Junior second baseman Nathan Cerocke went 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored as Benet defeated Cary-Grove in the Class 3A state semifinals on Friday.
Rain fell early in the game at Duly Health and Care Field in Joliet, but that didn’t slow down Cerocke. As the leadoff hitter, he kick-started the Redwings, who scored a run in the first inning, four runs in the third, one run in the sixth and five runs in the decisive seventh. He was involved in the scoring in three of those four frames.
Cerocke also turned a double play that got Benet out of trouble in the sixth after Cary-Grove tied the game at 6-6.
Junior pitcher Lucas Kohlmeyer got the win in relief for the Redwings (27-12), who will play St. Laurence (36-5) in the state championship game at 1 p.m. Saturday.
This story will be updated.
