By Drake Skleba
Senior Writer

Tuesday March 24

CENTRAL STATE 8

Decatur Eisenhower 1, Springfield SE 0
In their first game in the CS8, the Panthers slipped past Southeast (0-1,0-1) behind a six-hit  masterpiece from Colton Lockwood. Lockwood (1-0) struck out eight and walked two in his shutout performance on Tuesday. Decatur Eisenhower (1-2, 1-0) scored the lone run of the ball game in the bottom of the fifth. Ike’s Caleb Dehority singled to leadoff the inning. Trevor Stout laid down a sac-bunt and when the ball was thrown down the right field line the fleet-footed Dehority raced home with the eventual game-winning run. Lockwood made the run hold up and Decatur Ike had their first CS8 conference victory, since coming over from the Big 12 last summer.

NONCONFERENCE

No. 5   O’Fallon 9, Columbia 2
O’Fallon (3-1) scored five runs in the top of the first and rolled past the Eagles in Columbia (2-1). SIU-bound Bradley Harrison launched his third bomb in two games and was 2-for-2 with four runs scored. Jackson Penrod doubled and plated three Panther runs while Kyle VanBevern chipped in with a single and two RBI. 6-foot-6,Grant Robison (1-0) fired five shutout innings allowing five hits, to pick up the win on the mound for the Panthers.

No. 22 Jacobs 6, Wauconda 5 (8 innings)
Jacobs (3-1) outlasted the Bulldogs in eight innings in a Miner Classic battle in Marion. Trailing 5-3 in the bottom of the seventh, Wauconda (1-2) rallied to tie the game. Junior Dylan Latiolais ripped a triple, scoring Jake Grobelny and Kyle Harmon with the tying runs. With two out in the eighth, Jacobs’ Cameron Wilson singled and went to second on a Wauconda error. Mike Addante ripped a clutch two-out, RBI single, scoring courtesy runner Kyle Wolinski with the eventual winning run. Golden Eagle closer Johnny Rhode slammed the door on the Bulldogs to nail down the save for Jacobs’ winning pitcher Dan Tenayuca. Dan Salomon chipped in with a single and two RBI for Jacobs.    

No. 22 Jacobs 5, No. 24 Cary-Grove 4
The two favorites of the ultra-loaded Fox Valley Conference Valley Division met about 350 miles from their respective schools on Tuesday night. In a Miner Classic battle at Rent One Park in Marion. The kids from Northern Illinois gave their Deep South host fans in Marion, a treat. Jacobs (4-1) scored four times in the bottom of the fifth to erase a 3-1 Trojan lead and survived a Cary-Grove (3-1-1) rally in the seventh to prevail. With Cary-Grove ahead 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth, Ohio University-bound Ryan Sargent brought the Golden Eagles within 3-2 with an RBI single. McHenry College-bound Owen Oreskovich tied the game at 3-3 with another RBI single. The Golden Eagles would score the lead run on a ground out. Bryce Pahl would bring in a huge insurance run for Jacobs with a clutch two-out RBI single, to put Jacobs up 5-3. Cary Grove sophomore Tyler Pennington (2-for-3,3RBI) had a clutch two out RBI single to pull the Trojans within 5-4, but fell a little short.  The two clubs will meet in the final FVC Valley series on Monday May 18 in Algonquin at Jacobs and on Wednesday, May 20 in Cary.

No. 33 Prospect 6, Bryant (AR) 4
Prospect (3-1) led 6-0 and survived a furious rally from Bryant to win again in Tampa, Florida. Cliff Arnoux had a single, double and had two RBI for the Knights, while Grant Miller added two singles and an RBI. Presbyterian University-bound Lucas Karz, chipped in with a double and an RBI. Brian Mulvihil allowed one earned run with seven punchouts in his 6 innings of work to pick up the win on the mound. Karz had an Addison Reed-type save, walking four and striking out two in the Bryant seventh. 

