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Cuff tough for Lyons
Updated: June 6, 2011 10:15PM
ROCKFORD -- Connor Cuff was perfect through 4 1/3 innings Monday night. That’s appropriate considering Cuff’s record has been perfect the last two seasons.
The Penn-bound, right-hander allowed three hits and struck out eight to lead Lyons to the Class 4A state semifinals with a 6-1 victory over Streamwood at Road Ranger Stadium in Loves Park. The West Suburban Silver champions will play Mount Carmel (31-7) or Lincoln-Way East (25-11) at 5 p.m. Friday at Silver Cross Field in Joliet.
Cuff (10-0), who raised his record to 18-0 over the last two seasons, will pitch in Lyons’ final game of the season Saturday. His outing in the Rockford Supersectional was masterful. Lyons (35-4), which won for the fifth consecutive time and for the 11th time in its last 12 games, was victorious in a supersectional for the first time since reaching the Class AA state quarterfinals in 2006.
“It’s the best feeling of my life,” Cuff said. “This is what we’ve worked for all year. I knew this team could do it. We had to play our game.”
Illinois State-bound first baseman Brian Rodemoyer gave Cuff an immediate cushion with a two-run home run, his 10th of the season, in the bottom of the first inning. Rodemoyer nailed a 1-2 pitch from Dalton Lundeen (7-3) that cleared the center field fence estimated at 390 feet. The homer scored leadoff hitter Spencer Mahoney, who singled and reached second on a wild pitch.
“It was a great experience. Really it was a great game,” Rodemoyer said. “I’ve never played on a [professional] field like this.”
Lyons will try to win its third state title this weekend after winning titles in 1967 and 2003.
Cuff retired the first 13 batters he faced until Tim Cohen singled to left field in the fifth. Cuff threw 80 pitches, 56 for strikes and only allowed Cohen to reach second base through six innings. He did not allow a walk and only one batter, Richie Gorski in the fourth, had three balls called. The Sabres (30-7) scored their only run in the top of the seventh when Pat Manning scored off a groundout by Brandon Larkin-Guilfoyle.
“[Cuff] was outstanding. Halfway through the game, I was hoping we don’t get no-hit,” Streamwood coach Steve Diversey said. “There is a reason he hasn’t lost in two years. He’s outstanding. Their outfielders catch long, deep fly balls. Those kids are good. They have an outstanding chance to win it all.”
Valparaiso-bound Mahoney (2-for-4) tripled in the third inning and scored on Steve Heilenbach’s sacrifice fly.
In the fourth, Lyons tried to score two runs on a sacrifice fly hit by Dan Zehe to deep center field. Mike Pett scored from third, but Brian Kelley was thrown out at home plate after sprinting from second. Pett’s run gave Lyons a 4-0 lead.
“When [Cuff] is out there, he’s a bulldog out there,” Lyons coach George Ushela said. “He just competes. I’m glad we’ll see him pitch again.”
Cuff will pitch in either the third-place game or championship game. Lyons will start senior right-hander Zach Remijas (10-0) in the state semfinal.
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