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Knights rally for sectional victory
Updated: June 1, 2011 10:14PM
ROCHELLE — A team that for decades tried in vain to just capture a regional title is now two games away from reaching the state finals as the Kaneland Knights used a six-run, seventh inning rally to defeat Marian Central Catholic 7-4 in a Rochelle Class 3A Sectional semifinal Wednesday afternoon.
The Knights will face the winner of today’s game between Marmion Academy and Rochelle on Saturday.
“Our backs were against the wall and we had to do something,” Knights starter Kyle Davidson said. “We’re pumped up about this and we’re ready for Saturday.”
Trailing 3-1 with one out in the top of the seventh, the Knights (22-10) broke through on Hurricanes closer Steve Zubrzycki thanks to a three-run homer by Bobby Thorson that put Kaneland up 4-3.
Jake Razo added a two-run single and Corey Landers drove in a run off reliever Joe Klinger to cap the scoring.
“I wasn’t swinging too well all game,” said Thorson, 1-for-4 and hitless in his previous seven at-bats before the homer. “I don’t think I’ve ever gone 0-for-4 in my entire life and I wasn’t about to do it then. He threw me the second pitch fastball and the wind helped me out a little bit. I’ll take it.”
Thorson then was called on in the bottom of the seventh to close the game after reliever Drew Peters (3-1) walked the Hurricanes’ Andrew Stone on four pitches. Thorson gave up a double to Lincoln Herendeen and a run-scoring single to Mitch Ennis to make it 7-4 before retiring the last three Hurricanes (19-11) with men on first and third.
“We left so many guys on base and we just didn’t get the big hit,” Marian Central Catholic coach Gregg Wikierak said. “We put ourselves in a very good position to come out on top but the doors fell off in the end, whatever the saying is for that. It was kind of ugly.”
Hurricanes starter Ian Maxiener kept the Knights from bringing runners home over the first six innings by mixing an effective curve ball with well placed fastballs. He allowed six hits and walked four, and the Knights had runners on first and third in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, but could only manage a Sam Komel homer through the first six innings.
Davidson was equally as effective, allowing three runs over six innings. He gave up a two-run homer to Scott Taylor in the first, but allowed just four hits over the next five innings.
After allowing a leadoff single in the sixth to Evan Mass, Davidson retired Brett Kosar to turn the Hurricanes lineup over.
Aversa then went to Peters, who allowed Mass to score on a hit by Zubrzycki but escaped without further damage.
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