidence with a 10‐2 win over LaSalle‐Peru in the Class 3A baseball state championship at Silver Cross Field in Joliet for the school's first baseball state title. "I am going to tell you what, this is the goal from the beginning," Wail said. "Yeah, you are a little bit surprised. We knew we had the talent. Once we got here in yesterday's game, I didn't think there was any doubt that we were going to win a state title." Marian Catholic (25‐17) used an eight‐run third inning, slapping five hits and sending 11 men to the plate. The inning was extended twice by LaSalle‐Peru errors. "Our pitches were left up a little bit, and it just seemed like everything was falling for them," LaSalle‐
Peru catcher Cody Booker said. "They hit the ball well. We made some mistakes, and they took advantage of it." Brett Lilek, the winning pitcher in Friday's semifinal, crushed a two‐run double to right‐center field, and Patrick Schmidt's single chased LaSalle‐Peru starter Noah Lamboley after 2 2/3 innings. "I was just all pumped up with adrenaline flowing," Lilek said of his second straight big game at the plate. The senior finished the weekend 4‐for‐5 with a double and three RBIs. Ben Santori scattered 11 hits in his complete‐game win. The senior pitcher spent a restless night and was sick to his stomach before taking the mound. But he kept the ball on the ground, and the defense picked him up with two double plays. "Benny's a ground ball pitcher. When he has the good stuff, it gets the ground balls," said shortstop Erik Callaghan, who helped turn the double plays. "Every day in practice, we take at least 100 ground balls each, so you are always ready for ground balls." The Cavaliers (34‐7) lined a few strong hits, including Casey Huebbe's home run into the right‐field parking lot, but they came too far apart to match the Spartans' big inning. "After the eight‐run third inning, I felt I had this game under control," Santori said. Player of the game: Brett Lilek, Marian Catholic, 2‐for‐3, double, 2 RBIs. Key performers: Marian Catholic — Ben Santori, CG, 11 H, 2 ER, 5 K; Brent Feldner, 1‐for‐3, double, 2 RBIs; Erik Callaghan, 2 double plays, 4 fielding assists. LaSalle‐Peru — Casey Huebbe, 1‐for‐3, solo home run; John Hiester, 4‐for‐4, R; 4 1/3 IP, 4 H, 3 ER. SUN-TIMES Baseball: Marian Catholic
caps historic run with state title
The Marian Catholic baseball team celebrates after winning the IHSA 3A State title.
BY MIKE [email protected]
June 9, 2012 3:54PM
Ben Santori didn’t sleep well Friday night and was feeling ill Saturday morning.
But then his Marian Catholic teammates put up eight runs in the third inning of the Class 3A
state championship game and the senior was on cruise control.
Santori worked around 11 hits for his second complete game in six days as the Spartans
completed their improbable playoff run with a 10-2 victory over LaSalle-Peru Saturday
afternoon at Silver Cross Field in Joliet.
Marian Catholic (25-17) lost nine of 11 games at one point and was 17-17 before finishing the
season on an eight-game winning streak. Before this spring, the Spartans hadn’t won a regional
since 1987, hadn’t had a winning season since 2005 and had never won a sectional.
But once Arizona State-bound ace Brett Lilek got healthy and the Spartans started supporting
Santori, they got on a roll no opponent could stop.
“We started bonding, off the field especially,” said leadoff man and center fielder Rob Cifelli,
who was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, an RBI and his 54th stolen base of the season on
Saturday. “It translated into our play on the field.”
Cifelli, Lilek (2-for-3, run, two RBI) and Patrick Swanson (2-for-3, two runs RBI) led the way
offensively for the Spartans on Saturday.
But Santori (4-2) and LaSalle-Peru starter Noah Lamboley were locked in a 1-1 duel when
Marian took advantage of some fielding lapses by the Cavaliers to break the game open.
Two errors helped jump-start an eight-run third inning that featured a two-run double by Brent
Feldner and a two-run single by Lilek. Cifelli and Patrick Schmidt also had RBI singles in the
rally.
“After we got eight runs, I knew I could just throw strikes and settle down,” Santori said.
The righty wasn’t as sharp as on Monday, when he threw an eight-inning shutout to beat Simeon
1-0 in the supersectional. But he didn’t need to be.
“I didn’t have my best stuff,” said Santori, who struck out five, walked none and was supported
by errorless defense. “My fastball didn’t have the pop it usually does. But my changeup was on
today and I could throw my curveball with location.”
“He’s got a great curveball, a great offspeed pitch,” Marian coach Phil Wail said. “That’s a great
equalizer.”
Wail liked the Spartans’ chances with Santori on the mound, the latter’s modest record
notwithstanding.
“The kid’s pitched plenty of big games,” Wail said. “We didn’t give him any run support. He
was a tough no-decision guy or loser.”
But not this time. “It’s awesome,” Santori said. “I’ve always dreamt of this moment and it came
true. I can’t put it into words.”
NWI TIMES— Marian Catholic baseball
team wins Class 3A state title
The Marian Catholic baseball team celebrates its 10-2 win over LaSalle-Peru on Saturday to win the Class 3A
state title. Marian used an eight-run third inning to take command of the game.
By Mike Nieto
JOLIET | Marian Catholic is standing proud atop the Illinois prep baseball world.
Then they piled upon one another in celebration.
The Spartans beat LaSalle-Peru 10-2 Saturday before 2,117 fans at Silver Cross Field to win the
Class 3A state title.
It is the first state title for the program and second school team title overall. The football team
won the 1993 Class 4A crown.
The Spartans won with timely hitting, good pitching and good defense. Ben Santori won his
second game in a week as he struck out five and walked none. He gave up 11 hits, including a
sixth-inning solo homer.
"I just tried to mix it up, nothing fancy," Santori said. "I tried to keep them off-balance and throw
strikes. I know my fielders would back me up."
Marian (25-17) won its eighth straight and put together an unbelievable run after struggling near
.500 from the middle of the season on.
Marian, which will move to Class 4A next season as per the IHSA's multiplier rule, scored eight
unearned runs in the third to take a commanding 9-1 lead.
First baseman Brett Lilek recorded the third and final out. Santori said he tried to run away from
the celebration.
"I told everybody before the last inning not to dogpile me," he said. "I said, 'Go get the catcher
(Brent Feldner)' so I was trying to jump over the fence. I just about made it."
Just four of Marian's runs were earned as it took advantage of four L-P errors. Robby Cifelli and
Pat Swanson, the No. 1 and 2 hitters, had two hits and scored two runs each. Lilek, the No. 5
hitter, had two hits and two RBIs. Cifelli scored Marian's first run as he reached on an infield hit,
stole second and came home on Swanson's single.
"We just wanted to make something happen," Cifelli said. "Coach (Phil Wail) came up to me
before the game and set it was up to the seniors to set the tone. I took that to heart.
"Right now, I can't explain the feeling -- it is a dream come true for anyone who plays baseball."
In the third, Feldner reached on an error and Luiscarlo Avila sacrificed him to second. Cifelli
singled in courtesy runner Eric Hurley, then took second on the throw home. Swanson walked.
One out later, a throwing error on a Brad Bohlen grounder scored Cifelli. Lilek doubled in
Swanson and Bohlen to make it 6-1.
Marian added an unearned run in the fourth to close out its scoring. The Cavaliers (34-7) scored
in the first and were blanked until Casey Huebbe's one-out solo homer in the sixth.
RUSSELL—Marian Captures
State Baseball Title
By Jim Baranski After finishing the regular season 18-17, Marian Catholic was looking forward to the postseason.
The Spartans were anxious for a run like the one last summer when they placed third in the state
in the summer league.
However in their first regional game, the Spartans were faced with a 5-0 deficit and after tying
the game with Evergreen Park, the Mustangs jumped ahead 7-5. The Spartans again fought to
win 8-7 in eight innings.
"We knew after that game that we had to play hard on every play," Spartan Rob Cifelli said.
That is certainly what the Spartans did for the remainder of the state playoff run. On June 9 at
Silver Cross Field in Joliet, Marian
capped that run with a 10-2 win over
LaSalle-Peru for the 3A baseball title.
Ben Santori, who blanked Simeon in the
supersectional 1-0 over eight innings, was
called on to be the starter in the title
match.
"I was nervous," Santori admitted. "It was
a long night before the game."
