Near-perfect Resnick no-no’s Ramblers

Updated: June 2, 2011 9:58PM

Glenbrook North skipper Dominic Savino made a call to the bullpen before Thursday’s game and it proved to be a managerial masterstroke.

Savino gave closer Peter Resnick his first start of the season against Loyola in the Class 4A Glenbrook South Sectional semifinal. The junior righty with the side-arm motion responded by pitching a no-hitter as the Spartans defeated the Ramblers 3-0.

Resnick struck out 10, walked one and allowed just one ball to leave the infield as GBN (32-3) advanced to Saturday’s sectional final against Leyden (28-5).

Savino said he gave the ball to Resnick because of the junior’s ability to throw off-speed pitches and handle pressure.

“[After watching Loyola in the regional final] I had no doubt they could attack fastballs. So, we tried to choose the pitcher who could [throw off-speed] and provide us with an edge,” Savino said. “We went with Pete. He’s been in critical situations and high pressure situations [as a closer] and his approach never changes. We felt being in this atmosphere, he’d be able to handle that and I’m proud of him.”

Resnick said he learned of the starting assignment on Wednesday and battled some nerves during the school day Thursday. But he settled down quickly, striking out the side in the first. The pitcher said it was the first no-hitter he has thrown at any level, though he was happiest about getting the win.

“I [wasn’t aware of the no-hitter until] I heard Loyola players talking about it in the fifth or sixth inning. But I tried not to pay attention,” Resnick said. “They put some balls in play and my fielders made some nice plays. A win is a win. It looks a little bit better with a no-no, but it’s the same for me.”

Glenbrook North, which had just five hits, got on the board in the bottom of the third when senior shortstop Brett Synek singled in senior centerfielder Charlie Apfelbach. Synek then came around to score on junior right fielder Chad Bruce’s RBI single.

The Spartans got their third run in the sixth when senior DH Sean Thomas doubled and then scored on an RBI double by senior left fielder Jack Day.

Loyola (16-20) had been on a fine playoff run after having an up-and-down regular season. Ramblers junior lefty Jack Richmond started and had a solid outing (5 innings, four hits, three earned runs, five strikeouts, three walks), and might have been a winner on another day.

But the Ramblers had few answers for Resnick.

“[Resnick] did a great job getting ahead and mixed it up,” Loyola head coach Bill San Hamel said. “We didn’t have many quality at-bats, but that’s a credit to [Resnick]. He pitched really well today.”

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