By Drake Skleba
Senior Writer

Monday, March 23

NON-CONFERENCE

No. 16 Alton 12, Jersey 0 (4.5 innings)
An eight-run fourth finished this one off early as the Redbirds romped past Jersey under the lights at Gordon Moore Park in Alton. University of Missouri-bound 6-foot-8 Bryan Hudson (2-0), allowed one hit in his four spotless innings, striking out nine to pick up the win. Hudson helped himself at the plate when the future Tiger went deep with a pair of runners aboard. Red-hot Jake Kanallakan, drove home his seventh and eighth runs of the season, while Aaron Bonel chipped in with a single and two RBI.  

No. 20 Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin 4, Hersey 2
SHG (2-1) scored three times in the bottom of the third to erase a 2-1 Huskie lead and went on to defeat Hersey (0-1) at Comstock Field in Springfield. With two outs in the third, the Cyclones tied the game at 2-2 and then won it on Sean Mason’s clutch two-out, two run double to center. Brian Zanger fired three hitless innings in relief for SHG, nailing down the save for winning pitcher Jack Staten (1-0).  

No. 22 Jacobs 1, Warren 0
In a classic pitcher’s duel at The Miner Classic at Rent One Park in Marion, Jacobs’ Ohio University-bound RHP Ryan Sargent outdueled Warren’s Andrew Hill. In the top of the fourth, Dan Tenayuca’s RBI single to left drove home the only run of the game. Golden Eagle junior closer Johnny Rhode, nailed down the save, slamming the door on the Blue Devils in the bottom of the seventh. Sargent (1-0) allowed just two hits in six innings, while fanning eight and not walking a batter. Hill (0-1) went the distance also, allowing just two hits with four strikeouts for Warren (1-2).  

No. 24 Cary-Grove 8, Wauconda 2
Cary-Grove (3-0-1) rolled past the Bulldogs at The Miner Classic at Rent One Park in Marion. The Trojans scored three runs in the first inning and tacked on four runs in the third to put the game away early. Wyatt Mascarella hit his second bomb of the season, while Jimmy Perkins went deep for the first time in 2015. Perkins also tripled, scored two runs and had two RBI. Trojan ace LHP Larkin Hanselmann (2-0) allowed one hit in his four scoreless innings of work with eight strikeouts to pick up the win. Wauconda (1-1) was led by Brian McFarlin who doubled and scored a Bulldog run.  

No. 33 Prospect 11, Penn Charter (PA) 4
The Knights exploded for seven runs in the second to open up a 9-1 lead after two and went on to crush their Keystone State foes in Tampa, Florida on Monday night. Presbyterian-bound Lucas Karz, had two hits including a double and plated a Knight run. Dominican University-bound Mike Piotrowski, had two singles, three runs scored and an RBI, while Grant Miller chipped in with a single and two RBI. Ryan Molini Jr. (1-0) slammed the door on Penn Charter with 3.2 shutout innings of relief to pick up the win.  

No. 36 Normal West 10, Hazel Green (AL) 4
Normal West (2-1) defeated Alabama 7A power Hazel Green, from Huntsville, in the Gulf Shore Classic, late Monday night. Senior Reid Birlingmair (1-0) threw a masterful five inning gem holding the Trojans to five hits, while striking out 10 and walking one. Junior Owen Ericson came in the sixth, striking out three and walking two, not giving up a hit, to wrap up the 10-4 Wildcat victory. The Wildcat offense was led by Nate Beal’s two-run blast, which was preceded by a two-run blast from fellow junior catcher, SIU-recruit, Mitch Fairfield. Fairfield and Beals’ blasts gave the ‘Cats a 5-2 lead after one inning. The future Saluki catcher finished 3-for-3 with three RBI. Birlingmair and junior Sam Fisher both collected two RBI. The ‘Cats have five home runs, by five different players, in their first three games of the season. Normal West created havoc on the bases swiping 11 stolen bases.

