Cole Van Assen Tosses 2-Hit Shutout, Sets Up Last Year's Semifinal Rematch with Edwardsville

The Crusaders and Trevians met for the second 4A semifinal. The Crusaders were looking to rebound from last year's semifinal loss to Edwardsville, and New Trier was looking to add a state title to the legacy of coach Mike Napoleon.

Last season the Crusaders took 3rd place in the state, losing to eventual champion Edwardsville 7-4, and routing McHenry 14-4 in the 3rd place game. The Trevians were upset 5-4 in the Regional Semifinals by Elk Grove.

In the playoffs the Crusaders defeated archrival St. Rita at the Mt. Carmel Sectional 6-3, and came from behind and walked it off against Lincoln-Way East 5-4. The Trevians blew out archrival Evanston at Evanston 11-0 after scoring 9 runs in the 4th inning, and shutout Stevenson 2-0 in the Supersectional.

The story of the game was Crusaders righthander Cole Van Assen. Van Assen, a Purdue commit, went the distance, gave up just 2 hits, walked 4, and struckout 9. He was toying with the Trevian batters with an overpowering fastball, and a sharp slider with some downward action.

The Crusaders picked up a 4-0 vicroey over the Trevians, with all 4 runs charged to Trevians lefty Max Kaplan. Kaplan gave up 7 hits in 5.1 innings, walked 1, and struckout 1.

Crusaders centerfielder Ryan Hartz hit an RBI double in the 2nd inning and finished 2/3. Amir Gray (1/1, double) and Gavin Triezenberg (2/3) each picked up RBI hits in the bottom of the 5th, and Sean Sullivan (2/3) picked up an RBI single in the 6th.

The Crusaders will battle Edwardsville for the 4A State title on Saturday in a rematch of last year's State semifinal.