Benet states case, beats JCA

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If Joliet Catholic is the Chicago area's No. 1 team -- as several polls suggest -- then what does that make Benet?

It's a fair question after the Redwings' 3-0 victory on Tuesday, one made more interesting with the Class 3A and 4A seeding meetings scheduled for tonight.

Whatever the answer, there's no doubt that Benet (13-6, 8-1 East Suburban Catholic Conference) is a different team with Bryan Roberts on the mound. The senior pitcher allowed only two hits in seven scoreless innings, finishing with 12 strikeouts against a deep Hilltoppers lineup.

"We all knew it," Roberts said of Joliet Catholic's reputation. "It wasn't somethin' we were really worried about. We just know we had to play our game to win the game. And we just have to go right up to kids, regardless of where they're at -- No. 1 -- they're just rankings."

A.J. Plese matched Roberts for the first five innings, allowing one bunt single, but then began to feel arm fatigue and was replaced with reliever Vinnie Hughes for the sixth.

Pat Gelwicks led off by ripping a double deep into the left-field corner, near the 315 sign at the foul pole, and Benet could begin to relax a little. Moments later Mike Chmielewski bounced a curveball underneath the glove of diving shortstop Dave Cladis for an RBI single.

And then "the wheels just fell off," said Joliet Catholic's John Ruettiger, an Arizona State recruit.

A throwing error helped make it 2-0, and the Hilltoppers (16-4, 7-2) couldn't complete a double play off a hard-hit ball from Kyle Vesevick, giving Benet a three-run lead.

Roberts meanwhile felt stronger as the game wore on, escaping unscathed after giving up a lead-off double in the fourth, and another double with one out in the sixth.

"We didn't get hits in those situation, struck out too much," Joliet Catholic coach Jared Voss said. "Then again, he's a good pitcher."

Benet travels to Joliet Catholic this afternoon for a pivotal rematch, and the Hilltoppers will counter with Ruettiger. A win there, coach Jeff Bonebrake said, and Benet will have "a real good chance" to win the ESCC.

"Hopefully we can build on this and play this well for the rest of the season," Chmielewski said.