But, the big righthander was ready when
the Spartans took the field. After a first
inning run by the Cavaliers, Santori
settled in and was helped by a stingy Spartan defense. The only other L-P tally was a sixth inning
homer by Casey Huebbe after Marian had built a 10-1 advantage.
"Through my four years at Marian, I have learned a lot about pitching," Santori said. "Pitching
coach George Shimko really helped me. Today, my fastball did not have its usual pop, but my
changeup worked well. I was able to locate my curveball."
Catcher Brent Feldner knew that Santori would be up to the task.
"Ben is a fighter," Feldner said. "I knew from the first pitch that he was ready."
After Marian tallied in the top of the first, the Cavaliers tied it with a run in the bottom of the
frame.
Rob Cifelli ignited the Spartans with a single to right, and when the Cavaliers worked a pick-off
play, the fleet-footed Cifelli stole second base, his 53rd steal of the season. Patrick Swanson hit
to the right side to advance Cifelli; however, Swanson's bouncer found a hole into right field
allowing Cifelli to score.
In the bottom of the inning, John Hiester had his first of four hits to set a new 4A record for hits
in a title game. After a sacrifice bunt and a strikeout, Levi Ericson drove in Hiester to tie the
game.
The Spartans broke the game open with eight unearned runs in the third inning.
Feldner was safe on a throwing error to start the inning. Courtesy runner Eric Hurley advanced to
second on a sacrifice bunt by Luiscarlo Avila. Then Cifelli drilled a shot up the middle to score
Hurley and, on the throw to the plate, Cifelli raced to second.
After a walk to Swanson, Devin Pickett flew out to center. Brad Bohlen then beat out an infield
single, and Cifelli scored on an errant throw.
Brett Lilek added a two-run
double with a shot to right center.
In the two games of the finals,
Lilek was 4-for-5 with three RBIs
in addition to pitching a two-hit
shutout in the semifinals.
However Lilek only wanted to
talk about team.
"We developed into a we team,"
Lilek said. "For part of the
season, we were a me kind of
team. In the end, we bonded and
worked together. We supported
each other."
Patrick Schmidt singled home Lilek for a 6-1 lead. Following a walk to Erik Callaghan, Feldner
lofted a shot to the right-center field fence to tally both Schmidt and Callaghan.
"That hit felt really good," Feldner said. "I made some good contact."
Courtesy runner Hurley eventually tallied on a wild pitch to provide the Spartans with a 9-1 lead.
In the bottom of the frame, the Cavaliers appeared ready to strike back. Hiester and Adam Happ
had lead-off singles. Then, the Spartan defense came through.
Second basemen Avila converted a bouncer into a 6-4-3 double play. Next, shortstop Callaghan
grabbed a grounder up the middle and fired to first for the final out of the inning.
"We had really worked hard to clean up our defense," Callaghan said. "We have been taking
about 100 grounders a day. We want to win every column on the scoreboard. When we win in
the error column, it cut the runs that other team can score."
In the scary win over Evergreen Park, the Spartan committed six errors, but in the two games at
the state finals, Marian was faultless in the field.
Marian picked up an insurance run in the fourth. Swanson singled and Pickett doubled. Bohlen
then nailed a shot to center for a sacrifice fly to score Swanson.
In the seventh, Santori had two on and two outs when he induced Cody Booker to ground out to
first baseman Lilek for the final out.
"When I knew that Brett had the out, I headed up the foul line thinking I could avoid the dogpile.
I thought I could jump the foul wall."
He could not and the entire Spartans was in a pile along the right-field foul area. The Spartans
were still in the pile as the fireworks began and the playing of "We Are the Champions".
The Spartan baseball team is the second state titlist for Marian, which won the 4A football crown
in 1993. The Spartans won eight in a row to finish the season at 25-17, seven of the games were
in the postseason.
The 25 wins are second in school history to the 26 wins in 1986. Ironically, the 17 losses are the
most by a state champion.
But, the key was the Spartans were undefeated in the second season.
NWI TIMES— Santori settles in and shuts
down LaSalle-Peru's offense
Marian Catholic players pour Gatorade on head coach Phil Wail following their 10-2 win in the IHSA 3A State
Final at Silver Cross Field in Joliet on Saurday.
By Vince Vosti Times Correspondent JOLIET | Marian Catholic senior pitcher Ben Santori said that when he learned on Thursday that
he would be the Spartans starting pitcher for the IHSA Class 3A state championship game, he
was fine with the news.
Saturday morning on the day of the game, however, Santori's stomach told a different story.
The right-handed Crete resident was greeted upon waking Saturday morning with a queasy
stomach that did not settle until he vomited. After the morning jolt, Santori was more than fine,
he was exceptional.
Santori, who struck out 12 batters in Monday's quarterfinal victory over Simeon, pitched another
complete game Saturday against LaSalle-Peru, as the Spartans rolled to a 10-2 victory.
That was the school's first state championship in baseball and the first team state title since the
football team won in 1993.
"I'm not sure if it was nerves," Santori said with a grin when thinking of his morning. "But I
think so."
In contrast to the Simeon win, Santori only struck out five batters against the Cavaliers, but
received spotless play from his teammates in the field, who did not commit an error for the
fourth consecutive game.
"I can't say enough about my teammates," Santori said. "They made many big plays to pick me
up."
The Cavaliers (34-7) got to Santori early, manufacturing a run off a pair of hits to tie the game 11 in the first inning. After that, Santori and the Spartans defense kept the Cavaliers away from a
much-needed big inning, thanks in part to double plays turned in the third and fifth inning.
By the time Cavalier Casey Huebbe connected for the only home run of the game in the sixth
inning, the Spartans already had control of the game firmly in their grasp. Santori did not walk a
batter Saturday. An unassisted groundout to teammate Brett Lilek closed out the game and sent
Spartans from all directions after Santori, who became the focal point of the team's celebratory
victory pile.
"My changeup was really working for me (Saturday)," Santori said. "It was keeping them off
balance, and then I was hitting my spots with the fastball."
Spartans coach Phil Wail said the development of Santori throughout the season mirrored that of
the Spartans, who broke away from a .500 season to win their last eight games of the year.
Santori finished the year with two stellar performances as part of his 4-2 pitching record.
"It was not a tough decision to go with Ben to start the game because we knew we had (Ryan)
Waaso in relief if we needed him," Wail said. "We didn't really expect him to pitch the whole
game because of the heat, but Benny is a gamer."
MIKE NIETO (NWI TIMES): Behind every
successful coach ...
Katie Wail , son Alexander, and coach Phil Wail hold up the Class 3A state championship plaque Saturday at
Silver cross Field.
By Mike Nieto Prep Beat JOLIET | Like the Grateful Dead song, "Truckin," what a long, strange trip it's been for the
Marian Catholic baseball team.
It culminated Saturday with the Spartans winning the Class 3A state title, 10-2 over LaSalle-Peru
at Silver Cross Field.
It is no secret how this team struggled and then bonded and played together at the right time.
From the house parties to their infamous video spoof of "Call Me, Maybe" as a takeoff on what
the Harvard baseball team did, to the Spartans just playing as a team and putting it all together at
the right time.
There is no doubt it was frustrating for coach Phil Wail and the Spartans, but the seniors took
control and once the train got on a roll, there was no stopping it.
A season like this cannot only be trying for the coach, but his family. He and his wife Katie have
an 11-month-old son Alex, and both were there, though Alex may not remember this special
event in his dad's life.
"My rock -- right here, my sounding board" said Phil Wail as he kissed Katie. "Alex was born
the day we beat Marist in summer ball regionals. They mean everything to me."
And he means everything to them. Wail, a 1998 Marian grad, came back to his alma mater and
won a state title. Katie said it was tough to see her husband come home after a tough loss, but he
hid it some.
"He did a nice job of leaving it on the field, but I could see how tough it was," Katie said. "This
is everything for him. He went to school here and I know it was hard, but this what he does. Phil
loves to coach and teach kids."
Katie Wail, who is form Nebraska, is like anyone who is married to a coach. There is your
family and then there is the extended family and your husband is on call 24 hours a day -- or so it
seems. There are phone calls from the media, parents and in Wail's case, it is even tougher
because he teaches at Heritage Middle School in Lansing.
"I am so happy for Phil," Katie Wail said. "I know this what he worked for and to see him win
and the kids, that is great."
There was Katie before Saturday's game with Alex in a stroller, going to her seat to cheer on the
Spartans. A hot afternoon and she knew it might be tough for Alex as babies and sometimes
adults get restless with the heat and humidity. But she was there, behind home plate, to cheer for
the Spartans and her husband.
