Pedal strikes metal
Competitive in drag racing and bowling as well as baseball, Tanas’ clutch single the difference for Reavis in wild win over Lemont
Reavis’ Anthony Tanas takes part in the fast-paced sport of drag racing.
He also participates in the slower-paced sport of bowling.
That is, when he’s not playing baseball, which is somewhere in the middle of auto racing and bowling for the senior pitcher/ infielder.
“I’m a competitive person,” he said.
Tanas also said he doesn’t like making the last out in a baseball game. And he most certainly did not Thursday in windy Burbank.
In the bottom of sixth, Tanas slammed a two-out single to right-center, bringing home the tying and winning runs for the Rams in an improbable 13-12 victory over Lemont in a South Suburban crossover.
Lemont (8-3, 5-1) scored seven runs in the top of the sixth, and the way the sun was disappearing, it appeared that was going to be the final inning of the game.
But Reavis (8-4-1, 4-0) rallied thanks to six walks, a hit batter and two-out singles by Noah Caceres and Tanas to cause a wild celebration.
Rams coach Don Erickson, who won his 500th career game on Monday and 501st on Tuesday, will remember No. 502 for a long time.
“We have never won a game by scoring seven runs in the bottom of the last inning,” Erickson said.
Tanas and his brother, Nick, are baseball teammates. They have formed Tanas Brothers Racing, building up Ford Mustangs to compete with their father, Michael, at the US 41 Dragstrip in Morocco, Indiana.
“Our dad taught us everything on how to build cars,” Anthony said. “It’s more of a hobby, but it’s a lot of fun. I love it.”
It’s possible Anthony will forego college and go into the working world as an electrician. He’s making the most of his senior year in sports, qualifying for state in bowling and finishing 50th.
Another highlight for Tanas came on March 21 in Orland Park. He had what turned out to be a two-run game-winning single as Reavis beat Sandburg 7-5 in extra innings.
“Anthony has a winner’s mentality,” Erickson said. “Good things happen for guys like that. He’s also been pitching well all year. He’s really been dealing.
“He didn’t pitch that well in this game, but he didn’t hang his
head.”
Tanas gave up five unearned runs and walked seven in 3 innings.
Caceras added two hits and two runs, while Nick Tanas drove in two runs. Louis Smith, Francis Muraida and Marshall Skuby each scored two runs.
Lemont, which had its seven-game winning streak snapped, lost its first game to an Illinois opponent.
Noah Taylor led Lemont with three hits and two runs, while Joe Pender drove in three runs. Brady Small hit a three-run double in the top of the sixth as Lemont scored seven times.
On a day where three Lemont pitchers struggled, reliever Mike Biscan had a solid outing, allowing two unearned runs in 4 ⅓ innings.
“We walked 12 guys and good things don’t happen when you do that,” Lemont coach Brian Storako said. “It’s just one game, but you have to tell the guys throwing that they have to be ready to go.”
Erickson was raking the mound after the game when a loud cheer came from a nearby field. The Rams won a freshman game with a walk-off hit in the eighth against Lemont.
“It’s a good day for Reavis,” he said. “Our game wasn’t pretty. We gave up 13 walks and had six errors. It was like the old White Sox — winning ugly.
“But it’s better to win a game like this than lose it.”