[Preview of this week’s article in Inside—Booster.]
By Jack Lydon
Lane’s historic season comes to an end. The Champions fell to the Libertyville Wildcats 2-1 in the class 4A Super-sectional game on Tuesday in Schaumburg. The Champions finished the season 33-7; 14-0 in the Chicago Public League.
The super was as close as it gets. The difference was the hitting of Liberyville senior first baseman Bradon Tolzien who drove in both Wildcats’ runs on two doubles to the wall in right.
In the bottom of the first, Tolzien came up with two outs and leadoff hitter Trevor Wallace on first, Tolzien fought off pitch after pitch, including seven foul balls.
“I knew [Lane starter Ronan Owens] was gonna have to come slider at some point. I was just kept fouling off the fastball. So I was looking for him to hang one. He finally did and I was able to put in the gap,” Tolzien said.
Wallace from first for the first run of the game.
“He had great at bats. We knew he was one of their bigger bats, but we challenged him early. He fouled off like seven or eight pitches. He finally got to one he could handle,” said Lane head coach Sean Freeman of Tolzien’s first inning run-batted-in.
Again, in the bottom of the fifth, Libertyville’s Trevor Wallace singled to lead off the inning. Tolzien come up again but this time facing Champions left-handed pitcher Cruz Warren. After Wallace had advanced to third and two out, Tolzien crushes another double, this time to the right field corner to score Wallace from third. 2-0 Wildcats.
“I knew at 3-1 he had it comes to give me something to hit. So I was sitting on fastball. I got it. I was able to put it [out there,] Tolzien continued.
After Tolzien’s two RBIs, the game was by no means over. Champions’ hurlers Ronan Owens, Cruz Warren and Hunter Smith combined to shut down Libertyville. The Champions rallied with a run in the top of the sixth to make it 2-1. Isaiah Martin scored from third on Zolan Wyatt’s single with one out.
Things looked up for Champions in top of the seventh when Miles Mazonowski crushed a ball to deep left field that looked like it might be a game tying home run but it stayed in the park for a long single.
Libertyville pitcher senior Chase Lockwood recovered. A pinch runner for Mazonowski was caught stealing, and Lockwood retired the side for a complete game with seven hits, one run, one walk and seven strike outs.
“Obviously, Lockwood on the mound did a great job. We had our chances late. Just couldn’t quite get it done. They are a great team and a great program. To be the champs, you gotta beat the champs. They were just a touch better than us tonight,” said Freeman.
“It's the most wins we have had and the farthest we've gone in the state tournament since I've been the head coach. So overall it's been an incredible year. These guys are taking us to new heights and raised the bar yet again. We're getting close and excited that get after it in the next year with the returning kids,” Freeman added.