When the celebrating was going on, Katie stood back and enjoyed it and let her husband relish
the moment.
PREP BASEBALL | NOTEBOOK A long journey for Marian's Avila
By Mike Nieto and Vince Vosti JOLIET | Marian Catholic sophomore second baseman Luiscarlo Avila will have a good story to
tell his friends when he returns today to his native Maracaibo, Venezuela.
He has been in the United States for six months, but what a way to end the season -- with a Class
3A state title.
"Man, this is just great," he said while celebrating the Spartans 10-2 win over LaSalle-Peru on
Saturday. "I didn't expect this. I am so excited and can't wait to get back here in August."
Avila is living in Homewood with his aunt Lliana Ricardo. What would have happened had rain
postponed the game until Monday.
"I don't know what I would have done because my mom and dad had it (set) for me to come
home (today)," Avila said. "I am glad to be a part of this."
Coming through in the clutch: Not only were all of Marian Catholic's eight runs in the third
inning of Saturday's Class 3A state championship win unearned, seven of those runs came with
two outs.
Five consecutive Spartans reached base after a flyout by Devin Pickett made the second out of
the third inning for the Spartans. The rally was keyed by a pair of 2-RBI doubles by Brett Lilek
and Brent Feldner.
Spartan junior left fielder Patrick Swanson said that was not always the case this season.
"Coming into the playoffs, we struggled with guys on base and two outs," said Swanson, who
had two hits and scored twice in Saturday's 10-2 win over LaSalle-Peru. "Most of our runs
during the playoffs came with two outs. Once we were in the playoffs, it is like we were a
completely different team.
Cifelli bags another bag: Spartans centerfielder Robert Cifelli stole his 53rd base of the season
in the first inning to set up the first run of the game. The steal of second off LaSalle-Peru starting
pitcher Noah Lamboley was Cifelli's 83rd of his career. Cifelli was driven home by a single by
Swanson.
According to Spartans coach Phil Wail, Cifelli easily won the East Suburban Catholic stolen
base crown, with no other runner within 15 bases of the Chicago Heights senior. Last year,
Cifelli stole 28 bases for the Spartans. Cifelli scored twice Saturday.
"I was even a little surprised by how fast I was this year," Cifelli said of his dramatic increase in
stolen bases this year. "That extra speed, and the fact that I just got better at stealing is what
made it happen."
Just short of a short one: The Spartans' eight-run inning set the table for a possible 10-run
inning shortened victory, but the Spartans were unable to score after the fourth inning. Marian
Catholic had six 10-run rule victories during the season, The most recent 10-run win for the
Spartans was against T.F. South, April 25.
That was then ... : LaSalle-Peru's pitching staff had been nearly unhittable prior to Saturday's
state championship game. The Cavaliers had given up only three runs in their six playoff wins,
which was part of the 15-game winning streak the Cavaliers had snapped by the Spartans.
SOUTHTOWNSTAR
Disabato:
Santori runs, but he
can’t hide
Pat Disabato [email protected]
Marian Catholic's baseball team celebrates after winning the Class 3A state baseball title.
| John Patsch~For Sun-Times Media
Ben Santori tried his best to elude his fast-approaching teammates Saturday.
The Marian Catholic senior sheepishly scampered down the right-field line toward a gate in the
fence that leads to the bleachers.
No dice.
“I was trying to go over the fence,” said Santori, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound senior pitcher. “I’m
claustrophobic. I don’t like dog piles.”
Once his Marian Catholic teammates caught him, the state championship celebration was
officially on.
And Santori was on the bottom of the dog pile, his enthusiastic teammates attempting to turn
their teammate into a human pancake.
Santori may be a little battered and sport a few bruises the next few days, but the discomfort will
be worth it.
Marian Catholic had done what no other team from the Southland has been able to since
Lockport in 2005: win a state championship.
The Spartans deposed of LaSalle-Peru in convincing fashion, 10-2, Saturday at Silver Cross
Field.
It was a drama-free experience, other than the possibility of Marian invoking the 10-run
slaughter rule in a championship setting.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” Marian Catholic outfielder Rob Cifelli said. “We got used to
people writing us off. We had to overcome some struggles.”
Which is why Marian’s journey to Titletown was as unlikely as Billy Bob Thornton marrying
Angelina Jolie.
The season began with so much hope — a No. 9 ranking in the SouthtownStar’s preseason poll.
The Spartans initially lived up to the hype, winning 10 of their first 12 games.
Then the bottom fell out.
They lost eight of their next 15 and finished 5-11 in the East Suburban Catholic Conference.
It didn’t help matters that ace Brett Lilek went down with a forearm injury to his prized left arm.
The Arizona State recruit and Seattle Mariners draft pick was absent from the lineup for nearly
three weeks. He bounced back impressively, recording two shutouts in his final three starts and
striking out 36 in the process.
“Things got a little rough,” Lilek admitted. “We just weren’t playing together. We were playing
‘me’ baseball and not ‘we’ baseball.”
Which was what the coaching staff told the players in a meeting before the playoffs started.
“We told them they had to play as a team,” Marian coach Phil Wail said. “The kids took that to
heart and they came together.
The playoffs nearly ended after one game. Marian trailed 5-0 to Evergreen Park in the regional
semifinal before rallying for an 8-7 win.
It was the same close-call scenario that happened to Sandburg against Oak Lawn in a regional
semifinal matchup in 2002. The Eagles needed a bad-hop single to avoid being eliminated.
Like Marian, Sandburg went on to win the state championship.
“That game was the eye-opener for the kids,” Wail said of the Evergreen Park comeback. “The
great thing about baseball is you get a second opportunity. In the playoffs, there is no second
opportunity. We got a little lucky.”
There was nothing lucky about the way the Spartans dominated the competition on Friday and
Saturday at Silver Cross Field.
Lilek produced a masterpiece on Friday, allowing just two hits and striking out 11 during a 3-0
win over Nazareth.
It was as good a pitching performance as I witnessed all season. Up and down, in and out, Lilek,
with a fastball that reached 89, baffled a darn good Nazareth squad.
“I did it for my team,” Lilek said. “Our goal was to win state.”
Santori wasn’t as dominant, but was equally effective. He scattered 11 hits and struck out five.
The key was that he didn’t walk a single batter and induced LaSalle-Peru into a pair of rallykilling double plays.
And Marian’s defense, again, was flawless, extending its errorless streak to three games. Cifelli
made a fine play in center field, robbing the Cavaliers’ Kyle Jenkins of extra bases, and Erik
Callaghan showed great range on a grounder up the middle by Levi Ericson.
“It’s an awesome feeling,” Santori said. “I can’t say enough about the coaches. They kept us
focused when things weren’t going too good.”
SUN-TIMES FINAL RANKINGS
With final records, preseason rankings
1. Oak Park-River Forest 30-9-1 (11)
2. Lyons 27-13 (2)
3. Maine South 32-5 (24)
4. Marist 29-11 (NR)
5. Lincoln-Way North 33-6 (12)
6. Marian Catholic 25-17 (7)
7. Joliet Catholic 30-8-1 (4)
8. Providence 29-8 (1)
9. Mundelein 33-5 (20)
10. St. Laurence 30-8 (3)
TRIBUNE FINAL RANKINGS
Preseason rankings in parentheses.
1. Oak Park 30-9-1 (NR)
Mike Brennan drove in Jack Picchiotti with the Class 4A championship run.
2. Lyons 27-13-1 (3)
Repeat bid fell just short.
3. Maine South 32-6 (NR)
Fell to Oak Park in sectional final.
4. Marist 29-12 (NR)
Lost to Lyons in supersectional.
5. Lincoln-Way North 33-6 (6)
Will get richer with addition of St. Laurence transfer Kevin Smith.
6. Mundelein 34-5 (NR)
North Suburban champs upset by Highland Park in sectional final.
7. Marian Catholic 25-17 (8)
Underachieved in regular season, won Class 3A state title.
8. Providence 29-8 (1)
Catholic Blue champs lost to Marist in sectional semifinal.
9. Joliet Catholic 29-8-1 (5)
Won the rugged East Suburban Catholic Conference with 14-2 league record.
10. York 22-13 (NR)
Finished ahead of Oak Park and Lyons for West Suburban Silver title.
On the verge: Grant 26-12, New Trier 26-11, Mount Carmel 32-6, Plainfield North 32-5, St.
