St. Laurence coach Pete Lotus told his pitchers to be ready before Wednesday’s game against Reavis.

Joe Vascik didn’t realize how ready.

An injury to starting pitcher Marius Balandis in the fourth inning forced Vascik, a senior right-hander, into action — without ever making it to the bullpen to warm up.

It didn’t matter.

Vascik fired four scoreless innings to help St. Laurence edge Reavis 1-0 in the Class 4A St. Laurence Sectional semifinals. The Vikings (33-5) will play at 11 a.m. Saturday against the winner of Thursday’s other semifinal between Brother Rice and St. Rita.

Vascik (7-1) walked two and struck out four.

“I felt good,” Vascik said. “It was a little different not being able to warm up in the bullpen.”

Balandis struck out seven through three innings, but experienced some shoulder discomfort after walking the first batter in the fourth inning.

It was Vascik to the rescue.

“I was just sitting in the dugout watching the game,” Vascik said. “All of a sudden I was told to get down to the bullpen. But I didn’t even throw a pitch. The coaches do a great job of getting us ready for everything.”

Vascik’s performance was even more impressive considering he hadn’t pitched in 13 days.

And that was as starter against Montini on May 18.

“I work on my stuff every day,” Vascik said. “There was no reason to be nervous.”

Pitcher Bailey Boyd and Reavis (17-19) had St. Laurence feeling plenty nervous though.

The senior left-hander effectively mixed up his pitches and location. Boyd allowed just three hits, walked six and struck out two.

The Vikings were their own worst enemy at times, running themselves out of innings in the second and third.

It looked like they would again in the fifth after Reavis catcher Nate Villagomez picked off a St. Laurence base runner at second base.

However, Tom Farrell came through with a two-out double later in the fifth that scored Brian Lyle from first base with the game’s only run.

It was a good piece of hitting by the left-handed hitting Farrell, who poked an outside pitch near the left-field line.

“They were shifting me to right field,” Farrell said. “He threw me an outside curveball and I went out and got it.”

Vascik made the one run stand up. Though, not without a little intrigue.

He walked Peter Madritsch with one out in the seventh. Trevor Estrada then laced a pitch that was headed to center field. Vascik, however, snared the drive and doubled Madritsch off first base to end the game.

“We knew it was going to be tough,” St. Laurence coach Pete Lotus said. “Joe really stepped up. He wasn’t afraid of the situation. That’s the luxury of having a lot of pitching.”

After stunning Mount Carmel on Saturday, Reavis was one big hit from pulling off another upset.

The Rams stranded a runner on third base in the third, and runners on first and second in the fourth.

“Boyd was outstanding,” Reavis coach Don Erickson said. “We made some nice plays defensively. We just couldn’t get the big hit. I’m so proud of the kids.”

pdisabato@tribpub.com

Twitter @disabato