Devin Pickett scored the lone run in a 1-0 Elite 8 win over Simeon on Monday. (PHOTO SUPPLIED)
Chicago Heights, IL-(ENEWSPF)- After pitching Marian Catholic to its first sectional title on Saturday, Brett Lilek singled home Devin Pickett for the lone run of the game in the top of the eighth Monday to give Marian Catholic a 1-0 victory over Simeon (31-8) in the Standard Bank (Crestwood) 3A IHSA Supersectional and earn the Spartans their first-ever state tournament berth.
Senior Ben Santori stranded a runner on third in the seventh with one of 12 strikeouts and fanned two in the eighth to complete a three-hit gem.
Marian (23-17) will take on conference rival Nazareth Academy in a 12 p.m. state semifinal on Friday at Silver Cross Field in Joliet. The Spartans and Roadrunners split an ESCC series this year, with each team winning on the road.
With one out in the top of the eighth, Pickett reached on an error and one out later, swiped second base. Lilek then ripped a two-out single to right field, with Pickett just beating the tag at the plate.
Marian outhit the Wolverines, 5-3, in the pitchers’ duel, as Brad Bohlen, Conner Madey, Rob Cifelli and Patrick Schmidt also collected safeties for the Spartans, who will take a six-game winning streak into state tourney play.
The 23 wins also now ranks second on Marian’s all-time victory list. The decision also improved the Spartans to 3-0 in games at Standard Bank Stadium this season.
