Tigers narrowly miss

Crystal Lake Central's Parker Harold waits for the ball while Marmion's Andy Young safely slides into first during the fifth inning of Wednesday's 3A Hampshire Regional semifinal game in Hampshire. Marmion won, 1-0. (Sarah Nader - snader@nwherald.com)

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HAMPSHIRE – The weather conditions favored a pitchers’ duel, and the Crystal Lake Central and Marmion baseball teams didn’t disappoint.

With winds blowing in at least 20 mph throughout Wednesday’s IHSA Class 3A Hampshire Regional semifinal game, Marmion squeaked past Central, 1-0, in eight innings. The top-seeded Cadets (19-8) will take on the winner of today’s game between Burlington Central and Hampshire in Saturday’s final.

“We hit the ball at guys. It was just one of those days,” Central coach Dan Badgley said. “Somebody had to win and somebody had to lose.”

Playing in front of his future college coaches from Lewis University, Tigers starter Dylan Cysewski allowed three hits through six innings and got out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the bottom of the sixth.

Marmion’s A.J. Friedman hit a grounder to short with the bases full.

The throw home was in the dirt, but Central catcher Jake Walkner made a great stop for the first out. A botched suicide-squeeze attempt resulted in the second out, and a strikeout ended the inning.

However, the momentum from that escape was not sustained by fourth-seeded Central.

In the bottom of the eighth, Central reliever Nate Pollock walked Jordan Meyer. Meyer stole second, and a wild throw by Walkner allowed him to advance to third. Badgley decided to load the bases, and a single by Travis Siwiec ended the game.

Pollock (3-2) took the loss for the Tigers (13-21).

“We might not have been the most talented group from years past, but we worked hard,” Cysewski said. “We set a good example. They have a lot of stuff to look forward to.”

Marmion starter Tyler Friel went seven innings, allowed three hits and struck out five. He was relieved by potential championship starter Tim Tarter (8-0), who got the win.

“The weather was less than ideal for baseball,” Marmion coach Dave Rakow said. “You got to give both pitchers credit. They both battled and battled and battled. It stinks that somebody had to lose.”

Badgely credited the seniors with keeping the team focused through a sometimes trying season.

“If we get stronger and the kids come with the right attitude, we’ll be good or we’ll have a chance to be good,” he said. “We’ll see what happens.”