By Mark Gregory
Sports Editor
@Hear_The_Beard
mark@buglenewspapers.com
Nick Cerrato earned a win in his first start of the season, leading Plainfield North to a state berth for the second time in three years. (Mark Gregory photo)
Plainfield North closer Nick Cerrato is used to getting a late call that he is getting the ball for the Tigers.
That call, however, usually comes while he is sitting on the bench with his team near the end of a game North has a lead.
This time the call came via a text from manager John Darlington around 2 p.m. telling Cerrato he was the starter for North’s Supersectional game against Brother Rice at Standard Bank Stadium in Crestwood.
“I knew I had to do what I did all year and just throw strikes,” Cerrato said. “This is my first start of the year and I knew my team would hit the ball well and I just had to go out and throw strikes.”
And he was right.
The Plainfield North bats came out early, plating three runs in the top of the first inning and Cerrato sat down the first 10 batters he faced in order, as the Tigers rolled to a 7-3 over the Crusaders to advance to the IHSA Class 4A state finals for the second time in three seasons.
North (28-7) placed fourth in state in 2016.
It is the third time in four years that the Tigers have been to the Supersectional in Crestwood.
“Four years ago when we were (at Supersectional), we were young and inexperienced and didn’t know how to handle it and then we get here again and we win it and go downstate and then we were inexperienced at that level and we didn’t know how to handle it,” Darlington said. “So, hopefully, this is a better experience and we handle it better and play better when we are there.”
Before Cerrato ever took the bump, North was ahead 3-0.
Catcher Greg Budig opened the game being hit by the pitch and two batters later, Gavin Doyle drove him in with a double off the wall in left field.
It was then one Western Michigan University recruit driving in another as Brady Miller singled past the shortstop to drive in Doyle. Miller would eventually score on an RBI groundout by Cal Cangilla.
North never looked back.
“We put a plan together after the sectional win and nobody knew who was starting and I told Nick he was getting the ball around 2 p.m.,” Darlington said. “We knew we could get three or four out of him, maybe five. Then Eben (Heine) came in and got into some trouble, but he got out of it. The stuff that that had to work out for us did.”
Cerrato picked up the win going 4 1/3 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits, while walking two and striking out seven.
Doyle was 2-for-4, with an RBI and one run scored, while Miller was 1-for-3, with an RBI and three runs scored and Cameron Kissel was 2-for-4, scoring one run.
“Our guys are starting to think that this is what you are supposed to do. We had a lot of confidence coming in,” Darlington said. “We weren’t nervous, we weren’t scared. You could tell from our at bats early on that we were focused. We talked about that is practice – just focus on what we are doing, don’t worry about anyone else, enjoy the moment and you will have a great experience.”
North will play the second of two Class 4A semifinals at Joliet’s Route 66 Stadium at 5 p.m. against Sandburg (28-6).
The Eagles defeated O’Fallon 3-0 behind a Branden Comia first inning home run.
“Sandburg is good and we will have our hands full, but we will show up ready to play and hopefully we play well,” Darlington said. “We had a lot of these seniors up with us when they were sophomores when we went to state and hopefully they are ready and we compete well.”
Plainfield North softball and baseball teams celebrate Supersectional wins after the baseball team wins at Standard Bank Stadium in Crestwood. (Mark Gregory photo)