Walther Lutheran takes regional in extras

Updated: May 21, 2011 4:29PM

Dan LoDulce and Walther Luthern didn’t want any reruns Saturday at the Class 2A regional championship game in Elmhurst.

After losing last year in the regional finals to Immaculate Conception, LoDulce hit and pitched the Broncos past Immaculate Conception 6-5 in nine innings.

LoDulce homered in the first to give Walther the lead and then came back to pitch the final six innings to pick up the win.

“After they walked Chris (Stevens) intentionally, I said ‘don’t do that’”, LoDulce said. “And when I came in, I just didn’t want to give up any runs.”

Walther (14-14), which outslugged Immaculate Conception 12-11 a week ago was very weary of the Knights’ Jose Godinez. So Walther coach Matt Tuomi intentionally walked the slugger all five times Godinez came to bat.

“When we played the last time, he was at least half their offense,” Tuomi said. “We wanted the other eight guys to beat us.”

Walther got off to a fast start Saturday. The Broncos had five of their eight hits in the first inning, including a three-run blast by LoDolce to lead 4-1.

Trailing 5-1 after two innings, Immaculate Conception (9-19) chipped away to finally tie the game at 5-5 in the sixth on a RBI single by Charlie Pulkownik (3-4, three RBI).

In the bottom of the ninth, Sam Cattau reached on a error. Pinch runner Mike Trotti went to second on a bunt by Ryan Adolfson. Joe Lomnicki then won it with a single to right.

“I was just sitting back and waiting for a fastball,” said Lomnicki, who made a diving catch in centerfield in the fourth inning and turned it into a double-play.

“I was looking for a hole to hit it into and I found one.”

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