By Sean Duncan
Executive Director

FRANKFORT, IL – Lincoln-Way North junior left-hander Kyle Ostrowski has been nothing short of dominant this spring, yet entered Thursday’s big Southwest Suburban Red matchup against No. 9 Lincoln-Way West without a win.

Ostrowski earned his first win in emphatic fashion, throwing a two-hit masterpiece to lead the No. 2-ranked Phoenix to a 3-0 home victory on a balmy but windy afternoon.

The 6-foot-4 Purdue recruit struck out 10 and walked one, and a Lincoln-Way West (22-3, 8-1) did not reach second base the entire game. Other than unsigned senior right fielder Zach Speaker, who accounted for both Warrior hits, Ostrowski no-hit the rest of the team.

“He was really on today,” said Lincoln-Way North coach Mitch Nowicki. “It was the best we’ve seen him all year.”

Which is saying something. In 28.2 innings this season, Ostrowski has allowed one earned run, 11 hits, with 53 strikeouts to six walks. He opened the game sitting 91-92 mph and showed a much-improved, firmer curveball than earlier in the season.

“The heat definitely helps,” said Ostrowski. “It was the first great day of the year. … I’ve been working on the (curveball) a lot in practice, and I think it showed today.”

Lincoln-Way North (17-2, 8-1) scored a run in the first inning when West starter Dylan Eller walked the bases loaded to open the game. Senior catcher Conor Grove drove him in with a sacrifice fly, but the Phoenix squandered more scoring opportunities by running themselves out of the inning. That was a common theme for North, which had four base-running gaffes in the game, including getting picked off twice and back-picked at first once.

Nevertheless, North only needed one. Grove put the final punctuation on North’s offense with a solo home run to centerfield to make it 3-0 in the sixth. Senior third baseman Mike Rissley went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, and first baseman Zach Hoekstra had a triple and a sacrifice fly for North.

Related Content

• IL Illinois Daily Roundup: May 7 Games5.08.14
  The weather is heating up, and so are the conference races. Wednesday's action from across the state... >>
• IL No. 12 Mundelein hangs on to defeat No. 6 Libertyville5.08.14
  Mustangs gain split in critical North Suburban Lake series... >>
• PBRPlus 2014 Draft Blog5.08.14
  Compiling draft news in one location... >>
• PBRPlus The Rode Report5.08.14
  PBR National Supervisor Nathan Rode shares thoughts from games and conversations... >>
• PBRPlus Illinois Scout Blog5.08.14
  Insider scouting reports throughout the season, focusing on top prospects, unsigned seniors, underclass standouts and anything else that is notable... >>
• IL No. 4 St. Laurence rallies to hand No. 1 St. Rita its first loss5.07.14
  Vikings score seven runs in the final to innings to split two-game series... >>