What a Relief! Seiser Stands out for South

Where was Brandon Seiser for his post-game interview anyway? He's the guy who was running beyond the fence as if he was late for a meeting.

Truth was he was headed to a meeting of honor students—he not only has an impressive fastball but puts his time into his studies.

Seiser may have finally found what his role is on the team.

"He was a starter for us,'' said Crystal Lake South assistant coach Chuck Ahsmann. "And then we put him in the bullpen."

Seiser entered Thursday's game with Grayslake Central in the fourth inning. His team trailed 5-2 and Central had 6 hits on the board already.

Skip to the sixth inning. Seiser faced three Rams hitters and all three went back to the dugout after striking out. He did not surrender a run in four innings of work. South fell short 5-3.

The game itself was odd because both head coaches were absent. South head coach Brian Bodga kept himself at home because of a bad cold while Central head coach Troy Whalen was away on business.

Bogda wouldn't have been happy with the results from the top half of the first. His Gators club allowed the first Central hitter to reach base following a strikeout. Two infield errors then led to a three-run first. Only a double play started by second baseman Tyler Salm to shortstop Chris Hauser put brakes on the Rams rally.

South's offense did answer the bell in the home half of the first. The varsity team watched as sophomore Jake Biggos tore up sophomore pitching to the tune of .600. So they called this 10th-grader up to the big club and he led off this game with a single. He scored when Nick Martin laced a booming double that hit the center field fence.

"This was a pretty good game after that first inning and those three errors,'' Ahsmann said.

It's true this game setttled down after the first inning. Trailing 5-2 in the fourth, the Gators' offense awoke again. Hauser singled and Chris Morrison pulled a double to left driving him home. However, the two runners on base never moved again in this frame.

South threatened again in the seventh on hits from Will Ahsmann and Salm but that's as close as South would come.

Recap: South beat Central by that same 5-3 score on Tuesday. Morrison's homer backed Martin's pitching.

Playoff schedule: South gets started in playoff action come Thursday (May 27). The Gators are in the McHenry Regional and will play Cary-Grove (4 p.m.).

Also in Class 4A playoffs, opens play Wednesday in that McHenry Regional. The Wolves battle the FVC Valley champion Warriors on their home field.

In 3A playoffs, opens its playoff run in the Hampshire Regional. On Wednesday (4:30 p.m.), the Tigers take on Marmion Academy.