Susdorf Saves Hart Again in Title Game, 7-4

Closers in the major leagues would be proud of the accomplishment Bill Susdorf of Hart High pulled off this week in the Villa Park tournament.

In Wednesday’s championship game, Susdorf picked up his fourth save in three days, shutting out the host Spartans for 1 1/3 innings in Hart’s 7-4 victory.

It was his seventh save of the season, 17th over the past two seasons and earned him tournament most valuable player honors. He has pitched in Hart’s last seven games.

“I’m going to go home and not look at a baseball for four days,” Susdorf said.

Third baseman Matt Moore provided much of Hart’s offense, driving in six runs with three hits, including a three-run home run to give the Indians (18-0) a 7-1 lead.

Chris Burrows (5-0) limited Villa Park (11-6), the defending Southern Section Division III champion, to one earned run in five innings.

Sloppy fielding enabled the Spartans to score three runs in the sixth, forcing Coach Jim Ozella to bring in Susdorf.

With two out, Susdorf hit the first batter to load the bases, then struck out Kirk McConchie to end the inning. He got two more strikeouts in the seventh.

“He has a bulldog attitude,” Ozella said.

Susdorf was The Times’ Valley player of the year as a junior and has done his part as a senior to propel Hart to its best start since 1988, when the Indians were 26-0 before losing in the second round of the playoffs.

Moore, Hart’s talented two-sport athlete who is slated to become the school’s next elite quarterback this fall, broke out of a slump.

Spring football practice begins May 14, but Moore figures to be busy with baseball.

“Our football team was fired up all the time, but this team there’s a fire lit every game and every practice,” Moore said.

Moore hit a two-run double in the second after failing to put down a bunt. He hit a run-scoring single in the fourth on a two-strike pitch. In the sixth, he launched his three-run home run over the right-field fence. His average dipped to .306 until his outburst.

Hart will have the rest of the week off before resuming Foothill League play against Canyon on Tuesday.

“We keep telling them every game is going to be a challenge and remember two things--stay humble and stay hungry,” Ozella said.