Maine South holds off Viator

Updated: July 25, 2011 9:54PM

Junior Jesus Saavedra worked out of a seventh-inning jam to help Maine South edge St. Viator 5-4 Monday in the first round of the Phil Lawler Classic summer baseball state tourney at North Central College.

The Lions loaded the bases with one out in the seventh, but Saavedra struck out the next two hitters to pick up the save. He pitched the final two innings, allowing no hits but hitting three batters. He fanned three.

Maine South (17-10), which beat Niles West 5-0 Monday morning to win the weather-plagued Palatine Regional, jumped ahead 3-0 in the first two innings against St, Viator. Keenan Kelly and Jimmy Frankos had RBI hits to get the Hawks off to a good start.

St. Viator, which knocked off Schaumburg 4-1 earlier in the day to win the Lake Park Regional, pulled within 3-2 on RBI hits by Mike McGrath and Joe Rossi.

The Hawks pushed the lead to 5-2 in the fourth as Frankos had an RBI single and Kyle Richardson doubled home a run.

St. Viator got an RBI single from Kasimo Camella in pulling within 5-4 before Saavedra shut the door.

Starter Mike Virgilio got the win for Maine South, working five innings and allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

Frankos finished 3-for-4 with a walk, a double and two RBI for the Hawks.

Maine South plays Marian Catholic at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday at Benedictine University in winners’ bracket action. St. Viator faces Harlem at 10 a.m. Tuesday and would play again at 3 p.m. with a win.

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