Fenwick High School baseball players Kevin Forde and Bobby Hogan have been friends and teammates for several years, so it came as no surprise when each played a key role in one of the biggest victories in recent memory.
Forde hurled a seven-hit shutout and Hogan made an outstanding diving catch in right field in the seventh inning as the Friars upset top-seeded Nazareth 3-0 on Wednesday in a Class 3A Glenbard South Sectional semifinal.
Seventh-seeded Fenwick (24-10) will attempt to win its first sectional championship on Saturday when it faces the winner of Thursday’s semifinal between No. 3 Montini and No. 6 Riverside-Brookfield. The Friars last appeared in a sectional final in 2008 when they lost to Oak Park-River Forest.
“It’s definitely uncharted territory for us, but we have a really good team this year,” Hogan said. “We’ve played Montini. Haven’t seen R-B yet so I’m probably going to come out and watch them tomorrow.
“I’m not really scared of any other teams. I believe in our guys and [that] we can win.”
The Friars have proven that in the postseason as they’ve eliminated higher seeds in each of the last two rounds.
Forde (5-1) got the win in both games, throwing 2 1/3 hitless innings of relief in an 8-4 win over Benet last Saturday and then going the distance against Nazareth with a 109-pitch effort, which included 41 called balls. The hard-throwing junior walked two and struck out four and got plenty of backing from his defense, particularly outfielders Hogan, Kristian Meyer and Mike Neill, who combined for seven putouts.
“I kind of learned that you don’t have to strike everyone out, just let them hit the ball and keep them off balance,” Forde said of his recent success. “I mean, we’ve got a great infield, a great outfield. You saw Bobby make that catch. It was a great catch.”
Indeed it was, and it could not have come at a better time.
The Roadrunners (22-15) had runners at first and second with one out in the bottom of the seventh when lead-off man Ryan Kramer ripped a sinking line drive into the gap in right-center. Hogan raced in and caught it just before it hit the ground to save at least one run.
“We were playing ‘no doubles’ so I was kind of far back,” Hogan said. “The game against Benet I attempted a diving catch and I [almost] had it in my glove, so I was making sure this time that I had it in my hand.
“I felt Forde pitched an absolute great game. He was giving us easy plays so I kind of owed him that one.”
Hogan’s catch proved even more significant when the next hitter, Matthew Baldwin, reached on an infield single to load the bases.
“I was totally nervous but I knew Bobby had it,” Forde said. “He had a great read on it. I’ve just got to thank Bob for making that catch. It really stopped their momentum.”
Nazareth’s No. 3 hitter, Timothy DalPorto, came to the plate representing the winning run, but Forde retired him on a grounder to shortstop to Gino Cavalieri to end it.
“Forde pitched one heckuva game,” Fenwick coach Dave Hogan said. “He just got better as the innings went on. He thrives on competition. Our whole team thrives on competition.”
The Friars scored all of their runs in the top of the third inning on three hits, though only one ball left the infield.
Cavalieri led off with a walk and was sacrificed to second by Meyer. A walk to Hogan and a single by catcher Justin Rodriguez loaded the bases for Forde, who walked to force home the first run.
Mike Neill’s chopper to third resulted in Hogan being forced at home, but Rodriguez scored on a wild pitch and Michael Krecek drove in courtesy runner Jimmy Madormo with a single.
After that, Hogan was upbeat about Fenwick’s chances with Forde on the mound. Only three of Nazareth’s hits reached the outfield.
“I played with him since I was 12,” Hogan said. “We were on the same All-Star team, believe it or not, and he’s always been a good pitcher. He loves the prime time moments and always shines and does well.”