Posted: June 25, 2009 |(0) Comments

Junior Adam Rubatt was the first guard off the bench for the Menomonee Falls basketball team on its exciting WIAA sectional final run this past winter, so he's used to a little intense competition.

So when defending state baseball champion Marquette started knocking Rubatt's pitches around Trenary Field a little Thursday night in the third and fourth innings, threatening to undo all the Indians hard work in earning a 5-1 lead, Rubatt knew he had to fight back.

"I pretty much realized I had to go out there and start competing again," he said.

And that he did, setting down 10 of the last 11 Hilltoppers he faced, including getting the final batter on a comebacker to the mound, to finish out an important 7-3 Greater Metro Conference victory.

"Adam's simply a competitor," Indian coach Pat Hansen said. "Like I've been telling people, we have kids who have played at a high level in other sports. I know Adam has sat on the foul line late in a big basketball game with free throws he had to hit."

"He's used to big situations like this."

The victory improved the Indians to 7-3 in the GMC and 19-3 overall. They go into a rematch with Marquette on Friday at the Hilltoppers' homefield a half-game back in the loss column in the GMC North Division standings to surprising Brookfield East, against which the Indians will have a a home and away match-up next Monday and Tuesday.

"We knew East would have some pretty good talent back," Hansen said. "In fact, there are so many good teams on our side of the conference that you have to be ready every night.'

And every at-bat too.

Alongside Rubatt's solid performance (two strikeouts and three walks), the Indians also got some clutch hitting against Marquette. Shortstop Ryan Romens notched a two-out, two-RBI single on a full-count pitch to give Falls a 2-0 lead in the second. Second baseman Donny Matovich followed that with a run-scoring single of his own.

After Falls built a 5-1 lead in the third on a run-scoring wild pitch and an RBI single from first baseman Joe Sanicola, the Hilltopppers fought back with two runs in the fourth to make it 5-3.

It remained that way to the bottom of the sixth, when Alex Sutherland notched another two-out hit, this being a two-run double that gave Rubatt some vital insurance.

Hansen was also pleased with the team's defense. Some adjustments were made on the infield about 10 games ago and they have paid huge dividends, as Romens took over at shortstop from Matovich while Matovich then went back to his more accustomed second base spot. Carter Ypma has been doing a "phenomenal" job at third base, according to Hansen and the sophomore Sanicola is rapidly adjusting to varsity play at first.

"We have a lot of confidence with our infield now," said Hansen.

Not that the Indians were ever lacking in that department, according to Rubatt.

"Even though a lot of guys graduated last year, we still expected to be good, because our JV was great," Rubatt said. "We have some big-time guys out there who know how to win games even if we don't have our best stuff."