GBN Baseball Falls Win Short of State Playoff

As Glenbrook North (GBN) shortstop Brett Synek said, not too many seasons end in a win. 

The way the season was going for the Spartans, it appeared they might have a shot at that rare feat. GBN couldn’t get its dream ending though, falling to Prospect 8-2 on Monday in a super-sectional at Road Ranger Stadium in Loves Park, near Rockford. For Patch's live updates of the game, click here.

GBN (33-4) took the lead with a run in the top of the first, but couldn’t get much more off Knights’ Jack Landwehr, who pitched a complete game. The Spartans beat Prospect (26-8) and Landwehr 12-2 in early April, but this was a different pitcher. 

“We got to him early and we got to the bullpen,” Synek said of the earlier game. “Problem was, we didn’t get to the bullpen today. Once he figured us out as hitters, he kind of knew how to pitch to everyone.

"He did a very good job of that. Hats off to that kid, because he pitched a great game,” he added.

Landwehr’s ability to throw three pitches for strikes and mix things up kept Glenbrook's hitters off balance, said their coach, Dominic Savino.

Spartans’ starting pitcher Sean Thomas cruised in the early innings, allowing just one hit through the first three frames. But the Prospect lineup got to him the second time around, with the Knights tacking on three in the fourth to get Thomas out of the game.

Prospect kept the hits flowing, scoring five runs off of reliever Pete Resnick.

Synek led the way offensively for GBN, going 2-4 at the plate with a run scored. After the loss, the senior couldn’t single out one favorite memory of the season, but reflected on the the spring as a whole.

“Coming out here and winning 33 games, which has just been unheard of in the GBN baseball program lately,” he said. “Coach Savino really turned things around. It’s not an easy way to go, but some seasons just have to end.

“From last year, it was a huge step forward. No one really expected us to get here, and that was a beautiful thing,” Synek added.

Savino said the seniors' attitude and commitment to the team is what made them so successful.

“That’s the thing that I’ll miss most about them is just their approach to the game of baseball,” the coach said. “An absolutely great group of baseball players, but an even better group of young men. When you get that combination for high school athletics, I think you have a chance to do some pretty special things.

“The thing I’m most proud of is the fact that I feel like we improved on a daily basis. We got better as the season went longer and that’s not always an easy thing to do, but I think it’s the senior leadership that gave us the chance to do that,” Savino said.

GBN did do some pretty special things, winning 33 games, a Central Suburban League championship as well as  and titles.

There was a good crowd on hand despite scorching heat and hour-plus drives for both schools. Playing in a professional park--the host was the Rockford Riverhawks of the Frontier League--was a thrill for the Spartans.

Leadoff hitter and center fielder Charlie Apfelbach didn’t hesitate to name his favorite part of the season.

“This right here, making it this far,” Apfelbach said. “I mean, our coaches did an unbelievable this year with us and in the off-season. The seniors were great, I’ll miss them all.

“The atmosphere with all the fans and music, it was just great,” he added.