Cary-Grove loses by run in state semifinals

By JOE STEVENSON - jstevenson@nwherald.com

New Trier first baseman Jake Carrow (center) erupts with excitement after Cary-Grove’s Matt Nelsen (5) grounded out to end the game during an IHSA Class 4A Baseball State Tournament semifinal Friday at Silver Cross Field in Joliet. The Trojans lost, 3-2, and will play in the third-place game today. (Justin Edmonds – jedmonds@nwherald.com)

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JOLIET – Cary-Grove’s Matt Nelsen had worn out New Trier pitcher Bob Cook all game.

Nelsen had a double and two singles off the Trevians’ ace, and none of them were cheap hits. So when Nelsen came to bat in the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs, runners on the corners and the Trojans trailing by a run, C-G felt confident.

“Our 2-3-4 [hitters] hit the ball very hard,” Trojans coach Don Sutherland said. “We were just hoping we could get to 2-3-4 one more time. Matthew had a great day; he just couldn’t get that last one through.”

Nelsen hit a ground ball to New Trier third baseman J.B. McCallum, who threw to first to seal the Trevians’ 3-2 win Friday night in the IHSA Class 4A Baseball State Tournament semifinals at Silver Cross Field.

New Trier (31-7) meets Chicago St. Rita (31-10) at 7 p.m. today in the championship game. C-G (31-9-1) faces O’Fallon (35-6) at 4 p.m. for third place.

McCallum delivered a crucial two-out RBI single in the top of the seventh for a 3-1 lead, but the Trojans’ Eric Chandler blooped a single to left field with two outs in the bottom of the inning to keep C-G alive.

That got C-G to its 2-3-4 hitters – Luke Mottashed, Chris Waylock and Nelsen – who had made two outs between them in nine at-bats. Mottashed walked, and Alex Hembrey entered as a courtesy runner. Waylock then singled in Chandler, with Hembrey moving to third.

On a 1-2 pitch, Nelsen grounded sharply to third, but McCallum made the play.

The Trojans, making their first trip to the state tournament, were left to wonder about a series of plays in the middle of the game that also could have made a difference.

In the third, Waylock tried to score from first on Nelsen’s double into right-center but was thrown out by shortstop Tim Duxbury on a strike to catcher Lowell Hall.

“I put my hand in there between his legs and thought I was safe, but [the umpire] called me out,” Waylock said. “If we get that run, I think we take it.”

That run would have put C-G ahead, 2-0.

“In my opinion, Chris’ hand was in there,” Sutherland said. “There’s two outs, Chris is fast, it’s a good idea to try and score. They had to make the perfect play, if they did.”

Hall thought he had blocked Waylock’s hand from reaching the plate.

“I blocked him a little, and he tried a hook slide a little bit,” Hall said.

New Trier, which was frustrated by double plays to end the second and third innings, changed strategy in the fourth against C-G pitcher Corey Bruns (9-4).

“We worked the bunt game,” New Trier coach Mike Napoleon said. “We were going to get a runner to second base somehow.”

Bruns mishandled a sacrifice bunt, then third baseman Stuart Gaulke slipped when he tried to throw on another bunt attempt, loading the bases for the Trevians. Jonathan Hall then scored on a wild pitch to tie the score.

Cook finished with nine strikeouts, two walks and nine hits. Bruns also allowed nine hits and struck out three.

“We have a lot of pride in what we’ve done,” Mottashed said. “We should keep our heads up. There aren’t many teams in this place.”JOLIET – Cary-Grove’s Matt Nelsen had worn out New Trier pitcher Bob Cook all night.

Nelsen hit a ground ball to New Trier third baseman J.B. McCallum, who threw to first to seal the Trevians’ 3-2 victory Friday night in the IHSA Class 4A Baseball State Tournament semifinals at Joliet’s Silver Cross Field.

New Trier (31-7) meets Chicago St. Rita (31-10) in today’s 7 p.m. championship game. C-G (31-9-1) faces O’Fallon (35-6) at 4 p.m. for third place.