Laurence 30-7-1.
TRIBUNE
Baseball | 3A
semifinal: Lilek,
Marian Catholic
shut out Nazareth
By Benjamin Miraski Chicago Tribune reporter Marian Catholic's Brett Lilek was a 37th‐
round pick of the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday in the Major League Baseball draft. He continued his memorable week Friday in a Class 3A semifinal against Nazareth. Lilek allowed two hits and struck out 11 in Marian Catholic's 3‐0 victory at Silver Cross Field in Joliet. The Spartans (24‐17) advance to the 3A state final against LaSalle‐Peru at 11 a.m. Saturday. "It is hard enough to hit him when he doesn't have command, but he had very good command today," Nazareth coach Lee Milano said. "It is going to be tough for the high school kid to hit that." The Arizona State recruit outdueled Nazareth sophomore Jake Bartels, who allowed eight hits, four for extra bases, in the loss. Bartels said he left his breaking ball up a couple of times, and the Spartans took advantage of his mistakes. "We knew it was going to be runs at a premium, really good pitchers," Marian Catholic coach Phil Wail said. "Brett was just a little bit better today." Marian grabbed a run in the second on Erik Callaghan's RBI triple, and Lilek settled into a groove in which he struck out five of eight batters. "I was using that one run as leverage," Lilek said. "And I wanted to go out there and still throw the game, and see if we can get a 1‐0 victory." The Spartans added another run in the third when senior Rob Cifelli hit his first high school home run into the picnic area in right field. "I think we all thought we were in 'Twilight Zone,'" Wail said of the Spartans center fielder's rare display of power. Marian added another run in the sixth, and Lilek shut down Nazareth (30‐10) in the seventh inning, adding his final three strikeouts. No Roadrunner reached third base against Lilek, who improved to 7‐4 with 89 strikeouts. Player of the game: Brett Lilek, Marian Catholic, CG, win, 2 H, 11 K; 2‐for‐3, RBI. Key performers: Marian Catholic — Rob Cifelli, 2‐for‐3, solo HR; Erik Callaghan, 2‐for‐3, triple, RBI. Next: Class 3A final ‐‐ LaSalle‐Peru vs. Marian Catholic, 11 a.m. Saturday, Silver Cross Field, Joliet. SUN-TIMES Baseball: Brett
Lilek mows down Nazareth,
Marian Catholic one step
closer to state title
Marian Catholic pitcher Brett Lilek celebrates with Devin
Pickett and the rest of the team after pitching a two hit
shutout in their semifinal game with Nazareth Academy.
BY MIKE [email protected]
June 8, 2012 6:24PM
Whatever was ailing Brett Lilek and Marian Catholic are just distant memories now.
Lilek was dominant on the mound, allowing two hits and striking out 11, as the Spartans blanked
East Suburban Catholic Conference rival Nazareth 3-0 Friday afternoon in the Class 3A state
semifinals at Silver Cross Field in Joliet.
Marian Catholic (24-17), which hadn’t won a sectional before this season, will play LaSalle-Peru
(34-6) in the 3A final Saturday at 11 a.m. The Cavaliers beat Triad 5-2 in the first semifinal.
Lilek (7-4) is an Arizona State recruit who was drafted in the 37th round of this week’s draft by
the Seattle Mariners. He lived up to that resume on Friday in his first outing against Nazareth
since 2010.
“High-end Division I guy,” Nazareth coach Lee Milano said. “If he hadn’t been shut down five
weeks of the season, he probably would have been a higher round pick. ... It’s tough enough to
hit him when he doesn’t have command.
“But he had command today.”
“He was just hitting his spots really well, moving the ball up, down,” Nazareth pitcher Jake
Bartels said. “He was changing up his offspeed. He was really keeping us off balance as hitters.”
Marian, meanwhile, was scratching away against Bartels (7-3).
Lilek (2-for-2, RBI) singled with one out in the second and pinch-runner Eric Hurley scored on a
triple to left-center by Erik Callaghan (2-for-3, RBI).
The Spartans made it 2-0 in the third when senior Rob Cifelli (2-for-3, run, RBI) hit his first prep
homer to the Bud Beach, a small seating area in front of the main wall in right field.
“I didn’t think it was gone,” Cifelli said. “I don’t even know what that feels like.”
“Off the bat, I thought, ‘Maybe this is just going to be a popout,’” Bartels said. Then I saw our
right fielder going back [and thought], ‘It’s going on the beach.’ ’’
Pat Schmidt’s leadoff triple to right and Lilek’s sacrifice fly in the sixth accounted for Marian’s
final run and the Spartans’ ace did the rest.
“When Brett pitches, it’s especially challenging because you don’t want to wait back on your
heels,” Cifelli said. “Last year you’d see a lot of errors because guys wouldn’t be expecting the
ball. This year we’ve definitely turned that around.”
Lilek struck out the side in the fourth and seventh. He walked four, hit one and committed two
balks, but picked off one runner and allowed just two runners past first base.
“I was excited more than nervous,” he said. “I’m doing it for my team. I wanted to get a state bid
and we did. Now I want us to win state.”
Bartels went the distance, allowing eight hits and two walks while striking out four.
Despite the loss, Nazareth (30-10) is assured of its second consecutive state trophy.
“I really think it’s a testament to the kids,” said Milano, whose team was fourth last season. “We
lost every starter from last year’s team. We started two sophomores and five juniors on any given
day. Expectations for people outside the program were we would not be back here.”
The Roadrunners lost senior right fielder Sean Maloney to a dislocated shoulder in the fifth
inning, Maloney, who originally dislocated his shoulder in the first game of the season and
returned a week later, was injured while trying to catch Devin Pickett’s triple.
NWI TIMES—Marian Catholic tops
Nazareth Academy, to play for Class 3A
baseball championship
Marian Catholic players celebrate with pitcher Brett Lilek after their 3-0 win over Nazareth Academy in the
class 3A state semifinals at Silver Cross Field in Joliet on Friday, June 8, 2012.
By Mike Nieto [email protected], (219) 933‐3232 JOLIET | Brett Lilek made it look easy.
The senior lefty was dominating in an 11-strikeout performance Friday afternoon to lead Marian
Catholic to a 3-0 win over East Suburban Conference rival Nazareth Academy in one IHSA
Class 3A semifinal at Silver Cross Field.
The Spartans (24-17) won their seventh straight and will play LaSalle-Peru at 11 a.m. today for
the state championship. It is the first time Marian will play for a state baseball title.
The school is looking to win just the second team title in school history. The football team won
the 1994 Class 4A title.
Lilek said he was ready to pitch and getting a 1-0 lead helped.
“I was excited more than nervous,” Lilek said. “I got to relax a little bit because when one run
crosses the plate, it's not that big of a deal. I was using that one run as leverage. I wanted to see if
we can get a 1-0 victory and we got two more.”
The Arizona State recruit gave up just two hits, while also walking four. He did not allow a
runner past first base until the sixth inning.
The Roadrunners hit just three balls out of the infield and Lilek struck out eight through four
innings. He was clocked between 86 and 89
mph on most of his pitches.
“We have had good pitching (through the
tournament),” Marian coach Phil Wail said.
“Brett was on today and really stepped it up.”
The two teams split their two regular-season
meetings. Lilek did not face the Roadrunners in
either game.
Marian pitchers have thrown shutouts in three of
the last four games with Lilek having two of
them. He gave up two unearned runs in the
Lincoln-Way Sectional win over the host
Warriors.
Nazareth pitcher Jake Bartels said Lilek kept
them guessing the whole game.
“He threw several changes, and he hit his
spots,” Bartels said. “He was in control and he
was on.”
The Spartans scored in the second as Lilek
singled and Eric Hurley ran for him. Erik
Callaghan followed with a triple, scoring
Hurley. It was the first of three Marian triples.
Robby Cifelli led off the bottom of the third with a home run, the first of his prep career.
“I didn't even know what it feels like,” he said. “I didn't know it was gone. I was gonna try to get
three (bases) on it. It was just a special moment."
Lilek drove in the third and final run with a sacrifice fly, scoring Pat Schmidt, who led off the
sixth with a triple.
MIKE NIETO (NWI TIMES): Marian
Catholic baseball team ready to make history
Marian Catholic's Robby Cifelli slides back to first base in Marian's 3-0 win over Nazareth Academy in the Class 3A state
semifinals at Silver Cross Field in Joliet. Cifeli hit his first high school home run in the semifinal.
