Libertyville’s Eichmann two-hits rival Carmel

Last year in the regional final, Libertyville blew a big lead in the seventh inning to lose to neighborhood rival Carmel.

This time around, Joey Eichmann made sure that didn’t happen again. Eichmann threw a two-hitter at Carmel in a 6-3 victory Friday in a Class 4A Libertyville Regional semifinal.

The two schools, separated by a few miles down Route 176, split two games during the regular season.

“We played those guys in two tough games this season, so it feels great to get the win,” said Eichmann, who struck out four and walked five. “Our whole team hit well, especially in situations, and we made the plays. We played really well, collectively.”

Eichmann (6-3), a 6-4, 205-pound Purdue recruit, allowed only an infield single through six innings before he made his only mistake of the game — a two-out, three-run homer by Tommy Ryan in the top of the seventh.

Another seventh-inning postseason rally by Carmel? Not quite. Eichmann retired the next batter on a fly out to send the Wildcats (20-14) into Saturday’s regional final against Warren.

“One of our goals was to get ahead early and let the defense make plays,” Libertyville coach Jim Schurr said. “He hit his spots all game long.”

Scoreless through three innings, Libertyville finally broke through against Carmel (17-16) senior left-hander Timmy Hendricks (4-3) in the fourth inning, pushing three runs across on three hits. Freshman catcher Evan Skoug and Robbie Dittman each had RBI singles in the inning, and Trevor Freberg drove in a run.

Eichmann helped his own cause in the fifth with a run-scoring single before the Wildcats added two runs in the sixth on two hits and three walks. A.J. Schurr, who went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run, had a check-swing RBI infield single in the inning.

“There’s a great rivalry and mutual respect between the programs — a general regard for one another,” Schurr said. “This game had a lot on it.”

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