No. 36 Normal West 10, Dothan (AL) 0
The Normal West varsity baseball team is currently in a 40-team tournament in Gulf Shores, Alabama. On Tuesday, the Wildcats earned 2 more victories with wins over 6A Dothan, AL and 7A Lee H.S. In the 4:30 game 1 against Dothan (16-12), the Wildcats were led by the pitching of Mitch Fairfield (1-0) who went the distance scattering 5 hits, striking out 3 and walking 1 in a game shortened to 5 innings due to the 10-run rule in an 11-0 romp. The Wildcat offense was led by senior Arion Worthman who went 3-3, including a double, 2 stolen bases, and  4 runs. Seniors Zach Schwarz and Reid Birlingmair also had 2 hits apiece as Normal West collected 10 hits.

No. 36 Normal West 13, Lee (AL) 8
In game number 2 on Tuesday in a 7 PM matchup the Wildcats came out on top in its 13-8 victory over a stubborn Lee High School (4-8). Lee is a 7A school from Huntsville, AL. Owen Ericson earned his 1st varsity win as he came on in the 6th of an 8-8 game. He faced 7 batters in his 2 innings of work, striking out 2 and surrendering 1 hit. The Wildcat offense was again led by Arion Worthman’s 2 hits, 2 runs, and 3 RBI. Reid Birlingmair also had 2 hits and 2 RBI to help the Wildcat charge.The Wildcats return to action on Wednesday in its final pool game matchup between Walker, AL  (18-4)

No. 37 Mundelein 14, Century 3
Mundelein (4-0) crushed Century behind Sam Osisek, Zach Zagula, Brendan Murphy and Cooper Michalski. Patrick Betti picked up the win on the mound for the Mustangs.   

Barrington 8, Prairie View (GA) 3
Barrington (1-0) started its 2015 season by jumping out to an 8-0 lead after three innings and coasted to a season-opening win in Georgia. The Bronco attack was led by Jake Peterson, who had a perfect 2-for-2 day at the plate with a double and three RBI. Austin Rochwick chipped in with a single and a pair of RBI, while Anthony DeLaurentis (1-0) allowed three runs and nine hits in his six innings to pick up the win. DeLaurentis had six strikeouts.   

Champaign Centennial 10, Brunswick South (GA) 0
The Chargers rolled in their season-opener in Fort Pierce, Florida on Tuesday. Cameron Hedge (1-0) fired a one-hit shutout with seven strikeouts for Champaign Centennial (1-0). Quin Nottingham led the Charger attack with a single, triple, two runs scored and three RBI. Jeff Lindgren had a perfect 2-for-2 day at the plate with two RBI. Mason Jopp chipped in with a single, double and a RBI for Centennial.

Champaign Centennial 8, John Burroughs 0
Champaign Centennial (2-0) won their second game of the day, this time under the lights in Fort Pierce, Florida. Anthony Martin, Lucas Martin and Mike Namoff, all had singles and two RBI to lead the Charger onslaught. Quin Nottingham picked up two hits and plated one Charger run. Luke Smith (1-0) struck out 10 in his five scoreless innings on the mound to pick up the win.

Hersey 2, Riverton 0
Hersey (1-1) evened its record behind Brendan Stonequist (1-0) and Brett Harris in Riverton on Tuesday. Stonequist fired six shutout innings at the Hawks allowing two hits. Nick Zouras struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh to nail down the save for Stonequist. Harris’ RBI single, drove in the first Huskie run of the game and Stonequist and Zouras did the rest.   

Highland 3, Lakes 2 (8 innings)
Highland (2-0) tied this one up in the bottom of the seventh and then won it in the eighth in front of the home crowd in Highland. Trailing 2-1 with one out in the bottom of the seventh, Andrew Winning ripped a double. On a drop third strike, Winning went to third and then would steal home to tie the game and send into extra innings. After two out in the bottom of the eighth, Tyler Kimmie walked. On a hit and run, Grant Geppert ripped a shot past the shortstop into left field. The speedy Kimmie raced around third and scored the game-winner for the Bulldogs. Pete Baumgartner (1-0), allowed one run and one hit in his 3.1 innings of relief to pick up the win on the mound for Highland.   

Monticello 2, Arthur 1
The Sages made it six in a row in dramatic fashion at Arthur on Tuesday. Trailing 1-0 in the top of the seventh, against Arthur starting pitcher, Tom Schuring, Dave Vanderkloot singled to center. Dan Peterson bunted for a single. Austin Hopper’s bunt was misplayed, scoring Vanderkloot with the tying run. Later in the inning, Dan Caldwell’s sac-fly plated the eventual Sages’ winning run. Once again Clay Wittig (2-0) was lights-out for the Sages in relief, striking out five in his two scoreless innings, to pick up the win.  

