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Funkhouser, Oak Forest move on
Updated: June 10, 2011 7:27PM
Oak Forest ace Kyle Funkhouser made one mistake, a second-inning fastball that Justin Gonzalez deposited over the left-field fence.
Fortunately for the Bengals, Nazareth Academy made three mistakes, all in the fourth inning, which contributed to all Oak Forest’s runs in its 3-1 Class 3A state semifinal victory Friday at Silver Cross Field in Joliet.
The Bengals (27-7-1), who have only two seniors on the team, will now play the winner of the Waterloo-Kaneland semifinal on Saturday for the Class 3A state championship, which would be the school’s first since 1985.
“We weren’t the best team at first, but we’re such a family now,” said senior shortstop Bobby Sheppard, who went 2-for-3 with a triple and a run. “I love all these guys.”
Funkhouser (12-0), the Bengals’ indomitable 6-foot-3, 185-pound right-hander, was touched for his first home run of the season when Gonzalez ripped an 89-mph fastball, giving Nazareth (34-6) a quick 1-0 advantage. Funkhouser, who entered the game with an 0.83 ERA and 130 strikeouts, settled down, though. For the game, he allowed only three hits, struck out four and walked three.
“He was sitting fastball on that one,” Funkhouser said about the home run. “He crushed it. But I have faith in our defense.”
Indeed, Oak Forest’s defense was rock-solid, as the Bengals turned three double plays, two of which came in the final two innings after Funkhouser had issued leadoff walks. Both double plays came directly after the walks to wipe out any threat.
“Without a doubt, those double plays were momentum-killers,” said Oak Forest coach Thad Gatton.
Oak Forest, which tallied seven hits, finally caught a break in the fourth inning when Nazareth’s usually solid defense collapsed with three errors. Sheppard led off the inning with a single, then junior Cody Murray laid down an excellent sacrifice bunt that was ruled a hit, but Sheppard advanced to third on a wild throw on the play. Another infield error loaded up the bases before Arthur Johnson coaxed a walk to tie the game at 1-1.
Pinch-hitter Kyle Linares hit a sacrifice fly, and Oak Forest scored its final run on a wild pitch.
“It’s just the game of baseball,” said Nazareth coach Lee Milano. “Those things happen. It was just a bad inning.”
Ryan Powers, a 6-foot-5 right-hander, relieved junior Ryan Marske in the fourth inning, and pitched four innings, allowing two hits and struck out five in his third appearance in a week.
“We knew that Funkhouser was one of the best pitchers in the state,” said Powers. “I thought we were well-prepared to face him. We battled every pitch. Overall, I thought we played tough. Obviously we’re disappointed.”
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