Sports
Baseball: Plainfield North, Renzi, Win Regional Title Over Joliet West
Plainfield North 5, Joliet West 2: A quick start on offense and Renzi's 11 strikeouts are more than enough to win their second straight regional title.
While it wasn’t one of the dominant performances the Plainfield North Tigers have been known for, their 5-2 regional title victory over the Joliet West Tigers in the Plainfield South regional title was a very comfortable one.
“I thought we approached the game well as a team,” Plainfield North coach John Darlington said.
Plainfield North (31-2) jumped to an early lead with an RBI double by Kurt Palandech in the bottom of the first. He scored two batters later on an error by Joliet West shortstop Damon Softcheck. In the bottom of the second Matt Fenza drove in Joe Cresta on an RBI groundout to second. Fenza beat the potential inning-ending double play throw to first by a few steps.
Find out what's happening in Plainfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Joliet West’s (20-9) defense clamped down on potential rallies in the third and fourth, but were no match on offense for ace pitcher Sean Renzi. He struck out 11 in six innings, allowing three hits and walking three.
“I tried attacking the top of the order and putting pressure on them,” Renzi said.
Find out what's happening in Plainfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
His only mistake came in the sixth, allowing a two-run homer to Trey Martin, Joliet West’s best hitter, that barely sailed over the fence in right-center to cut the lead to 5-2.
“I tried attacking him inside and he just got a hold of one,” Renzi said.
Joliet West’s coach, John Karczewski, wasn’t surprised. “He’s had over 50 RBI for us this season. He knows how to hit.”
Renzi halted a potential rally by striking out the next two hitters and forcing a pop-out to the catcher.
Jake Ready worked the seventh inning for Plainfield North and struck out the side to secure the regional title for the second year in a row.
Darlington, for his part, isn’t looking too far ahead. “It’s 100% all about pitching matchups,” he said. “What’s nice about us is we have senior pitching. They’ve been here before and they know what to expect.”
Plainfield North will play the winner of the Hinsdale Central (Naperville Central-Downers South) regional on Wednesday, June 1 at Neuqua Valley.
