Lake Central holds on to beat Lowell 4-3 in sectional semifinal

A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith

5-31-2009

Team (Record) / Inning	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
LOWELL (9-18)	0	0	0	2	1	0	0	3	6	2
LAKE CENTRAL (25-3)	1	1	2	0	0	0	-	4	5	0

Saturday, 5-30-2009 - 81 degrees, Munster Sectional Semifinal at MUNSTER, IN

WP - Kurt Kudrecki (2-1) 8K, 0 walks (4 innings)
LP - Derek Brandenburg (1-6) 2K, 2 walks (5.3 inn.)

LOWELL (9-18)
Matt Hilbrch (DH) 1-for-3
Brandon Grubbe (LF) 1-for-3, double, run scored
Josh Del Rio (CF) 2-for-3, triple, RBI
Derek Brandeburg (P-2B) 1-for-3, double
Craig Austgen (SS) 0-for-3
Jordan Juarez (3B) 0-for-3
JD Muscari (RF) 0-for-3
Keith Greer (1B-P) 1-for-3
Evan Ensweiler (C) 1-for-3

LAKE CENTRAL (25-3)
Kyle Kaluza (CF) 0-for-1, 2 stolen bases
Anthony Olund (2B) 1-for-3
Ryan Boss (LF) 0-for-3
Eric Summers (DH) 2-for-3, HR, 2 RBIs
Matt Skura (1B) 0-for-3
Frank Pluskota (3B) 1-for-3, double
Frank Ruvoli (C) 0-for-3
Roger Sammon (SS) 1-for-2, RBI
Brandon Cloutier (RF) 0-for-2

MUNSTER (5-30-2009) The great thing about baseball is that, more than any other sport, you always have a chance, no matter who you are playing. I don't remember Lowell defeating Lake Central in this decade. The Indians (25-3), were ranked fourth in the state at the end of the regular season, while the Red Devils spent the year well below the .500 mark.

But it was LC holding onto a one-run lead at the end of the Class 4A Munster Sectional semifinals. Lowell's 4-3 loss was somewhat of a moral victory.

"We didn't look like a 9-17 team today," said Red Devil coach Tom Stoner after the game. "I just went through the dugout and told every one of them that they can hold their heads high after this one. The only way I could be more pleased is if we had the four (runs) and they had the three."

Lake Central has been hard to figure. They have an overwhelming record, 22 games over the .500 mark. They have several three year starters and seven seniors started Saturday's game. The winner of the Munster Sectional faces the sectional winner from South Bend (Clay) at 10:30 a.m. Saturday morning in the LaPorte Regional on June 6. Lake Central, a 10-3 loser to Penn two weeks ago, was informed before the game that Penn had lost, 3-1 to unranked Clay, a major upset.

They jumped to a 4-0 lead over Lowell with the aid of a two-run homer by senior Eric Summers. But the Indians and a standing room only crowd on the home side saw the tide turn dramatically after run scoring extra base hits by Lowell's Brandon Grubbe, Josh Del Rio and Derek Brandenburg leading off the top of the fourth inning.

When Matt Hilbrich drove in Evan Ensweiler with a fifth inning RBI single against ace relief pitcher Kurt Kudrecki, LC was in serious danger of being eliminated on a warm, summertime Saturday afternoon.

"Give them credit," said LC coach Todd Iwema. "They were hitting 0-2 doubles and 0-2 triples. They played us two games tough this year."

Kudrecki, a junior who has four saves this year, literally saved this game as well. Lowell could not hit his array of quick diving tosses.

"He throws a knuckle ball, a slider and a curve ball," said Iwema. "What people don't know is, he's been clocked at 89 miles-an-hour this year. He pitched two days ago. He pitched today. What's great about him is that he comes in so often. He's come in in so many pressure situations and he's come through."

Kurdrecki struck out five of the last seven batters he faced to close out Lowell and he only needed nine pitches in the seventh inning.

"I think in the seventh inning we were pent up," said Stoner. "A little bit too bundled up. But I can't complain. We were close. We just needed one more star of the game. A little magic."

Iwema said that every state finalist team has a moment where things get tight.

"There's a time when the so-called favorite can tighten up," he said. "It's nice that we have a bunch of seniors and Kurt who can come through in close ball games. You're going to have that in the tournament and you get through it. Whether it's luck, ability or skill, you get through it."

SECTIONAL NOTES: Both sides were informed before the game that 3rd ranked Penn (26-4), a 10-3 winner over LC two weeks ago, had been eliminated 3-1 by Clay at the Clay Sectional in South Bend. The winner of the Munster Sectional faces the winner of the Clay sectional on June 6 in the Class 4A LaPorte Regional semifinals.

Lowell's squad graduates just five seniors this week. Several of the boys will play American Legion baseball and others will find traveling teams.

"The American Legion (Post 101) has got a team and most of the guys will be there," coach Tom Stoner said. "Austgen's going over to the Valpo area and play on a traveling team that's set up by (Valpo coach and former major leaguer Mickey Morandini). Hilbrich is going to play Legion. Brandon's going to concentrate on football. Justin Juarez will, too. Justin's older brother (graduating senior Jordan Juarez) was such a good player. Football first. Baseball's second with him."

"All I ask of the football players is that, once football's over that they give me six months. January to June. You can't go six months without picking up a bat."

Lake Central boys all adopted a 'Mohawk' haircut as a sign of playoff solidarity.

"You can't really see it when their caps are on," said Iwema. "I told them, come up with something that you all want to do together. This is what they decided. I guess you can tie it in with, we're the Indians and now we're the Mohawks. Some of them don't look very good."

"I told them that I'd do it at the regional. After the regional. If we win. I'll just keep my cap on a lot."