Mike Kotz carried the Saint Patrick Shamrocks into the Elite Eight of the IHSA Class AA State Baseball Championships with a dominant pitching performance. Kotz allowed only three hits and struck out 10 batters in a 3-0 shutout of New Trier in the Alexian Field Super-Sectional Championship Game.

The Shamrocks got all three runs in the top of the third inning. Eddie Ortiz led off with a single. When Mockler bunted Ortiz to second, the New Trier pitcher threw the ball into center field. Ortiz advanced to third, and Mockler moved into second. O’Donnell drove in both runners with a single to center, and then stole second base. O’Donnell scored the final run of the game on a Giller single to left.

Kotz has pitched 14 1/3 innings in the Shamrocks last three games, recording two complete game victories and a save without allowing an earned run. He has allowed only six hits, two walks and one hit batsman, while striking out 16 hitters.

The Shamrocks face Limestone Community High School of Bartonville in the Elite Eight at Elfstrom Stadium, home of the Kane County Cougars, at 9:00am on June 9.