Fox and DuPage baseball regional roundup

Wheaton Academy 5, Montini 1

Senior Eric DeCosta helped his own cause by belting a 2-run home run in the first inning, then worked 5 2/3 innings of 1-run, 2-hit ball on the mound to lift Wheaton Academy (31-5) to a 5-1 victory over host Montini in Saturday’s Class 3A regional championship game in Lombard.

DeCosta fanned 8, as the Warriors advance to Wednesday’s 4 p.m. Sycamore sectional semifinals against the host Spartans.

Will Osterholm pitched the final 1 1/3 innings to record the save, entering to record an inning-ending strikeout with the bases loaded in the sixth.

Jacob York went 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored and an RBI, Will Clegg was 1 for 2 with a double, RBI, and 2 walks, and Brandon Kiebles finished 1 for 3 with a double and RBI.

It capped a memorable day for Warriors coach Justin Swider, whose wife gave birth to the couple’s fifth child — a girl — approximately during the third inning, according to Swider.

Neuqua Valley 2, West Aurora 1

Senior Alex Voegele tossed 6 1/3 innings of 1-run ball, while Paul Feret and Joe Barkley each delivered RBI singles to lift 12th-seeded Neuqua Valley (16-19) to a 2-1 victory over 14th-seeded West Aurora Saturday in Naperville.

Voegele, who finished near the 100-pitch mark, gave up 4 hits and 3 walks with 5 strikeouts, before freshman Josh Repmann came on to record the final 2 outs and pick up the save.

Winning their seventh regional title crown in 8 years, the Wildcats advance to Wednesday’s 2 p.m. Plainfield North 4A sectional semifinals against top-seeded Downers Grove North.

Barkley and junior Owen Shannon each went 2 for 3 for Neuqua, while Michael Langan added a base hit and a run scored.

The Blackhawks finished the season at 13-19.

Waubonsie Valley 5, Hinsdale Central 4

Owen Roberts added to his season-long list of accomplishments Saturday afternoon.

Roberts, who earned DuPage Valley Conference Player and Pitcher of the Year accolades earlier in the week, propelled Waubonsie Valley to its first 4A regional title since 2014 with his walk-off double in the bottom of the seventh during the Warriors’ 5-4 victory over Hinsdale Central in Aurora.

With the win, second-seeded Waubonsie Valley advances to Wednesday’s 4:30 p.m. Plainfield North sectional semifinals against the host Tigers (17-17).

Hampshire 3, Rockton Hononegah 1

Junior Calen Scheider pitched a 4-hit complete game with 10 strikeouts and a pair of walks to lift Hampshire (24-10) to a 3-1 victory Rockton Hononegah (24-7) in Saturday’s 4A regional championship in Rockton.

Scheider also helped his own cause, going 1 for 3 at the plate with a solo home run, as the Whips earned their first regional title since 2021.

Leadoff hitter Ari Fivelson, who went 2 for 4, belted a solo home run in the first inning to give Hampshire a 1-0 lead before Rockton Hononegah tied it on Austin Dresser’s RBI groundout in the third.

Anthony Karbowski (double, RBI) and Jack Perrone added hits for Hampshire, which returns home for Wednesday’s 2 p.m. sectional semifinal game against McHenry.

Plainfield North 11, Downers Grove South 9

John Andretich went 3 for 4 with 4 RBI to help lift seventh-seeded Plainfield North to an 11-9 victory over West Suburban Gold champion Downers Grove South in 4A regional championship action Saturday in Plainfield.

Tanner Grimes added a pair of hits and 2 RBI, while Kyle Demay (3-2) got the win on the mound, working 3 innings, giving up 5 runs (1 earned) on 6 hits with 3 strikeouts.

Downers Grove South grabbed a 3-0 lead in the first inning before Plainfield North took the lead for good with a 6-run second.

The Mustangs finished 25-8.

South Elgin 5, Batavia 0

Senior Merrick Hill pitched a shutout during South Elgin’s 5-0 4A regional championship victory over Batavia Saturday morning in Geneva.

The 12th-seeded Storm (14-13), who won their first regional title since 2017, advance to Wednesday’s 2:30 p.m. St. Charles North sectional semifinals against the top-seeded North Stars.

Batavia finished at 12-22.

Barrington 12, Jacobs 3

Third-seeded Barrington (22-13) punched a ticket to Wednesday’s 4:30 p.m. 4A Hampshire sectional semifinals against Huntley with a 12-3 regional title triumph over Jacobs Saturday.

The Broncos sealed the decision with a 7-run second inning on the way to their third consecutive regional championship.

Jacobs finished at 22-13.

Burlington Central 5, Belvidere North 3

Michael Person pitched a complete game, allowing 3 runs and 7 hits with 7 strikeouts, while going 2 for 4 at the plate with a pair of runs scored during Burlington Central’s 5-3 3A regional title victory over Belvidere North Saturday in Belvidere.

Brady Gilroy went 2 for 3 with a double and 2 runs scored, AJ Payton was 2 for 4 with an RBI, and Chase Powrozek was 2 for 3 with a double and 2 RBI, as the Rockets (24-9) captured their second straight regional crown.

Solomon Her and Connor Rubin each added doubles, as the second-seeded Rockets advance to Wednesday’s 6:30 p.m. Sycamore sectional semifinals against top-seeded Benet Academy.

Benet Academy 7, St. Francis 6

Charlie Kane’s walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh propelled top-seeded Benet Academy (21-9) to a 7-6 victory over St. Francis in Saturday’s 3A regional championship in Lisle.

With the win, the Redwings advance to Wednesday’s 6:30 p.m. Sycamore sectional semifinals against Burlington Central.

Crystal Lake South 7, Wauconda 3

Crystal Lake South (21-13) captured its third regional title with a 7-3 victory over top-seeded Wauconda (22-11) Saturday afternoon in Crystal Lake.

Christian Alther led the way for the Gators, going 3 for 3 with an RBI and run scored, while Carson Trivellini and CJ Regillio each went 2 for 3 with an RBI. Regillio smacked a double, while Trivellini scored a pair of runs.

Junior Liam Sullivan finished 1 for 4 with an RBI, and junior Yandel Ramirez reached base with a pair of walks.

Eighth-seeded Crystal Lake South, which advances to Wednesday’s 2 p.m. Grayslake Central sectional semifinals against Deerfeld, took the lead for good with a 4-run third.

After Wauconda pulled within 5-3 after 4 innings, the Gators tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the sixth.

Cole Tilley earned the victory, working 3 2/3 innings and allowing 3 earned runs and 3 hits, with 3 strikeouts, while Trivellini worked the final 3 ½ scoreless frames of 1-hit ball, fanning 2.