Sandburg's Billo locks up Lockport

Sandburg pitching coach Greg Billo had minor surgery Monday and could not attend Thursday's SouthWest Suburban Blue showdown against Lockport.

What he missed was his son, Greg, registering one of the most dominant pitching performances of the season.

The younger Billo fired a complete-game two-hitter, striking out 12, to lead No. 1 Sandburg to an impressive 2-0 win against No. 4 Lockport in Orland Park.

The win catapulted the Eagles (16-3) back into the Blue race with a 7-2 mark, while the Porters fell to 7-1. The two teams meet against Monday in Lockport.

"I have three words for you," Sandburg coach Doug Sutor said. "Greg Billo, masterful."

That about sums it up. The St. Joseph's College-bound right-hander had his way with the Porters. Lockport's Mike Frigo broke up Billo's no-hit bid with a sharp single off a first-pitch fastball in the sixth inning.

The only other Porters hit came off the bat of No. 5 hitter Matt Denton, who stroked a one-out single in the seventh. Other than that, Billo, who effectively mixed his fastball, slider and changeup, was in complete control during a 102-pitch effort.

"My slider was really working for me and my fastball was pretty good," said Billo, whose heater reached 91 on the Juggs Gun.

Lockport junior left-hander Tyler Willis deserved a better fate. He made two mistakes, and the Eagles made him pay for both.

Senior Jim Pipolo unloaded on a first-pitch fastball with two outs in the first inning and drove the ball into the teeth of the wind and over the right-center field fence for a 1-0 lead.

In the third, No. 2 hitter Ryan Cowhey blasted a 2-and-1 fastball over the left field fence to make it 2-0.

That was more than enough cushion for Billo.

With his father recuperating at home, Billo had to rely on the pitch-calling of assistant coach Chuck Peters, a Sandburg graduate. The younger Billo praised Peters, and also admitted to feeling a little less pressure without his father in the dugout.

"Coach Peters stepped in and did a great job calling the pitches," Billo (7-1) said. "I felt a little less pressure. I didn't have the yelling coming at me today."

The younger Billo said that with a smile.

Billo did receive some help from his defense in preserving the shutout. Right fielder Alex Kazmierski made a fine diving catch to rob Frigo of a possible extra base hit, and Billo helped himself in the sixth by starting a 1-6-3 double play.

Willis went the distance for Lockport, allowing four hits, three walks and striking out three.

"That's what happens when you face a pitcher at the next level," said Lockport coach Steve Stanicek, whose team fell to 14-5 overall. "He had great velocity and threw all three of his pitches for strikes. That's as good as of a pitching performance as I've seen.

"Our pitcher threw outstanding, too. We have to do a better job of hitting if we're going to compete against these teams."