By Mike Nieto Prep Beat JOLIET | Before the Class 3A playoffs began Marian Catholic baseball coach Phil Wail
challenged his seniors by asking them what legacy they wanted to leave.
At that point, it didn't look like the team had enough to make a run. The Spartans beat Oak Lawn
in the regular-season finale to finish 17-17. Had they lost the game, they would have entered the
postseason under .500.
The East Suburban Catholic Conference schedule was a meat grinder as Marian was 5-11 in
league play. This group decided its legacy would be to play into June and it has. The Spartans
will try to win the program's first state title when they face LaSalle-Peru at 11 a.m. today at
Silver Cross Field.
It is ironic that due to the program's past lack of success is why Marian does not get the
multiplier applied to non-boundary schools and it was put into Class 3A. Because of its success,
it will be in 4A next season.
This is truly a different team with the same players than it was a month ago.
Friday's winning pitcher Brett Lilek talked about the team getting chemistry and that is part of
why the team is having success.
"We had a house party and we just do things together (off the field)," Lilek said. "We are playing
together."
That has translated to doing the right things on the field. That means not worrying about
individual statistics like many did in the early season. If you have watched Marian recently, it is
getting its bunts down, doing the little things.
The team traveled to Sanford, Fla. in the spring and bonded, but they drifted apart, several
players said, as the season moved on. It was a fast start, a lull in the middle and now coming on
like gangbusters.
Good pitching is a big reason Marian will try to win the school's second team title, joining the
football program.
Lilek has not given up an earned run in his three postseason starts. He struck out 10 in the 4-0
T.F. North Regional final win over Illiana Christian, 15 in a win over Lincoln-Way West, a game
in which both Lincoln-Way West's runs were unearned. He threw a two-hit, 11-strikeout shutout
on Friday.
And don't forget "Humbuddy Bud," the baseball in their dugout with that inscription on it. It has
also been a "Marian" thing that the players like to take "seriously."
"There's a few Humbuddy Buds out there," said Robby Cifelli, who hit his first high school
homer on Friday. "It's with us."
The Spartans are where they want to be and though it was little rocky of a road, they are in
position to make history. Coach Phil Wail said he will go with either Ben Santori or Ryan Waaso
today.
Prep baseball | notebook NWI TIMES— Cifelli comes up big in
semifinal for Marian Catholic baseball team
Marian Catholic's Rob Cifelli watches his solo home run Marian's 3-0 win over Nazareth Academy in the
Class 3A state semifinals at Silver Cross Field in Joliet on Friday. It was Cifeli's first high school homer.
By Mike Nieto and Tim Cronin Times Staff JOLIET | At 5-foot-6, Rob Cifelli is the shortest man on the Marian Catholic roster.
He stood 10 feet tall in the estimation of teammates after smacking a home run in the top of the
third inning Friday against Nazareth Academy. For Cifelli, a senior, it was the first homer of his
prep career.
"I thought I was in the Twilight Zone," head coach Phil Wail said.
"It came at an opportune time," Cifelli said. "I didn't think it was gone when I hit it."
That opinion was shared by most of the 1,441 spectators.
The high fly to right field by the left-handed hitter carried in the warm air and settled in the
middle of the "Bud Beach," a nook of Silver Cross Field that juts about 10 feet in front of the rest
of the right field wall, which is only 327 feet at the foul line.
Marian Catholic profited from the beach more than the Slammers, or their predecessor, the
Jackhammers, have, from the area filled with beach chairs.
The Jackhammers put it in thinking Anheuser-Busch would pay for the sponsorship. The beer
giant didn't, and the name was left on anyway.
Burned: Cifelli was red-faced when he came back to the dugout in the top of the fifth. He was
picked off after an infield single to second. That was the trigger on a moderately zany halfinning.
Pat Swanson, at the plate with Nazareth's Jake Bartels picked Cifelli off, then walked, but took
off when Bartels' pickoff throw directed at him sailed past Dominic Purpura and caromed off the
wall. Swanson roared around second but ran out of steam heading toward third and was thrown
out by right fielder Sean Maloney.
Marian right fielder Devin Pickett then proceeded to belt a triple to right field, one of three on
the day by the Spartans. He was stranded there, as was Erik Callaghan in the second inning after
his smash into the gap in left. The only Marian tripler to score was Pat Schmidt, who scored on
pitcher Brett Lilek's sacrifice in the sixth.
A funny thing happened: The improbability of Marian Catholic's stretch run is not lost on the
players. A team that went 5-11 in the East Suburban Catholic Conference, splitting the season
series with Nazareth, and stood 17-17 with a game to go in the regular season, is one victory
away from the Spartans' first state baseball title.
"It's unreal," catcher Mitch Weissenhofer said. "It's just an amazing feeling. At the beginning of
the season, we thought this was going to happen, but then things just went downhill. Then things
started coming together again."
Weissenhofer knew when the tide became a tidal wave.
"As soon as we won our regional," he said. "After 26 years of no regionals, as soon as we won
that, I knew things were coming together for us."
Only LaSalle Peru, a 5-2 winner over Troy Triad, stands between Marian and the Class 3A title
trophy.
NWI TIMES— Marian catcher sheds light
on Lilek's performance
By Tim Cronin Times Correspondent JOLIET | Mitch Weissenhofer had the
best view of Brett Lilek's bravura
performance for Marian Catholic on
Friday afternoon.
Weissenhofer caught Lilek's 11strikeout showcase, one in which he
threw 43 strikes and allowed only
three balls to be hit out of the infield,
two of them Nazareth Academy's only
hits in Marian's 3-0 Class 3A state
semifinal victory.
The stellar showing came on top of
Lilek's 15-strikeout gem in the
Spartans' sectional final romp over
Lincoln-Way West.
It was nothing new to Weissenhofer.
"He just stays consistent,"
Weissenhofer said. "It's always as
good as he is. He had the same stuff in
the sectional final, but this was a better
team than Lincoln-Way West."
Lilek, bound for Arizona State, pitched
a game that the Sun Devils would have
accepted. He was dominant throughout, with eight strikeouts in the first four innings – four of
them called third strikes – and, aside from hitting Tim Getty, struck out the side to finish
Nazareth off in the seventh.
The 11 strikeouts tied the Class 3A record for a state tournament game, matching Jake Odorizzi's
effort for Highland against Crystal Lake Central in a 2008 semifinal.
Lilek, who missed five weeks during the season with tendinitis – hence his 7-4 record – was
never ruffled. Instead, he flummoxed the Roadrunners.
"He was really keeping us off balance as hitters," said Nazareth pitcher Jake Bartels, who struck
out twice and grounded to short. "He was tough to pick up on. On a few pitches, he was really
bringing it, but the real game-changer for him was how he was able to spot the ball.
"He was moving the ball in and out, up, down. He wasn't throwing anything over the middle of
the plate."
The only hits were by Kyle Piotrowski, a sharp single to center to lead off the game, and by
Marc Perrone with one out in the third. Neither advanced. In fact, nobody got past second base,
not with Lilek throwing strikes that reached 89 mph – the number matches his strikeouts for the
season. And most of those pitches nibbled at corners.
"We start off with a fastball inside, and from then on, we just go," Weissenhofer said. "We go
offspeed and keep mixing it up, going inside-outside.
"It was just amazing. I'm sure he had some nerves. All of us had nerves, but Brett just puts that
aside and focuses on what he really wants."
Pacific 12 opponents of Arizona State have been warned.
RUSSELL—
Marian, Lilek Blank Nazareth
By Dennis Bowling Marian Catholic's highly touted senior ace pitcher Brett Lilek is finishing his Spartan varsity
baseball career with the Spartans on a very high note. He was recently drafted by the Seattle
Mariners. And, he helped the Spartans to move a step closer to their ultimate goal -- that of a
Class 3A state title on June 8.
Lilek was in unstoppable form. On the mound, he tossed an impressive two hitter, struck out 11
batters and walked three. With the bat, he had two hits and drove in a run to help Marian
Catholic beat Nazareth Academy 3-0 in the state semifinal contest at Silver Cross Field in Joliet.
With the win, the Spartans have made it to the big dance, and they were in the title game for the
first time in school history.
Getting to the title game for Lilek was an easy task. His defense was impressive throughout the
contest. In the top of the seventh inning, he displayed great poise in closing out the Roadrunners.
