Senior shortstop Andrew Speh predicted the precise sequence of occasions for Stagg.
Earlier than including to his private spotlight reel, Speh relayed his ideas to junior reliever John Skordas — saying precisely how his eleventh inning at-bat was going to end up for the Chargers.
“He threw me a primary pitch curveball my earlier time up,” Speh stated of Marist’s pitcher whereas describing the lead-up to his dramatic ending. “I’ve gotten that from lefties the entire yr.
“I advised John, ‘If he throws me a curveball, I’m swinging on the first pitch and taking it over the wall.’”
Transfer over, Nostradamus. Speh adopted up his phrases with motion, hitting a two-run homer to carry the host Chargers to a 9-7 upset Thursday in a Class 4A Stagg Regional semifinal in Palos Hills.
Senior catcher Brody Jeffers totaled three hits, three runs and two RBIs for the Twelfth-seeded Chargers (9-27), who play at 10 a.m. Saturday in opposition to second-seeded Lincoln-Manner West (28-7) for the regional title. Sophomore infielder Dominic Talaga additionally drove in two runs.
Junior beginning pitcher Ryan Lawlor knocked in three runs and sophomore outfielder Tommy Hosty hit a two-run homer for seventh-seeded Marist (20-14-1).
Batting leadoff, Speh took full benefit of his prolonged alternatives. He completed 3-for-6 with three runs and three RBIs. On the profitable homer, Speh launched that first pitch to heart.
And he was pumped up afterward.
“The way you image Andrew is how he’s,” stated Skordas, who pitched the ultimate six innings and struck out 9, offsetting eight hits. “He received the adrenaline tremendous excessive for everybody with that residence run.
“He’s the perfect teammate possible. He’s there for you if you make your worst performs and he’s there if you make your greatest performs.”
Skordas then struck out the aspect within the eleventh, together with the ultimate two batters as Marist stranded runners at first and second. It got here after the RedHawks rallied from three totally different deficits.
Jeffers acknowledged the two-run cushion allowed the Chargers to breathe and chill out at the same time as Marist, which got here again by scoring a tying run within the seventh, was threatening once more.
“Seeing the ball fly over the fence in a second like that was superb,” Jeffers stated of Speh’s homer within the prime half of the inning. “He’s been considered one of my greatest associates for 4 years now.
“He simply has this capacity to choose all people up, even when he’s not having his greatest recreation.’’
It was Speh’s fourth homer of the season.
“I by no means had a couple of residence run in a season till this yr,” he stated. “I’ve undoubtedly gotten stronger all year long. I haven’t gained a playoff recreation in all three years I’ve been on the varsity. That is the best second I’ve had.
“I couldn’t have requested to do it with a greater group.”
Speh additionally shared the second together with his youthful brother, Evan, a sophomore heart fielder.
Andrew, a year-round athlete, is a standout hockey participant for the Orland Park Vikings. He’s set to attend Minnesota, with the aim of enjoying junior hockey on the membership degree for 2 years as the mandatory development to make the Golden Gophers’ group.
A defenseman in hockey, Speh is the Chargers’ defensive anchor at shortstop.
“We had a neighbor who performed hockey, so I grew up enjoying that,” Speh stated. “My dad and mom all the time stated I used to be higher at baseball rising up.
“I may by no means let go of hockey. It’s quick, bodily and simply so mentally robust.”
The psychological calls for of each sports activities have paid big dividends, particularly coping with adversity. Dealing with the prospect of enjoying his closing baseball recreation, Speh wasn’t going to provide an inch.
“No one thought we have been going to win this recreation,” Speh stated. “They didn’t even throw their greatest man in opposition to us. You possibly can’t beat this, additional innings, at residence, and we have been the decrease seed.
“We simply knew we have been going to win this recreation.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a contract reporter for the Day by day Southtown.