Buchholz buckles down for Barrington

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Barrington pitcher Sean Buchholz came into this year with high expectations. But after struggling during the season, Buchholz dropped to the No. 2 spot in the rotation.

Buchholz showed Saturday why there are such high hopes for him as he blanked No. 8 Stevenson 4-0 in the Class 4A sectional final in Barrington.

Barrington (21-14) will meet New Trier in Monday's supersectional in Rockford at 7 p.m.

Buchholz (6-4) was in complete control Saturday. He went the distance, striking out six while walking two and allowing four hits.

"I started out the year real good," Buchholz said. "But then I kind of lost it."

"I have been working in the bullpen before the game to hit my spots and get mentally focused."

Barrington gave Buchholz all the runs he needed in the second inning when they scored twice. Jack Scheffler, who led off the inning with a single, scored on a wild pitch. Anthony Brignola then singled home Derek Federaro, who had also singled.

Barrington addded single runs in the fourth and the fifth for insurance.

Federaro had a hand in both of them, scoring on an error and driving home Johnny Day on his second single of the game.

Stevenson (29-7) twice got runners to third base three times. But the Patriots stranded 10 runners, leaving the bases loaded in the third and seventh.

"We always try to put people in position where they can succeed," Barrington coach Jim Hawrysko said. "And our kids have been responding well."