’Canes searching for history

Karl Steiger and Marian Central will play Nazareth Academy today in the IHSA Class 3A North Central College Supersectional. The winner gets a trip to the state tournament. (Northwest Herald file photo)

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Marian Central has shown a penchant for coming through in tight situations in the postseason.

The Hurricanes have won their past three games by one run apiece, which might make their fans nervous, but also demonstrates what kind of fortitude they possess.

“We’re pretty solid and we handle adversity well,” third baseman Karl Steiger said. “We don’t crumble. Whatever comes our way, we deal with it. We have six starting seniors, and we just know how to get through it.”

Marian (26-9) earned its way into the IHSA Class 3A North Central College Supersectional against Nazareth Academy (28-9) at 4:30 p.m. today with two one-run victories in the Johnsburg Sectional.

The ’Canes beat Grayslake Central, 5-4, in Saturday’s championship game after knocking off St. Viator, 7-6, in 10 innings, Wednesday. Steiger provided the game-winning, two-RBI double in that game.

They also had a close call against Richmond-Burton, 4-3, in the Marian Regional final.

“We’re a real scrappy team and we find ways to win,” said shortstop Eli McGuire, one of the six senior starters.

Marian can earn its third trip to the state tournament in seven years with a win today, although the state tournament format is different now.

“Where we’re sitting now is as far as we’ve ever gone [the Elite Eight],” Hurricanes coach Gregg Wikierak said. In 1998, 2004 and 2005, the Hurricanes advanced to the Class A State Tournament, but with the present four-class system, only four teams advance to state.

Marian will throw lefty Dave Luczak (9-1) at the Roadrunners today. The Hurricanes figured before the season with the veteran presence – and with Luczak and Dave Parr returning as their 1-2 pitching punch – they had a shot to play deep into the postseason.

“Every day in English, Dave Luczak, Scott Franzegrote and I had a chart of all our games and we tried to predict how far we’d go,” McGuire said. “It’s amazing to be sectional champions again. I was a sophomore when we lost to Crystal Lake Central [in a sectional championship]. It’s awesome to come back and win it.”

Marian wants to make some school history by becoming the first Hurricanes team to make a Final Four.

“It feels awesome, but we can’t get overexcited,” Steiger said. “We still have a lot of work to do.”