Upstart Grenadiers keep rolling at state

Elk Grove's Matt Martinski takes a swing against Brother Rice.

(Scott Powers/For the Sun-Times News Group)

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That team wearing green and gold, plodding through the summer like it couldn't wait for the season to end?

"It wasn't us playing," Elk Grove third baseman Matt Martinski said. "As soon as that first game of regionals came, everything changed and everything was clicking."

Was it ever. The feisty Grenadiers knocked off Brother Rice 4-1 Thursday at Benedictine University to continue a postseason run that may seem unlikely to outsiders but makes all the sense in the world to them.

Now Elk Grove (18-12) is one of the last four teams standing in the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association summer state tournament. The Grenadiers play Lincoln-Way East (16-2) Friday at 10 a.m. at North Central College, with the winner moving on to the 7:30 p.m. title game that night at Benedictine.

Despite the loss, Rice (28-4) also moved and will take on Waubonsie Valley (26-13) in the second semifinal at Benedictine. First pitch is scheduled for around 12:30 p.m.  

Martinski played a starring role in Thursday's win, slugging a two-run homer to left in the fourth that pushed Elk Grove's lead to 3-0.

"He's 'country' strong," Grenadiers pitcher Don Duschinsky said of his teammate. "That was probably the biggest play of the game."

Duschinsky brought plenty to the table himself, pitching a four-hitter against a Rice lineup considered to be one of the state's most explosive.

The rising junior right-hander struck out two and worked around seven walks with the help of two double plays.

"He's capable of doing that every time he goes out," Martinski said. "As long as he throws strikes, gets ahead and doesn't get frustrated, he's perfect."

Elk Grove coach Terry Beyna knew the Crusaders would be a tough nut to crack, but liked his chances with Duschinsky on the mound.

"We've always known that Don's had this big-time potential," Beyna said. "When he struggles, he struggles with his command. You'd see flashes of it [Thursday], but he was able to get back to where he needed to be."

"I was throwing strikes with most all of my pitches," Duschinsky said. "Keeping the ball down was important, keeping my fielders in the game."

The Grenadiers edged ahead 1-0 in the first. Colin Semler's double and infield singles by Tony Logli and Duschinsky loaded the bases with none out.

Rice pitcher Pat Wilkison (6-1) got Martinski to pop out to first baseman Kevin Callahan in foul territory, but when Callahan's throw home was high, Semler scored.

Martinski's blast made it 3-0 and Duschinsky scored on the front end of a double steal in the fifth to boost the lead to 4-0.

Rice avoided being shut out for the first time this calendar year when Tom Rynne singled home Kevin Koehler in the eighth. But the Crusaders didn't get another baserunner against Duschinsky and that was that.

"Everybody was up and into the game," Martinski said. "During the summer [regular season], it wasn't there. Everyone was [acting like it was] just another game, just come out and play.

"We're having fun now."

That wasn't the case for Rice coach Tim Lyons, whose team had all but clinched its semifinal berth by winning its first two pool-play games.

"When there's no sense of urgency in any part of your game, it's not going to work," Lyons said. "We didn't catch and throw well, we didn't hit well, we weren't aggressive on the bases, we weren't aggressive in the dugout.

"A good ptiching performance goes to waste and I feel bad for Pat. ... We need to show our mettle now."

mclark@chicagosuntimes.com