Baseball: Ryan Peter, Sam Couch power Joliet Catholic past Lincoln-Way North
By Dick Goss dgoss@stmedianetwork.com July 18, 2012 9:32PM
Joliet Catholic's Brock Pluth (7) tags out Lincoln-Way North's Corey Krupske. | Paul Bergstrom~For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: August 20, 2012 12:01PM
Ryan Peter has found a new home in the Joliet Catholic batting order, and as a result, the Hilltoppers will face neighboring rival Joliet West at noon Thursday at Ed Flink Field for the Lockport Regional championship in the IHSBCA/Phil Lawler Classic summer state baseball tournament.
The leadoff man in the spring, Peter, a senior, has moved into the cleanup spot this summer. Playing his new role to the hilt, he cranked a three-run home run to left field in the bottom of the first inning off touted Lincoln-Way North right-hander Mike Miller as the third-seeded Hilltoppers (16-2) eliminated the defending summer state champions in Wednesday’s semifinal 5-1.
“It’s a little different going from leadoff to the 4-hole, but I’m taking it in stride,” said Peter, who also walked and singled. “It was good to get off to a good start; our offense and defense did the job.
“What really won it, though, was our pitching. (Right-hander Sam) Couch battled the whole time, and so did (right-hander Cal) Placher when he came in. Sam is quick to the plate and his ball moves a lot.”
Couch allowed an unearned run in six innings and Placher faced four batters in the seventh. Ira Hughes singled home two unearned insurance runs in the third.
“Joliet Catholic played a perfect game,” North coach Joe Skarbek said. “Last year was great, it was magical. It was something we won’t forget. But it is about next spring, and I hope this game makes us a little hungrier.”
Voss noted that elements favored offense, yet North (16-3) managed four hits.
“Couch was excellent,” Voss said. “It’s tough to pitch on a warm day like this when hitters have been getting a lot of at-bats lately and have their timing.”
