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Minor divisionBurnett hitlifts peskyPark ForesttowinBy PAUL TRAVERSO Defense and pitching highlighted Park Forest s 2-1 win over RichtonPark Tuesday night in the Chicago Heights Minor tournament to the extent that the game could have been mistaken for a Pony league match-up gameJason Burnett’s line drive into theleft-center field alley with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom ofthe sixth inning gave Park Forest the win and moved them into tonight’s championship game against Hazel Crest, Game time is 5:30 p.m.Burnett's hit was only the fourth off Richton Park starter Paul Gomez,but it proved the most costly after Richton Park infielders were eludedby three consecutive grounders that eventually led to the bases-loaded situation. Park Forest shortstop Matt Mihaloyv scored the winning run.“THE GAME COULD have gone either way,” Richton Park manager Daryl Bash said. “Those hits in the last inning can go either way, too (hits or errors). I call them well-hit balls.Keith Cappel went the distance for Park Forest, allowing just one hit while fanning nine. The only run the right-hander surrendered was unearned following a Park Forest error in the first inning.Richton Park’s J R. Schoonover, also on base via an error, scored the run after Brian Bash’s grounder was booted by the Park Forest infield. That proved to be the last giveaway by Park Forest, however, as the team -committed just one error the rest of the way.“Both teams put in an excellent effort,” Bash said. “It was a very well played game on both sides, especially defensively ”PARK FOREST tied the game in its half of the first when first baseman Jeff Gaston doubled home Cappel from first with two outs. Gomez retired the first two hitters in theinning, but surrendered the double after walking Cappel.“The pitching was tremendous, Park Forest manager Mike Faulkner said. “We just came through when we needed to.”Park Forest had a scare in thesixth when Richton Park put runners on first and second with the scoretied and only one out. The next hitter, Schoonover, laid down what appeared to be an effective sacrifice bunt, but Park Forest catcher BrianFaulkner came through with the play of the day.Faulkner dashed four steps in front of the plate, scooped up the ball and fired a bullet that third baseman Burnett needed all of his body to haul in, but the throw nipped Keshav Prabu and accounted for the secondout. Cappel then fanned Ryan Paulsen to end the inning.“He (Gomez) is the best pitcher we've faced all year,” Park Forest coach Phil Burnett said. “We usually score seven or eight runs a game, but he was very tough. It’s really a shame somebody had to lose.KiArrin'c tlniAC nrnrtire
Newspaper Details
Park Forest Star
Park Forest, Illinois, US
Thu, Aug 06, 1987
Page 21
Full Page
Clipped by
Steven B.
USA 27 Oct 2020
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