1997 State Champs!!!
Final:
5 Schaumburg |
4 Lockport |
Congratulations to the Saxon baseball team for winning it's first Class AA state baseball championship. Schaumburg beat Lockport 5-4 at Elfstrom Stadium in Geneva to take the state title. The state win came after Mike Nall pitched a no-hitter in the quarterfinals against Clemente, one walk away from a perfect game. Mike's brother , T.J. was credited for the victory over Mattoon in a 6-0 shutout. Mark Belousek, the tournament MVP pitched the first four innings of that game.
It was a storybook ending as the Saxons broke the 4-4 tie in the bottom of the ninth to take the game. The bases were loaded. Tim Chambers walked. An error by second baseman Dave Simmons alowed John Komacki to reach. After Paul Reuer got ahead 2-0 on the count Lockport coach Jim Hall had Reuer intentionally walked, bringing up cleanup hitter Brian Wojtanowski.
`It was a feeling like none other I've ever had, it's what every kid dreams about. Going up, bases loaded, score tied, last of the ninth," Wojtanowski told the Tribune.
The Saxons' senior third baseman ended one of the most exciting games in state playoff history when he lined a single in the last of the ninth inning to win the game, and the championship.
| MICHAEL NALL IS CONGRATULATED BY HIS BROTHER TJ(#2) AND BRIAN WOJTANOWSKI AFTER A NO HIT PERFORMANCE THAT FRIDAY! |  |