Lilek struck out Ryan Marske for the first out of the frame. He then hit Dominic Purpura as he
went to first base. Lilek then focused in a big way, getting pinch hitter Eddie Gengo and Mark
Perrone on strikes to end the game as the Spartan fans could celebrate.
"We were just a better team," declared Spartan catcher Mitch Weissenhofer. "This was a good
opportunity. We were playing people that we knew.
"Brett and I were on the same page. We started with inside pitches and then went to off speed
pitches. We just kept mixing up and moving the ball around. Brett was strong and consistent. We
were nervous but we quickly put that aside. We feel very good about this win."
Lilek, who improves his overall mark to 7-4, summarized the Spartans' biggest win in school
history.
"I am really doing it for my team," he said. "I was excited more than nervous. I just turned it up a
notch at the plate."
"Brett just kept them off balance," said Spartans coach Phil Wail. "The key was our ability to
jump ahead. That really gave us confidence. We did have some good at bats. "
Marian Catholic scored one run in the second inning. After one out, Lilek singled to right field.
Erik Callaghan blasted a triple to left field and, on the play, courtesy runner Eric Hurley scored
for a 1-0 lead.
The Spartans' Rob Cifelli smashed his first-ever home run to right field for a 2-0 advantage as his
fly ball landed in the Bud Beach, which is a picnic area shorting the distance to the wall.
"Rob made great contact," said Weissenhofer. "He is a pretty good hitter."
"That was my first home run ever," said Cifelli. "I just did not think that it was gone. That was a
really special moment for me."
Marian Catholic had a chance to score in the fourth inning but came away empty handed. After
one out, Lilek singled. Callaghan singled and went to second base on a throw into third.
Weissenhofer struck out and Luiscarlo Avila made the third out of the inning.
After two outs in the fifth inning, Marian's Devin Pickett tripled to right field. But, Brad Bohlen
grounded out to end the possible scoring threat.
Marian Catholic's Pat Schmidt smashed a triple to right field to start the sixth inning. Lilek's deep
sacrifice fly to centerfield plated Schmidt for the third run.
TRIBUNE Baseball | 3A Crestwood
Supersectional: Marian Catholic edges
Simeon in 8 to advance
By Mike Helfgot Special to the Tribune
Devin Pickett was only on base because his speed forced a Simeon error. It also made him the ideal candidate to score the game's only run. Pickett narrowly avoided Simeon catcher Blake Hickman's tag to score from second on Brett Lilek's eighth‐inning single, and Marian Catholic advanced to the state baseball tournament for the first time with a 1‐0 victory against the Wolverines on Monday in the Class 3A Crestwood Supersectional at Standard Bank Stadium. Ben Santori pitched a three‐hitter with 12 strikeouts and no walks to outlast Simeon lefty Darius Day and set up a state‐semifinal showdown with East Suburban Catholic Conference rival Nazareth at noon Friday in Joliet. "Three years in a row we were under .500, our senior year we're going down to Joliet," Pickett said. "I've been waiting for this since my freshman year. I'm at a loss for words." After leaving two runners on in the second and three in the third due to a terrific catch by Simeon center fielder Corey Ray, Marian (23‐17) did not threaten again until the eighth. With one out, the Iowa‐bound Pickett hit a slow roller to first and reached because the ball popped out of the first baseman's glove as he dove to beat Pickett to the bag. Pickett stole second and eluded Hickman, his future Iowa teammate, by inches on Lilek's single as right fielder's Shane Brown throw landed a few feet up the third‐base line. "I played with all these guys during the summer," Pickett said. "I knew Shane has a very strong arm and I was going to have to go hard and make a good slide. I saw where Blake was setting up to catch the ball. Right where he was setting up, I evaded the tag and got around him." Simeon (31‐8) did not put more than one runner on base against Santori after the first inning. The senior right‐hander struck out two straight with a runner on second in the sixth, another to end the seventh and two more in the bottom of the eighth. "They are great team," Santori said. "Their pitcher did a great job. I knew they were a good fastball‐
hitting team. Every fastball I left up, they hit. My changeup was really good. Everything offspeed was working." Player of the game: Ben Santori, Marian Catholic 8 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 12 SO, 0 BB. NWI TIMES—Marian Catholic baseball
team to make its first-ever trip to state
Marian Catholic pitcher Benjamin Santori is congratulated after throwing a strike out to end Marian's 1-0 win
over Simeon for the 3A Supersectional Championship on Monday at Standard Bank Stadium.
By Mike Nieto [email protected], (219) 933‐3232 CRESTWOOD | In a season that saw frustration and struggling for the Marian Catholic baseball
team, everything is coming together at the right time.
Pitcher Ben Santori was an example of that Monday night as he looked like he was cruising in a
Corvette convertible on nice, sunny day.
Santori (3-2) was in control of his pitches and the game as he struck out 12 and tossed a four-hit,
eight-inning shutout to lead Marian Catholic to a 1-0 win over Simeon in the Class 3A Standard
Bank Supersectional.
It is the Spartans' first-ever supersectional win and Marian (23-17) will play East Suburban
Catholic Conference rival Nazareth Academy at noon Friday in one semifinal of the Class 3A
state finals at Joliet's Silver Cross Field.
"I am just really emotional right now," said Santori as he and his teammates celebrated their win.
"It's like I can't believe it. We are just coming together and tonight was an example of it."
Santori used off-speed pitches to keep Simeon off-balance all night. He threw 109 pitches, 76 for
strikes.
"My change, curve, everything was working well for me," Santori said. "I looked at the scouting
report and it said they were a good fastball-hitting team, so I knew I had to have my other stuff
working."
The Spartans, who won their sixth straight game, scored an unearned run in the eighth as Simeon
first baseman Darien Clifton had trouble with a hit by Iowa-bound Devin Pickett. Clifton dove to
first to beat a diving Pickett, but the ball came out of his hands. Pickett then stole second and
with two outs, Arizona State-bound Brett Lilek singled to right and Pickett beat the throw home
with a head-first slide.
"Just a little nubber and I knew I had to run hard," Pickett said. "On the run, I knew it would be
close, so I knew I had to slide and slide away from where (Simeon catcher) Blake (Hickman)
was set up."
It was an emotional win as Santori allowed just one extra-base hit, a sixth-inning double by
Ronell Coleman and did not walk a batter. Simeon ace Darren Day (8-1) struck out six and
allowed just four hits. He pitched out of bases-loaded jam in the third inning. Marian coach Phil
Wail, a Marian alum big step for the program.
"It shows what we told them -- to keep playing hard and we jelled in the postseason," Wail said.
"We struggled a bit, but we seem to put it together when it counted."
MIKE NIETO (NWI TIMES): Marian
looking to add to the school's history books
CHICAGO HEIGHTS | For Marian Catholic baseball coach Phil Wail, the Spartans tournament
run is a special one.
Not because the team struggled in the middle of the season, but he is taking his alma mater to the
Class 3A state semifinals where Marian will play East Suburban Catholic Conference foe
Nazareth Academy at noon at Silver Cross Field in Joliet.
"I went to school here, got a good education and it means a lot to come back and do something
for the school," said Wail, 1998 Marian grad. "It is kind of nice to come back to coach where you
went to school and to take a team to state."
Marian Catholic is making its first-ever appearance in the state baseball finals and really has not
had much of a history in the sport. Its last regional title — until this year -- was in 1987 under
Ron Guagenti. The 23 wins this season are the second-most in the program's history with
Guagenti's 1986 squad going 27-8. Its last over .500 season was in 2005 (20 wins). Overall,
Marian is 687-739.
After a thrilling 1-0, eight-inning win over Simeon on Monday at the Standard Bank SuperSectional, senior Devin Pickett reflected on how big that win was for the program.
"When you consider we've been a school for what 52 or 53 years and this is our first super
(sectional) win, that is amazing and it makes it that much better," Pickett said. "I think maybe
now people will take notice of the program, especially seventh and eighth graders. They see what
we have done and they will want to come here and play here.
"This is a pretty good school academically and maybe it's a way for people to take notice."
For Wail, it has been trying. This is his fourth year and he said he learned one thing that has
helped. It wasn't changing his philosophy.
"Patience," Wail said. "I learned how to have patience and you need to. The first couple of years,
I wasn't patient and maybe expected more than what you have.
"I think that alone helped us and helped me. If the kids see you are patient, they will respond
better."
