Baseball: Billy Sheeren, Metea Valley upset Hinsdale South

Updated: May 26, 2012 5:44PM

Strong pitching and timely hitting are almost always a recipe for success. Throw in errorless defense, and a coach couldn’t really ask for any more from his squad.

Coach Craig Tomczak got the trifecta from his 10th seeded Metea Valley Mustangs as the defeated highly regarded and number two seed Hinsdale South by a score of 5-1, and advance to next week’s Romeoville sectional where the number three seed Neuqua Valley Wildcats await.

Billy Sheeren fanned four and scattered seven hits in a complete-game performance for Metea Valley (18-18).

Hinsdale South scored its only run in the bottom of the first inning on consecutive doubles by pitcher Emmanuel Morris and PJ Schuster.

Sheeren faced a one out, bases loaded jam in the second, but escaped by striking out Sean Beesley and getting DJ Deolitsis to ground out to second on a great play by the Mustangs’ Ben Doiron.

“I had all three pitches working, and could throw my change-up to their big hitters and keep them on the ground,” said Sheeren. “I was definitely pumped to hold a team like Hinsdale South to not score anything with the bases loaded. It was definitely big.”

Sheeren drove in the go ahead run for the Mustangs in the fourth on a ground out, but Michael Mooney had Metea’s biggest hit in the fifth inning. He singled to drive in Obendorf and Solomon to boost the lead to 4-1.

“Billy was pitching a great game, and I thought he deserved more that a one-run cushion,” said Mooney. “I just wanted to put the ball on the bat with the bases loaded. It got through the hole, so it worked out well.”

Sheeren seemed to get stronger during the last five innings, allowing only two hits and issuing only three walks. He threw 119 total pitches.

Metea added a score in the seventh as Mooney boomed a double to left center to plate Obendorf, who had walked and stolen second.

“I would say Billy’s (Sheeren) performance today was gutsy,” said Tomczak. “I don’t think he had his really good stuff, but all year when he is on the mound, he has given us a shot to win.

“I’m happy for our entire team and especially for our seniors. We started on this journey three years ago. We all came from Waubonsie (to Metea when it opened) and our goal was to win a regional. Tip your hat to Hinsdale South — they have a great team. We played errorless baseball all day and it’s a great accomplishment.”

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