No.37 Mundelein 14, Carbondale 3 (5 innings)
Before Mundelein’s Miner Classic battle with Carbondale, at Rent One Park in Marion, someone said to Mustang senior Nick Brune: “Have a day, Nick”. The senior RHP did just that, in leading the Mustangs past the Terriers in five innings. Brune (1-0) allowed one earned run and one hit in his complete-game masterpiece on the mound. Brune also had three singles and drove home five Mustang runs at the plate. Senior CF Sam Osisek chipped in with four singles and two RBI, while Wes Farmer had a perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate with three runs scored.

Highland 3, No. 29 Carmel 0
Grant Geppert and Tyler Kimmie combined for a six-hit shutout as Highland (1-0) blanked Carmel (0-4) in Highland, Monday night. Geppert (1-0) allowed four hits in 5.1 innings, to pick up the win and Kimmie fired 1.2 shutout innings of relief to nail down the save. Andrew Winning had two singles and an RBI to lead the Bulldog attack.  

Van Buren (FL) 5, No. 35 Grayslake Central 2
Grayslake Central (0-1) fell in its season-opener at Disneyland in Orlando, Florida Monday night. Ben Fitzgerald tripled and drove home the lone Ram run, while senior SS Jay Hoffman chipped in with three singles.

Benton 15, Fairfield 0 (5 innings)
Benton’s Rend Lake College-bound RHP Dakota Head was perfect at Benton City Park on Monday evening. 15 Fairfield Mule batters faced; 15 Fairfield Mule batters retired. A perfect game. 13 of the 15 Fairfield Mules were retired via the strikeout. Benton (3-0) had nine hits and Fairfield committed seven errors in the romp. The Rangers stole nine bases in the game and were led by Martin Ward, who singled, doubled and drove home one Ranger run. Derek Oxford singled and plated a pair of Ranger runs. Head (2-0) threw only 53 pitches (45 for strikes) in his perfect Monday evening.

Dundee-Crown 6, Quincy 3
Dundee-Crown (2-0) took a little trip to the Mississippi River and cruised past the host Blue Devils, behind Michael Cruise. Cruise had two singles, a double, two runs scored and two RBI, to lead the Charger attack. Jim Weltzien also doubled, singled and drove home a run. Danny Denz (1-0) was lights-out for the Chargers on the mound, striking out 14 Blue Devil batters. Denz fired six innings, allowing three unearned runs and five hits to pick up the win.

Teutopolis 9, Sullivan 1
The Wooden Shoes opened up their 2015 campaign with a solid win in T-town on Monday. Louis Nieberg (1-0), Kyle Smith and Matt Koester combined for a two-hitter. Nieberg fanned five, Smith six and Koester two. John Kreke and Austin Johnson each plated a pair of Wooden Shoe runs.   

Warren 4, Grant 1
Warren (1-1) scored four times in the third inning and rolled past Grant in the Miner Classic at Rent One Park in Marion. Brad Zahn plated the Blue Devil’s first run of the inning with an RBI single. The inning was highlighted by Matt Burch’s two-run triple to give Warren a 3-0 lead. Andrew Hill’s sac-fly concluded the scoring in the Blue Devil third. Sam LaMotte (1-0) fired six shutout innings for Warren allowing just four hits with seven strikeouts to pick up the win.

Yorkville 4, Boaz (AL) 3
The Foxes opened up their Southern Spring Trip in walk-off fashion, scoring three runs after two outs in the bottom of the seventh to stun Boaz (AL) in Orange Beach, Alabama. Trailing 3-0, Yorkville (1-1) picked up its first run of the game on an RBI single by Ray Williamson to bring the Foxes within two, 3-1 after five. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh Christian Carerra’s clutch two-out, two run single tied the game at 3-3. With Nathan Scott at the plate, a wild pitch plated Byron Vanleve, who had walked, with the game-winner.

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