'I am made for these big moments': Vic Aguilar pitches St. Rita back to 4A state semifinals

Vic Aguilar was the epitome of cool on the mound Monday night for St. Rita.

The senior left-hander bewildered Fremd with a superb mix of off-speed pitches and accuracy, lifting the Mustangs to a 3-0 victory in the Class 4A Schaumburg Supersectional at Boomers Stadium.

Aguilar finished with seven strikeouts for St. Rita (34-6), which advanced to play at 3 p.m. Friday against St. Charles North (28-10) in the state semifinals at DuPage Medical Group Field in Joliet.

In allowing just four singles, Aguilar (9-3) also played to his strengths against Fremd (16-14).

“I am not really a power guy,” he said. “I don’t have a high-velocity fastball. I knew where to hit my spots. My curve was really working and I was able to throw a lot of strikes with that.”

Junior catcher Luke Napleton, a cleanup hitter and Aguilar’s batterymate, delivered an RBI double to deep right-center that helped the Mustangs jump out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

“There was a lot of energy in the building,” Napleton said. “It was a great environment. I was battling with two strikes, and he threw a fastball. I just tried to put the ball in play and get the run home.”

Senior outfielder Matt Callahan also drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

Fremd starter TJ Davis effectively neutralized the Mustangs after the first inning. He allowed just four hits in six innings.

“Get ahead and stay ahead, that is what our coaches always say,” Napleton said. “We had a great guy on the mound (Monday). I like catching Vic. He does not make any mistakes.”

Senior shortstop Matt Dunleavy closed out the scoring with an RBI sacrifice fly in the sixth.

The Mustangs played stellar defense as senior second baseman Brendan Carrane threw out a runner at the plate, ending the third inning and snuffing out Fremd’s best scoring chance.

The only truly dangerous situation Aguilar encountered was in the bottom of the sixth after the Vikings put runners at first and second with only one out.

Aguilar ended the threat with a strikeout and a force play at second.

“I am made for these big moments,” he said. “I don’t get rattled and I stay composed. Getting the lead like that in the first inning definitely gave me a big boost. From there, I was able to pound strikes.”

He also clinched the trip to state for second-year coach John Nee. The Mustangs finished second in 4A in 2009, 2010 and 2014 under former coach Mike Zunica.

“This was by far his best performance,” Nee said. “He knew Fremd was a great fastball-hitting team. He had to be around the plate with his (off-speed) pitches and he was.”

Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.