It is tough to coach at your old school and when you are not in the building, as is the case with
Wail, that can make it tougher. He teaches at Heritage Middle School in Lansing.
"At times, because if there is a problem, you are not here to deal with it," Wail said. "I am lucky
that we have good people here who call me and take care of things." This weekend is also a
chance for the Spartans to take care of business and put their program on the state baseball map.
NWI TIMES— Marian Catholic baseball
team never gave up the fight
By Mike Nieto [email protected], (219) 933‐3232 CHICAGO HEIGHTS | At the beginning of the season, this is where the Marian Catholic
baseball team expected to be.
The Spartans have three Division I players in Brett Lilek (Arizona State), Devin Pickett (Iowa)
and Robby Nunn (Western Illinois), plus a load of experience from a team which finished third
in the Illinois High
School Coaches
Baseball Association
summer league playoffs.
Lilek was ranked the
second-best prospect in
the state according to
The Prep Baseball
Report and many
figured Marian Catholic
would punch its ticket to
the Class 3A state finals
in Joliet. They will face
East Suburban Catholic
Conference opponent
Nazareth Academy at
noon today in one
semifinal. Marian split
its two games with the
Roadrunners.
Marian won its first
sectional since 1987 and is making its first-ever appearance in the state semifinals.
A funny thing happened on the road to Joliet. After a trip to Florida and getting off to a 12-5
start, the Spartans hit a wall, said Pickett.
"Head on," Pickett said. "Maybe it was good we did because we were able to recover and get it
together in time."
What Pickett and several of his teammates talked about was not playing as a team. The chemistry
that developed during the trip to Florida was evaporating.
"We read about ourselves and yes we felt pretty good about ourselves," Pickett said. "We played
a tough schedule, but we also were not playing as a team. We lost a lot of close games -- seven
one-run conference losses. It wears on you after awhile."
Coupled with the fact that Lilek developed some soreness in his pitching arm and Nunn
struggled, so did the team. Ben Santori, who struck out 12 in the Spartans' 1-0, eight-inning win
over Simeon on Monday, said players were worried more with their own numbers than the
team's number of wins.
"We took a lot of 'me swings' as opposed to 'we swings' and that did hurt us," Santori said. "We
never gave up and Coach (Phil) Wail asked us what did we want to leave as our legacy? A .500
team or a regional champion? That kind of woke us up."
After beating Nazareth Academy, today's semifinal opponent, on May 3, Marian was 16-10. It
lost seven of its last nine regular-season games and entered the Class 3A T.F. North Regional
with an 18-17 mark.
"Six weeks ago, I didn't know if we would be here," junior third baseman Brad Bohlen said. "We
have the talent, but we were struggling. We never doubted ourselves, but we just didn't have the
team chemistry, but we started playing together and our goal was to win and we did."
Lilek one-hit Illiana Christian in a 4-0 regional final win. It was the same Illiana team which won
7-3 at Marian on April 16.
"It was up to the seniors to help get everyone together," Lilek said. "We didn't want to go out that
way. We knew we could do it. We lost some tough games and I think we were a little tight and it
showed."
Maybe it was the video "Call Me Maybe" that the team put on YouTube that helped loosen them
up. It was a take-off on the video the Harvard University baseball team did and the Spartans
recorded it on the van ride from school to Calumet City.
"We just had fun with it," Lilek said. "Coach (Brian) Storako videotaped it and we just had fun
singing. I don;t know if it loosened us up that much, but it was a blast doing (it)."
The Spartans beat Oak Forest and Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year Kyle Funkouser in one
semifinal of the Lincoln-Way West Sectional, then Lilek struck out 15 Lincoln-Way West hitters
in the sectional final.
Coach Phil Wail said the seniors came through when it counted.
"The seniors led and the younger guys followed," Wail said. "I am big believer in summer high
school ball and I believe if you do well, you will carry that success to the spring. Look at
Nazareth, St. Rita a few years ago. That is when you out the things in place for the next year."
NWI TIMES—Humbuddy Bud keeps watch
on Marian baseball team
How this baseball with "HUMBUDDY BUD" written on it got there is a mystery. It oversees the
Marian Catholic baseball team.
By Mike Nieto [email protected], (219) 933‐3232 CHICAGO HEIGHTS | At first glance, it looks like a foul ball got lodged between the back wall
of the third-base dugout and the ceiling of the roof.
According to lore and the Marian Catholic baseball team, nobody knows how it got there or what
it means, but it has the words "HUMBUDDY BUD" on it.
"You don't touch it and nobody has," junior outfielder Pat Swanson said. "It keeps watch over us,
but we don't move it. It never moves."
In a sport which there are many superstitions such as not walking on the foul lines or not
changing an undershirt or socks during a hitting streak to eating the same thing for a pre-game
meal during that streak, "Humbuddy -- Bud" is special to the Marian players. Nobody will tell
you what it means, nor do they really know.
On the south wall of the dugout is a piece of paper taped to the wall, next to where the batting
lineup is posted. It reads: "HUMBUDDY BUD. You know what that means."
Some say Robby Cifelli put it up there during summer ball, but Cifelli said that was not the case.
If it is moved, it becomes a curse.
"I got the history of it at home, in a notebook, stored away under a bunch of things," Cifelli said
with a wink and an almost childlike grin. "It is special. It means a lot to us, but we don't know
where it came from.
"I have to find that (history). I am going to look real hard for it."
The "history," not the ball. It sits there rain or shine, through heat and cold.
"We just know it is there, looking over us," Swanson said. "What does it mean? It means
'Humbuddy Bud' like it says on the ball. It can mean whatever you want it to."
Will it mean a Class 3A state title for the Spartans? Nobody knows.
SOUTHTOWNSTAR Baseball: Marian
Catholic has overcome adversity
Marian Catholic players pose with the Class 3A Supersectonal plaque after defeating Simeon at Standard Bank Stadium for the Class 3A Supersectionals, Monday, June 4th, 2012 in Crestwood, IL. | Gary Middendorf~For Sun‐Times Media By Pat Disabato
[email protected]
It has been a season filled with drama for Marian Catholic.
From the players and parents to coaches, there was plenty of strife to go around during an 18-17
regular season.
How does the saying go? Adversity can make a team stronger.
“There was a lot of drama,” senior outfielder Rob Cifelli said. “A couple of things went wrong
during the season and there were some things that went on within our team. We faced plenty of
adversity.
“But the coaches had a little meeting before the postseason. We decided we were going to play
hard every pitch and leave it all on the field. The coaches prevented the blame game from
happening and made us into a team.”
Five straight victories later, the Spartans (23-18) find themselves in the Class 3A state finals — a
first in program history — and just two wins from hoisting the championship trophy.
First, Marian must upend powerhouse Nazareth (30-9), a fellow East Suburban Catholic
Conference team.
The teams met twice during the regular season, each earning a win on the other’s field. Nazareth
took Game 1, 4-1 on May 2 in Chicago Heights. Marian rebounded the next day to claim a 5-3
win.
Marian ace Brett Lilek didn’t pitch in either game, which should greatly benefit the Spartans on
Friday. In fact, the Arizona State recruit hasn’t faced the Roadrunners in two years.
Lilek is 6-4 with a 2.63 ERA. The left-hander, with a fastball that consistently approaches 90
mph, is coming off arguably the finest performance of his career on Saturday, firing a two-hitter
and striking out 15 during an 11-2 win over Lincoln-Way West.
“When you throw Brett on the mound, the other team has an entirely different obstacle,” Cifelli
said. “And with the way we’ve been playing, we’re feeling good. Nazareth is a great team, but I
have all the confidence in the world in Brett and our team.”
Marian’s defense has been shaky at times. But having Lilek, a strikeout pitcher, on the hill
should greatly reduce Marian’s chances of committing an error. Lilek has struck out 78 in 54‰
innings.
Still, the Spartans’ offense, after scraping by in a 1-0 win Monday over Simeon in the Crestwood
Supersectional, must produce.
Only two regulars — Cifelli (.320) and Lilek (.303) — are hitting above .300. Others capable of
finding the gaps are Iowa recruit Devin Pickett, Patrick Schmidt and Brent Feldner.
The Spartans can’t rely on the long ball. They’ve hit just four homers as a team. Erik Callaghan
leads the way with two dingers.
Nazareth, on the other hand, boasts seven regulars above .300, including four — Dominic
Purpura (.375), Ryan Marske (.364), Timothy DalPorto (.359) and Jake Bartels (.355) — hitting
above .350.