Niles North 6, Athens (AL) 1
Niles North (4-0) rolled to their fourth consecutive victory to start the 2015 campaign in Florida on Tuesday night. Eric Wheeler and George Sherman combined on a six-hitter and Dillon Leopoldo led the Viking attack. Wheeler (1-0) allowed a run and four hits in his four solid innings on the mound to pick up the win. Sherman fired three scoreless innings in relief to nail down the save. Leopoldo was 2-for-2 with a single, double and a RBI for the Vikings. Tony Granato and Anthony Sanchez chipped in with two hits apiece  

Normal Community 3, Pekin 2
Normal Community (1-0) opened its season by rallying past the Dragons at home in Normal. Trailing 2-1 as the game went to the bottom of the sixth, Ryan Bouwman ripped a double to center. Alec Trela singled to right, his second hit of the game. After one out, Trela swiped second. Matt Nicholas’ fly ball was misplayed by the Dragon centerfielder allowing Bouwman and Trela to score the tying and lead runs of the game. Jake Gilhaus had a 1-2-3 seventh to nail down the save for Andrew Fugit (1-0), who fired two scoreless innings in relief to pick up the win.   

Northside (ARK) 6, Grayslake North 5
Grayslake North (1-1) lost at Disneyland in Orlando, Florida on Tuesday. The Knights led 4-0 after two innings before the Arkansas school scored six times in the top of the third. The Knights answered in the bottom of the third with a run to conclude the scoring in the game. Devin Gaines had a single, double and drove home a Knight run while Jack Demore and Kyle Baker each chipped in with a single and an RBI. Drake Issacs fired three hitless innings in relief for Grayslake North.

Grayslake North 13, Dawson School (CO) 0
The Panthers bounced back in their second game of the day at Disneyland, crushing their Colorado opponents in 4.5 innings. Pat Schaefer and Jeff Ritter combined on a five-hit shutout for the Panthers, Schaefer allowed three hits with seven strikeouts in his three scoreless innings to pick up the win. Ritter allowed two hits with two strikeouts in his two innings of work on the mound. George Deligiannis had a perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate with a double, three runs scored and two RBI. Merrick Gentile also had three hits and three runs scored and drove home one Panther run.

Warren 10, Marion 4
Warren (2-2) opened up a 10-1 lead after four innings and coasted to The Miner Classic victory over the hosts. Andrew Hill singled, doubled, scored two runs, and drove in three to lead the Blue Devil attack. Zach Grennie chipped in with two singles and two RBI. Scottie Gordon allowed a run and three hits in his four solid innings on the mound, to pick up the win.

Warren 4, Benton 3
Warren (3-2) slipped past Benton in The Miners Classic in Marion on Tuesday. Benton (3-1) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third, before the Blue Devils scored once in the third and twice in the fourth to take a 3-2 lead. Warren would pick up an insurance run in the sixth and hold off a seventh-inning Ranger rally to preserve the victory. Mike Rosenberg led the Blue Devil attack with a single, double, two runs scored and an RBI. Zach Grennie’s sac-fly in the fourth put the Devils up 3-2 and Sean Hannigan allowed one earned run in his 6.1 innings of work on the mound to get the win. Hannigan was also 2-for-2 at the plate. Blue Devil closer Jordan Litke retired the last two Ranger batters in the seventh to nail, down the save.

Yorkville 11, Jonesboro (ARK) 4
Yorkville (2-1) won again in Orange Beach on Tuesday. Matt Gruber went deep for the Foxes and drove home a pair of runs while Ryan Williamson had three hits, scored two runs and drove in one for Yorkville. Nathan Scott had a perfect 2-for-2 day with a run scored and an RBI. Adrian Morris (1-0) allowed an unearned and six hits in his five solid innings to pick up the win on the mound

Smith’s Station (AL) 7, Yorkville 3
Yorkville (2-2) fell in Orange Beach on Tuesday night. Sam Flamini led the Foxes with two singles, a run scored and an RBI.

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