Many players would find the prospect of replacing Ryan Ritter an intimidating one.

Ritter, who will be a freshman at Austin Peay, posted all-area numbers for Lincoln-Way East last spring while dazzling at shortstop.

TJ DeVries, however, is embracing the challenge.

“Those are big shoes to fill,” DeVries said. “I want to live up to it. I believe I’m capable of doing what he did.”

DeVries, a rising senior, went 3-for-4 and drove in two runs Tuesday to lead Lincoln-Way East to a 5-4 victory in eight innings over Sandburg in the Lockport Sectional semifinals.

The Griffins (13-2) will play at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the sectional championship game against the semifinal winner between Sandburg and Lincoln-Way West.

DeVries factored into the winning run. After Davey Fitzpatrick singled to lead off the bottom of the eighth, DeVries ripped a base hit that scooted through the legs of Sandburg’s center fielder.

The 6-foot-3 Fitzpatrick rounded second base and followed the signal of third base coach Eric Brauer.

“I saw the ball go through his legs and thought I would have a chance to score,” Fitzpatrick said. “I saw coach waving me home and I’m telling myself to keep running as fast as I can.”

Fitzpatrick dove into home plate well before the relay throw to cap off East’s comeback. At one point, Sandburg led 3-0.

Fitzpatrick was confident DeVries would deliver a hit.

“He’s been hitting all day,” Fitzpatrick said. “I knew he was going to come up clutch.”

Although DeVries struggled with his bat for much of the spring, he has found his hitting stroke during the summer.

He credits one aspect.

“It’s all about confidence,” DeVries said. “The only adjustment I’ve made is keeping my hands inside more and not dropping them. Coach Brauer really stresses that.

“But I think the biggest thing is confidence. I know I can hit and my defense has always been there.”

Brauer has been pleased with how DeVries has been playing.

“We always believed TJ was a future starter,” Brauer said. “His glove has always been there. But he’s been hitting the ball really well. He had a heck of a game (Tuesday).”

DeVries also singled in the fourth inning and tripled home Fitzpatrick in the sixth. Nick Mergenthaler also reached base four times for the Griffins.

For Sandburg (4-1), Jayden Comia went 2-for-5, Danny Durkin was 2-for-4 with an RBI, Matt Morsovillo went 2-for-3 with an RBI and Kevin Zimmer reached base four times on an RBI single, a walk and two hit-by-pitches.

Sandburg wasted a solid performance from pitcher Justin Sewers. The sophomore left-hander struck out six and allowed two unearned runs over 3 2/3 innings.

The Eagles were hurt by three errors.

“We gave them four runs by not playing good outfield defense,” Sandburg coach Jim Morsovillo said. “We had chances a couple of times to score but didn’t get the big hit.”