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.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
