R. Brookfield 6
Gordon Tech 4
During the football season, Billy VandeMerkt assumed the role of prolific quarterback in Riverside-Brookfield’s high scoring “Wizard of Oz” offense. On Saturday, the three-sport star opted to use his strong right arm for a more defensive purpose. VandeMerkt made the key stop during RB’s 6-4 win over Gordon Tech that captured a Class 3A regional title.
With the Bulldogs (25-12) holding a 6-2 lead in the seventh inning, Gordon Tech promptly loaded the bases via a single and two walks with no outs. The Rams’ next hitter singled to right scoring two, however VandeMerkt threw a dart to second base as the hitter unsuccessfully tried to stretch his hit into a double. After securing that out, shortstop Dave Lutz also gunned down another hung-up runner for an unconventional 9-6-5 double play. Although RB’s lead was whittled to 6-4, the Bulldogs collected a critical pair of outs and cleared the bases.
“It was a totally key play,” said RB coach Mike Ziroli. “This is where you want to be. We have won 20-plus games, our [Metro Suburban] conference and a regional championship. Everything after this is pretty much gravy, so I think the pressure is off the players.”
Coupled with VandeMerkt’s defensive gem, RB starter Zak Martell (7-2) registered an excellent outing on the mound, tossing a complete game four-hitter while striking out 10. Most of the Bulldogs’ offense occurred in the fifth inning when RB scored five runs, highlighted by a two-run homer from Joe Ruge. The two-time Metro Suburban MVP is hitting .381 with four home runs and a school-record 40 RBIs. Lutz also hit a triple that scored Jesse Favela and Kevin Onischuk in the frame.
After the Rams scored a pair of unearned runs in the fourth, RB pinch-hitter Hugh Berglind crushed a solo home run to extend the RB advantage to 6-2.
“We played good baseball,” Ziroli said. “With the exception of the [fourth] inning, we played pretty well defensively. And, Zak threw well.”
Riverside-Brookfield advances to a Class 3A Nazareth Sectional semifinal game against Lake View on Thursday (4:30 p.m.). Lake View knocked off Marshall 9-3 to claim its first-ever baseball regional championship.
“We know a little bit about Lake View,” Ziroli said. “We expect them to be competitive.”
With a victory, the Bulldogs move on to the sectional title game where either the host Roadrunners or St. Joseph will be waiting for them on Saturday at 10 a.m.
“We’re really focused on just playing our game,” Ziroli said. “We’re the No. 2 seed and we did what we were supposed to do. Now, we can just focus on playing good baseball.”
The Bulldogs certainly roll into the sectional with momentum on their side. The team has won 21 of 24 games.