Lilek, however, can be the great equalizer.
Marian boasts depth on the mound. Beyond Lilek, there’s Ryan Waaso (5-3, 2.20), Ben Santori
(3-2, 2.67), Mitch Weissenhofer (4-2, 3.87) and Western Illinois recruit Robbie Nunn (3-3, 4.99).
Purpura (9-1, 1.43) and Bartels (7-2, 2.01) provide the Roadrunners with an outstanding 1-2
punch.
“I think the key is going to be playing great defense and providing our pitchers with run
support,” Cifelli said. “We’ve been down to our last out and down a lot of runs at points during
the playoffs, but we’ve found ways to come back. I have all the confidence that we can go all the
way.”
SUN-TIMES Baseball:
Marian Catholic’s magical
run to continue Downstate
Marian Catholic's Erik Callaghan (center) gets congratulated after scoring against Homewood‐Flossmoor during a varsity baseball game on Friday, Mar. 30, 2012 in Chicago Heights, Ill. | John Smierciak~for Sun‐Times Media BY MIKE [email protected]
Marian Catholic has plenty of athletic tradition, winning state trophies in multiple sports.
But the Spartans haven’t had much to brag about in baseball — till now.
Under alum and fourth-year coach Phil Wail, Marian is heading to state for the first time after
winning its first regional since 1987 and its first sectional and supersectional titles in program
history.
“This is huge,” senior Devin Pickett said after Monday’s supersectional win over Simeon. “Fiftytwo, 53 years [the school has been open], never been down to [state]. We’re just trying to take it
all in now.”
That includes Wail, who has led the 23-17 Spartans to their first winning season since 2005 and
just the program’s fifth since 1994.
“The school gave a lot to me,” he said. “I went there, I got a great education, I got a scholarship
for baseball and played four years. You want to give back to the school.”
Marian faces East Suburban Catholic Conference rival Nazareth (30-9) in the second Class 3A
semifinal at noon Friday at Silver Cross Field in Joliet.
The Spartans’ ace is Arizona State recruit Brett Lilek, who is 6-4 with a 2.43 ERA and 78
strikeouts in 54 2/3 innings.
Nazareth is back at state after finishing fourth in 3A a year ago. The Roadrunners, who split two
games with Marian this season, are paced by pitcher Dominic Purpura (9-1, 1.43) and
pitcher/outfielder Ryan Marske (.364, 30 RBI).
The Marian Catholic-Nazareth winner will play one of two Downstate teams — Triad (32-8) or
LaSalle-Peru (33-6) — in Saturday’s title game.
SUN-TIMES Baseball: Ben Santori, Brett
Lilek lead Marian Catholic past Simeon
Benjamin Santori, of Marian Catholic, is mobbed by his teammates after the last out against Simeon to clinch the class 3A supersectionals at Standard Bank Stadium for the Class 3A Supersectionals, Monday, June 4th, 2012 in Crestwood, IL. | Gary Middendorf~For Sun‐Times Media By Steve Millar
Marian Catholic’s Devin Pickett was unsure how to sum up his feelings Monday night after the Spartans
clinched their first trip to the state semifinals in school history.
One thing that was clear in his mind, though, was the need to reward Marian pitcher Ben Santori.
“Wow, Benny stepped up big time,” Pickett said. “He’s come through so many times for us this
year. I’m going to buy him a steak tonight or something.”
Santori threw eight shutout innings and Pickett slid around Simeon catcher Blake Hickman’s tag
to score on Brett Lilek’s single in the top of the eighth as Marian pulled out a 1-0 win in the
Class 3A Crestwood Supersectional.
The Spartans (23-17) will meet Nazareth in a state semifinal at noon Friday in Joliet.
Pickett reached on an error with one out in the eighth and stole second. With two outs, Lilek
ripped a single to right. Shane Brown fired home, but Pickett slid around the tag.
“I was expecting a curveball,” Lilek said. “I got it and I just sat back and drove it. It was one
heck of a slide from Devin. It was a storybook ending.”
Santori (3-2) struck out two in a perfect bottom of the eighth to finish his gem. He allowed three
hits, struck out 12 and did not issue a walk.
“(Simeon) is a great team and it was hard to keep them down the whole game,” he said. “All my
off-speed stuff was working today.”
The Spartans survived despite leaving 10 men on base as Darius Day went the distance for
Simeon (31-8), allowing five hits and three walks while striking out six.
Simeon center fielder Corey Ray made a terrific diving catch to rob Pat Schmidt of an extra
base-hit that likely would have scored two in the third.
Santori got Ray to bounce out to first to leave runners at second and third in the first. The senior
struck out Terrance Robertson to end the Wolverines’ other major threat, stranding the potential
winning run at third in the seventh.
“This is awesome,” Santori said. “We’ve left our legacy at Marian. I’m in shock.”
RUSSELL—
Marian Nips Simeon For Trip To State
By Dennis Bowling Marian Catholic senior first baseman Brett Lilek did not want to see the Spartans' postseason run
end on June 4.
So, Lilek, with a berth in the state final four on the line, delivered his biggest hit of his career, a
game-winning single in the eighth inning. Marian Devin Pickett just beat the throw at home for a
heart-stopping 1-0 win over Simeon to capture the Standard Bank Field (Crestwood) class 3A
supersectional and earned its first-ever state bid.
With the win, the Spartans picked up their 23rd victory, which now ranks second on their all
time victory list. Marian played in the state semifinal round on June 8 at Silver Cross Field in
Joliet against East Suburban Catholic rival Nazareth Academy.
"Words just cannot explain how I feel," said Lilek. "We stayed focused and we were ready to
go."
"Brett Lilek has been swinging the bat real well," said Spartans coach Phil Wail. "That was his
best at bat of the day."
After one out in the top of the eighth inning, Pickett reached base on a Simeon fielding error. He
later stole second base. Lilek's single enabled Pickett to score; he just made it under the tag for
the win.
"Brett came up huge for us," said Pickett. "I got to first base on a bobble play. I was on base and
it was great. We had a chance to do something. After we scored, all we had to do was to get three
outs and we did it. Ben Santori was lights out for us. I could not ask for anything more."
In the bottom of the eighth, Spartan hurler Ben Santori got the side out in order. Simeon's Ronell
Coleman struck out to end the game. After that, Marian Catholic was able to celebrate its biggest
win in the school's history.
"That is the way the game is supposed to be played," said Wail. "We have the talent and they all
worked together. They really bought into it. They believe in each other. That is what it is all
about. This was a great game and great atmosphere. Ben Santori did an excellent job. He is a real
battler. I just cannot give him enough credit."
Southland power Marian Catholic watched as Santori battled through big time trouble in the
seventh inning. After one out, Simeon's Casey Ray singled to right field. Elbert Dunnigan's
infield groundout moved Ray to second base. Ray went to third base on a wild pitch. But, Santori
reached back and struck out Terrance Robertson to end the biggest scoring threat of the game.
After that, the Spartan coaches and players came off the bench and congratulated Santori on his
feat.
Santori allowed the Wolverines just four hits, three singles and a double, and did not walk a
batter. The Marian senior's off-speed pitches kept Simeon off-balanced at the plate as he struck
12 batters.
"My changeup, curve, basically everything was working well for me," Santori said. "The
scouting report said that they were a good fastball hitting team. I knew that I had to have my
other stuff working."
The Spartans' biggest opportunity to score earlier in the game came in the third inning. Conner
Madey and Robert Cifelli each singled. Marian's Patrick Swanson and Pickett each made outs.
But, Brad Bohlen walked to load the bases. Patrick Schmidt's deep fly to centerfield was caught
on the run by Ray to end the threat.
Losing pitcher Darius Day allowed five hits and fanned six batters.
Chicago Tribune All-State
Brett Lilek School: Marian Catholic. Class: Senior. Position: Utility. College: Arizona State. Bats: L. Throws: L. Numbers: 7‐4, 2.18 ERA, 61 IP, 89 SO; .330 BA, 9 2B, 24 RBIs. The scoop: Shut down for a few starts with a sore arm, Lilek's return to the mound was the catalyst for Marian's surprise run to the Class 3A title. The 37th‐round draft pick of the Seattle Mariners did not allow an earned run in three postseason starts, striking out 15 in a sectional final, pitching a two‐hit shutout with 11 strikeouts in a state semifinal and going 4‐for‐5 with three RBIs over the final weekend.