CL Cardinals win national baseball tournament

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Matt Huck threw eight shutout innings, and Scott Spinelle closed the deal Monday night as the Crystal Lake Cardinals won the National Amateur Baseball Federation College Division World Series in Toledo, Ohio.

The Cardinals (51-15) won the NABF series for the first time. The Cardinals also won the Metro Collegiate Baseball League title and placed second in the Chicago Suburban Baseball League, two wood-bat leagues in the Chicago suburbs.

“This is the best year I’ve ever had,” Cardinals’ longtime coach Armie Bombino said. “This tournament’s a really big deal. This is a pretty big collegiate national championship.”

The Cardinals were 2-1 in pool play, then won two games Sunday and one Monday in single-elimination bracket play.

Huck and Spinelle combined for the 3-0 win against the Dix Hills (N.Y.) Dodgers in Monday’s championship game. Huck, who pitched at Marian Central and now pitches at St. Francis University in Joliet, received MVP of the tournament.

Spinelle, who played high school at Crystal Lake Central and now pitches at SIU-Edwardsville, picked up saves in the last two games.

Center fielder Corey Moylan, who plays at Butler, had a home run and two RBIs in the championship game. Bombino also said catcher Joe DiMaggio also had a strong series at the plate.