Radtke’s one-hitter lifts Joliet West past Central

Updated: May 9, 2011 10:08PM

Cody Vancina’s infield single in the fifth and final inning ended his no-hit bid. Yet Joliet West senior right-hander Brandon Radtke was not upset in the least.

What Radtke focused on was throwing strikes, and he did that very well Monday afternoon as the visiting Tigers spanked crosstown and SouthWest Suburban Blue rival Joliet Central 10-0.

“Brandon had good stuff today, and he cut down on the walks,” West coach John Karzewski said.

“That was what mattered, limiting the walks,” Radtke agreed. “In other games, it seemed like it was either strikeout or walk. Today I only struck out four, but I found out I am able to put my trust in our defense. Really, all you ask is for them to make the routine plays.”

First baseman Scott Jennings made a diving catch of a line drive, third baseman Trey Martin made a nice play cutting a ball off headed for the hole and the Tigers (13-7-1, 6-4) turned a 6-4-3 double play in the second inning.

The twin killing, after a hit batsman, meant Radtke faced the minimum 12 batters through four innings. He allowed a one-out walk and then the Vancina single in the fifth inning, and he ended the game and completed the two-game series sweep of the Steelmen with a pickoff.

“Radtke definitely is a very good pitcher,” Central coach Tony Juarez said. “He pitched a lot for Terry Piazza on last year’s (combined) team. We knew from the beginning this would be a tough day.

“We have been challenged offensively all year, and when you have three baserunners all day, it’s tough.”

While all that was going on, the Steelmen (4-20, 1-9) were having difficulty shutting down the West attack.

Jeff Gersch had three hits and an RBI, Matt Koran a double, single and three RBI, Damon Softcheck two hits and an RBI groundout, Jennings two hits and Martin a home run and two RBI.

“We sprayed the ball all over the park,” Karczewski said. “Even the bottom of the order was involved. That was good to see.”

The only negative for West was that senior second baseman Mike Grindstaff was removed in the first inning and taken to the hospital. “He got bit by a spider in his ear a day and a half or so ago and wasn’t feeling well,” Radtke explained.

The Tigers mounted their 13-hit attack largely against Central senior right-hander James McClelland, who has pitched effectively much of the season.

“McClelland is not overpowering,” Juarez said. “He is successful when he can pitch backward, get his second and third pitches over the plate, then come with the fastball and either jam the hitters or get them to chase it in the dirt. He had trouble with his second and third pitches today.”

The youthful Steelmen have five seniors on the field, but as Juarez said, they did not come into the season with much varsity experience under their belts.

“We have played well at times,” he said. “But we are to the point now where we have to play better consistently.”

© 2012 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.