The second 3A semifinal game featured the defending champion Roadrunners of Nazareth and a hungry Sycamore Spartans squad. Last season, en route to their state championship, the Roadrunners beat Crystal Lake South 16-3 in the semifinals, and Glenwood 5-1 in the final. The Spartans lost 8-4 to Washington in the supersectionals, who eventually took 3rd place.
The Roadrunners beat St. Laurence 11-1 in the Sectional Final and Lindblom 8-0 in the Supersectional. The Spartans beat Burlington Central 8-3 in the Sectional Final and shutout Rock Island 8-0 in the Supersectional.
Runs were at a premium in this semifinal, but the combination of John Hughes and Jaden Fauske out dueled the combination of Jimmy Amptmann and Tommy Townsend. The help of first baseman Nick Drtina (2/4, RBI 1B) and second baseman Landon Thome (2/3, sac fly, RBI 1B), son of assistant coach and Major League Hall of Famer Jim Thome, led the Roadrunners to a 3-0 shutout victory over the Spartans.
The Spartans had their opportunities, but Hughes and Fauske both did a great job pitching out of some jams. Hughes went 5 innings, gave up 4 hits, walked 2, and struckout 3. Fauske pitched 2 hitless innings in relief, walked 1, and struckout 2.
On the other side, Spartans starter Jimmy Amptmann gave up 2 earned runs on 5 hits in 3 plus innings, and walked 1. Lefty Tommy Townsend, who normally starts in rightfield, pitched 4 innings of relief, gave up 1 run on 4 hits, struckout 2, and went 1/3 at the plate. Shortstop Collin Severson and centerfielder Kiefer Tarnoki each went 1/3, and third baseman Matt Rosado went 1/2 with a double.
The Roadrunners will look to win back-to-back State titles Saturday against a scrappy and resilient Grayslake Central squad.
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