Thunderbolts strike often vs. Reavis

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Even while giving up two runs before he recorded an out Thursday against Reavis, Andrew starter Dan Townsend never panicked.

He knew sooner or later his offense would come through for him.

“With an offense like this, it’s easy pitching,” Townsend said. “You don’t have the pressure, and you can relax, just go out there and make your pitches.”

Townsend’s patience paid off. The Thunderbolts scored seven runs in the third and four in the fourth on the way to a 12-2, five-inning win over the Rams in a Class 4A Brother Rice Regional semifinal.

Andrew (17-15) advances to Saturday’s championship against the top-seeded and No. 2-ranked Crusaders (31-2).

Reavis (16-17) wasted little time scoring in the first. No. 2 hitter Rob Rabakozi blasted a two-run homer to left-center after Tom Falbo led off the game with a double.

After struggling against Reavis starter Falbo the first time through the order, a patient Andrew squad struck the second time around.

“We saw what he was throwing and kind of got a feel for him,” Andrew’s Matt Healy said. “The second time up we were just ready to jump on his fastball.”

A Kyle Bogdal RBI single scored Steve Litko (2-for-2, three RBI) to make it 2-1. Nick Martin moved to third on the play. After popping out in the first inning, Healy (2-for-4, two runs) smashed a three-run homer to put Andrew up 4-2.

“It was a fastball, and I wanted to sit on it first pitch but didn’t get it,” Healy said. “Second-pitch fastball, I just went after it.”

The T-bolts gave Townsend some more breathing room as Eric Mason and Chris Berardi (2-for-3, two runs) followed with solo home runs and Litko hit an RBI single to cap a seven-run inning. Andrew batted around in the third and fourth. Litko and Dan Eliopulos knocked in two runs apiece in the fourth, and Jeff Zimmerman’s RBI single in the fifth ended the game.

By then, Townsend (5-3) settled in on the mound, allowing only one hit and a walk over the last four innings. The senior struck out the side in the second to get back on track.

“Danny really settled down, and one of the big situations in the game was him striking out the side,” Andrew coach Dave DeHaan said. “That seemed to change the momentum back to us.”

Andrew can look ahead to Saturday’s game against Brother Rice, which ended the Thunderbolts’ season in 2008 in the regional title game.

“They’re a great team, but we know we’re a great team, too,” Healy said. “We can put a game in, especially with (starter) Brett Maus out there. We’ve got a shot at winning every time he’s out there.”