More fun to come for Huntley

Huntley players celebrate after defeating Wheaton North, 2-1, on Monday in the IHSA Class 4A Rockford RiverHawks Supersectional No. 2 in Loves Park. (Randy Stukenberg – For the Northwest Herald)

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LOVES PARK – Huntley’s offense was sparse but resourceful.

The Red Raiders were proficient enough on the mound and in the field that minimal offense proved to be enough.

Pitchers Jake Staab, Jeremy Ahillen and Chris Klein, along with a flawless defense, lifted Huntley past Wheaton North, 2-1, in the IHSA Class 4A Rockford RiverHawks Supersectional No. 2 on Monday at Road Ranger Stadium.

Huntley (29-9) will make its first trip to state when it faces Chicago St. Rita in the Class 4A State Tournament semifinals at 5 p.m. Friday at Joliet’s Silver Cross Field.

“I can’t even describe it,” Huntley coach Andy Jakubowski said. “It goes back to Year 1 with all the guys putting the work in.”

The game ended when Wheaton North runner Nick Barry was called for interference of Huntley shortstop Matt Szytz, which produced a game-ending double play. North catcher Ben Morrow homered to lead off the top of the seventh, making it 2-1.

The Falcons’ Reece Butler singled to left field, and Jakubowski brought Klein in to relieve Ahillen. Nick Horder bunted Barry to second, and Barry was hit by a pitch. Dale Trimble then hit a ground ball to second baseman Andre Sopena, who flipped to Szytz for the second out.

“That play happened so slowly, I knew I had to get wide and give some room,” Szytz said. “[Barry] stuck his leg out and slid wide and took me out.”

Szytz was dumped on the play, and his throw to first baseman Tom Crohan bounced in the dirt. Seconds later, the third-base umpire, standing near second base, called Barry out.

“I’m an umpire myself, and Matt didn’t have a chance,” Huntley catcher Phil Pupillo said. “And I was watching him. He checked, he pointed, and I said, ‘Game over.’ ”

Szytz got the call he was hoping for.

“It was just madness from there,” Szytz said.

Huntley scored in the first when Sopena walked, Carlos Alvarez singled, Klein sacrifice bunted and Pupillo grounded out to second, scoring Sopena. The Raiders scratched out another run in the fifth without a hit.

“When you get to the playoffs, runs are going to be at a premium, and you have to execute,” Jakubowski said.

Staab threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings before Ahillen (9-1) came in. Ahillen threw 87 pitches in a complete-game 5-4 victory against Cary-Grove in the Larkin Sectional championship Saturday.

Morrow ripped a 1-2 pitch over the left-field fence, and the Falcons (29-10) were rejuvenated.

“Things were looking good there for a minute,” Morrow said.

The game-ending play was Huntley’s third double play of the game.

“It was a frustrating way to end the game; you’d like the game to end in more normal fashion,” North coach Dan Schoessling said. “We’re not going to blame the umpires for losing to Huntley. We lost to a very good team.”