By Steve Millar
Correspondent
When Cooper Malamazian induced a pop-out to end the Class 3A Crestwood Supersectional, the junior hurler knew he had just sent Nazareth back to state with a chance to win back-to-back titles.
What he wasn’t aware of was the fact he had just finished off a combined no-hitter for the Roadrunners.
“I honestly had no idea about it,” Malamazian said. “But I would have had the same approach either way. This was a business trip. We all come out and do our jobs. For me, my job was just to come out and throw strikes.
“Luckily, there were swinging and missing. It worked out well for me. For Luca (Fiore) and Finn (O’Meara) to go out and do their jobs earlier made it much easier for me.”
Fiore, O’Meara and Malamazian combined for 15 strikeouts as Nazareth rolled to an 8-0 win over Lindblom at Ozinga Field on June 5.
The Roadrunners (32-6), who will take on Sycamore (32-5) in a state semifinal at noon Friday at Duly Health and Care Field in Joliet.
Malamazian was also 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI, while O’Meara, Jaden Fauske and Landon Thome — the latter the son of Baseball Hall of Famer Jim Thome — each had two hits and two runs.
Nazareth scored four runs in the second inning to take a commanding 5-0 lead, with Malamazian’s two-run double being the big blow.
Now, the Roadrunners are headed back to state.
“This will probably be the best experience of my life,” Malamazian said. “We’ve been through it before, but it’s never the same. This time is different. If I could do this with these guys for 10 years, I’d give anything. I’m enjoying it now because one more weekend and it’s over.”