Big inning catapults Maine South past Evanston

Updated: May 29, 2011 5:36PM

Maine South lost to Evanston twice during the regular season earlier this month, and the Hawks knew they didn’t want to fall behind the Wildkits again.

In both games, Evanston pitched submariner Jack Anderson, and Maine South was helpless against the senior reliever.

Saturday was a different story.

The Hawks (21-9) scored seven runs — all with two outs — in the top of the third inning on their way to an 8-2 win in the regional semifinals at Evanston. It was the most runs Maine South has scored in an inning this spring.

“We wanted to score early because we knew that guy would come in,” senior catcher Jimmy Frankos said. “We had to be ahead by then.”

When Anderson arrived on the mound, the Hawks were up 7-2. They added their final run on John Fabiano’s first homer of the season in the seventh off Justin Kleschen.

“That inning was huge for us,” said Maine South coach Bill Milano, whose No. 9-seeded team lost 6-5 and 3-1 to the seventh-seeded Wildkits in Central Suburban South play.

Meanwhile, Maine South starter John Forsythe was on cruise control. The only trouble inning came in the fourth after the Hawks already were up big.

Evanston got its first two batters on before loading the bases for Ameer Cannon, who hit a two-out, two-run double. The Wildkits (19-13) got the bases full again, but Forsythe fanned Max Sledlecki to end the inning.

The left-handed junior struck out five and allowed three hits in five innings for the victory.

“One thing we preached all week was throwing strikes,” Frankos said. “Everything was clicking for him, and it showed.”

Junior Keenan Kelly retired every batter he faced in two scoreless innings of relief.

“He came in and did his job,” Frankos said. “That’s what you want your reliever to do.”

Nick Calabrese and Kyle Richardson each finished with two hits for the Hawks. Cannon had two of Evanston’s three hits, and Noah Doppelt had the other. The Wildkits ended their season 19-13.

Maine South, which won a sectional title last season, moves on to play Glenbrook North on Monday in the regional final. The second-seeded Spartans (30-3) beat the Hawks 9-5 on April 12. Maine South plans to throw Pat Aloisio, while Glenbrook North’s probable starter is Alex Hermeling.

“We have to play good baseball,” said Milano, whose team has won 17 of its last 21 games. “We have to throw strikes and make the routine plays.”

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