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Chicago Tribune
5 days ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Comeback kid Aiden Bernau pushes big single past first base as South Elgin edges Bartlett. ‘Just knew my role.'
When senior Aiden Bernau injured his elbow during South Elgin's spring break trip to Tennessee, he had a sinking feeling. He had earned a starting spot but now needed to rehab an injury. What would happen next? 'I thought when I got injured, this is going to stink,' Bernau said. 'I was starting, too. I was just going to sit here. But it's been a blast. This is really fun.' Bernau, indeed, kept the good times rolling Thursday afternoon. Despite not being able to contribute as much as he had hoped for this season, Bernau kept grinding until he could graduate from pinch running to hitting during the past few weeks. It paid off in the Storm's 2-1 victory over Bartlett in the Class 4A Willowbrook Sectional semifinals. Bernau snuck a two-run single inside the bag at first base in the third inning to provide all the offense that Zacharia Barkho needed on the mound for South Elgin (23-10), which advanced to play at 11 a.m. Saturday for the sectional title against York (24-11). Colin Tuftedal and courtesy runner Justin Pold were along for the ride on that single, while Barkho went 6 2/3 innings in pitching the win. He struck out four and allowed an unearned run on three hits and four walks. Jacob Robertson came on with the bases loaded to nail down the save. Josh Colaizzi was dominant for Bartlett (19-17-1). He struck out 13 in six innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits and a walk. Austin Daubenmire walked and scored the lone run. After the initial shock of his injury, Bernau got to work. Even though he wouldn't be contributing in the same way as he thought he would, he wanted to remain a presence for the Storm. 'I just knew my role,' Bernau said. 'During the injury I knew what I had to do to help the team out. Pinch running, I did that a ton. I started hitting two or three weeks ago. It feels great.' It's the kind of leadership South Elgin coach Jim Kating loves to see. 'He's been working really hard since his injury,' Kating said of Bernau. 'He came up big and put the ball in play last game against St. Charles North. He earned the spot to go get that opportunity. 'He's focused. He's a team player. He's supporting everybody just like the rest of our team.' With two runners on and one out Thursday, Bernau initially tried to bunt. When that was unsuccessful, he went the opposite way, barely keeping the ball fair to drive in both runners. 'I got the bunt sign and tried to lay one down, missed that bunt,' Bernau said. 'I knew I had to put a ball in play. I just stuck my bat out there, caught a barrel and it went down the line.' That was all Barkho needed as South Elgin's ace delivered yet another strong performance. 'Zach did not have his best stuff,' Kating said. 'He gutted through and did a nice job.' Colaizzi matched Barkho for Bartlett and then some. Aside from the surge in the third inning, the Storm really didn't generate much offense off Colaizzi, who was hitting 90 mph on the radar gun. 'I can't say enough about him on both sides of the ball this year,' Bartlett coach Alex Coan said of Colaizzi. 'I thought we played well enough to win that game. Baseball is cruel sometimes.' Bernau's big moment also helped Kating hold off retirement for at least one more game. It has been first and foremost on the team's mind. 'That's what we're playing for at this point,' Bernau said. 'Last season for him, we want to get him some hardware. Just going for the title, and I think we have a really good shot with this team.'
Chicago Tribune
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
True, South Elgin's Zacharia Barkho outduels Bartlett's Josh Colaizzi. But they're still friends. ‘We go way back.'
Even though Zacharia Barkho has emerged as South Elgin's ace in the second half of the season, there are still benchmarks for the developing pitcher to reach. One of them is finding a way to get the win for the Storm without his best stuff. That was the junior right-hander's test Monday at rival Bartlett. 'Was this his best outing?' South Elgin coach Jim Kating said. 'No, but he gutted it out. I was very proud of him.' Count it as another test passed for Barkho. He outdueled Bartlett's Josh Colaizzi as both threw complete games in a 1-0 Upstate Eight Conference victory that went to the visiting Storm. It was the ninth straight win for South Elgin (19-9, 14-1), while Bartlett (16-14-1, 12-5) had its eight-game win streak was snapped. Barkho struck out seven while allowing two hits and a walk. He singled in the fifth and courtesy runner Aiden Bernau scored game's lone run on an error. Nathan Kmiec had the other hit. Colaizzi was just as dominant for Bartlett. He struck out 12 and allowed an unearned run on two hits and a walk. Alex Bihun doubled and Brandon Pelz singled for the Hawks' only two hits. Battling through a game without his best stuff, Barkho said he had to rely on his mental toughness to get through the outing. 'I think if I can just stay mature in my head and think strategically instead of getting angry at everything that's going on, I can find a couple of pitches that will work for me and I can continue to put the ball where I need it to be,' Barkho said. 'If my fastball is off, I can go with the two-seam. Curveball off, I can change it to a slider. 'I have to find my groove for the day, find my arm slot.' If Barkho didn't have his best stuff, he could have fooled Bartlett coach Alex Coan, who came away impressed. 'He mixed it up well,' Coan said of Barkho. 'He has a nice fastball-slider mid. He picks his spots really well. He really targets the zone. When he's doing that and he's on, he's tough to beat.' Coan had plenty of praise for his ace after Colaizzi's performance as well. 'He's been everything we've asked for and then some,' Coan said. 'He's a dog. That's what it is.' Barkho and Colaizzi have been friends since they were kids, so it gave the duel extra meaning. 'We go way back,' Barkho said. 'It was fun. We both got to share an experience with each other that I'll never forget.' In addition to bringing the Storm one win closer to an Upstate Eight title, the game also held special meaning to Kating. The only head coach South Elgin has known since the school started playing varsity sports in the 2006-07 season is retiring at season's end. He was honored with a plaque before the game. Kating began his career coaching at Bartlett in 1997. 'I was not expecting that at all,' Kating said. This is the first place I coached when I came to U-46, so that was nice. '(My brain) is firing on all cylinders. (My body) is telling me I'm done. I still have the burn, though.' Kating's impending retirement is something Barkho and his teammates have discussed. They want to rack up as many wins and accolades as they can before it's all over. 'That's the goal — the conference title, get it for him,' Barkho said. 'He's put so much into this program. All we can do is try to get him wins. I think we're just bonding as a team a lot more. 'I feel like the closer we keep getting, the better we're playing.'
