Prep Baseball Report

Daily Roundup: April 22 Games



By Drake Skleba
Senior Writer

For Games of April 22

Catholic Blue

No. 3 St. Rita 9, Loyola 5
St. Rita (20-2; 8-0) became the first team in Illinois to hit the 20-victory plateau on Monday. Austin Peay-recruit junior LHP Mike Costanzo improved to 7-0 on the mound while seniors Connor McLain and Pete Cozzi, each plated a pair of runs to lead the Mustang attack.

No. 5 St. Laurence 4, Providence 0
St. Laurence (15-3; 8-0) swept away the defending CCL-Blue champions from Providence, behind a two-hit shutout from junior RHP Brad Wood. Wood dominated the hard-hitting Celtic lineup with five strikeouts and no walks. The Vikings received a stellar offensive performance from senior Ryan Rybakowski, who had two singles and drove home two runs to lead the Viking attack. Providence falls to 8-6 overall and 2-3 in CCL-Blue action.

No. 6 Mount Carmel 2, Brother Rice 0
Mount Carmel (17-3-1; 8-0) kept pace with St. Laurence and St. Rita by blanking Brother Rice 2-0 behind junior LHP Marko Boricich’s two-hit shutout. Boricich (4-0) fanned seven and walked four in his complete-game gem. Caravan senior Tom Hayes had a single and an RBI while sophomore Josh Stowers singled and scored both Caravan runs.

On Wednesday No. 5 St. Laurence will invade Haggerty Field at 4:30. The PBR’s Drake Skleba will be at Haggerty for the CCL-Blue monster showdown. The two teams will have a return-engagement in Burbank on Saturday at 11.

Mississippi Valley

Highland 4, Mascoutah 1
Highland’s (16-4; 5-0) multi-talented RHP Jake Haberer (3-0) fired one-hitter at the Indians in the MVC first-place showdown on Monday. Harberer struck out seven. Harberer also singled and doubled at the plate. Bulldog senior 3B Zach Stieb had two singled and drove home a run while senior 1B Tyler Zappia chipped in with a single and an RBI. Mascoutah falls to 13-7 overall and 4-1 in the MVC.

Big 12

No. 7 Normal West 3, Normal Community 0
Normal West (14-3; 3-0) won for the ninth consecutive time behind University of Illinois-bound RHP Matthew James. James improved to 6-0 on the mound, firing a 14-strikeout no-hitter at crosstown-rival Normal Community (7-6; 1-2) at West on Monday.

Wildcat sophomore 2B Reid Birlingmair ripped a double off the centerfield fence, driving home Missouri State-bound Alex Jefferson with the first West run in the bottom of the third. The run was unearned against Normal Community’s 6-foot-7, 285 pound ace RHP Randy Heideman (3-1). Heideman will be playing football this fall for Miami (OH).   

In the fourth inning, Normal West added a pair of runs on a bases-loaded walk to DH Tyler Ort and an RBI single from Jefferson. During the ‘Cats nine-game winning streak Normal West has outscored the opposition 85-24.

West Suburban Silver

Oak Park 7, York 5
Oak Park (9-3-1; 7-0-1) completed its three-game sweep of the defending WSC-Silver champs from York on Monday. Ryan Nelson and Charlie Fencik led the Huskie attack. Both had two hits while Nelson drove home two and Fencik one. The Huskies lead No. 19 Downers Grove North (11-2; 8-1), who swept away Proviso West on Monday in the ultra-tough WSC Silver.

Lyons Township 5, Glenbard West 0
Lyons Township (9-4; 5-3) took the rubber-match of the three game series behind senior RHP Tom Prescott (3-2). Prescott fired a two-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts against the Hilltoppers and University of Michigan-bound Keith Lehmann singled, doubled and drove home a pair to lead the Lion attack.

DuPage Valley

Glenbard North 12, West Aurora 2
Glenbard North (10-4; 8-0) completed its sweep of West Aurora in six innings on Monday. Panther senior Matt Frawley homered, had two singles and drove home five runs to lead the GBN onslaught. Senior Bandon Kressner and junior Alex Arnett each plated a pair of Panther runs. Junior Kyle Crites fired a five-hitter at the Blackhawks allowing only one earned run.

Wheaton Warrenville South 5, No. 8 Naperville Central 1
Wheaton Warrenville South (10-6; 7-2) stunned the eighth-ranked Redhawks behind a two-hit gem by Tiger starting and winning pitcher Baylor Holmes. Holmes fanned five and walked two in his complete-game masterpiece. Sophomore Justin Kelly led the Tiger attack with a double and two RBI. Naperville Central falls to 9-4 overall and 4-2 in the DVC.

Naperville North 1, West Chicago 0
Naperville North (7-5; 3-3) blanked WEGO behind a seven-hit shutout from Ian Gustafson. Gustafson fanned four and did not walk a batter. Huskie leadoffman Nick Solak had two hits and drove home the only run of the game with his RBI single in the top of the seventh

East Suburban Catholic

St. Viator 4, No. 23 Carmel 2
St. Viator (9-7; 3-2) handed Carmel (9-3; 4-1) its first ESCC defeat on Monday. Lion RHP Greg Steiner fired a seven-hitter at the Corsairs with five strikeouts. Lion 3B Bob Calmeyn doubled home a pair for the Lions and Mike McGrath chipped in with a single and an RBI for SV.

No. 18 Nazareth 8, Benet Academy 5
Nazareth (15-2-1; 2-1) rallied past Benet in Lisle on Monday. The Roadrunners exploded for four runs in the top of the sixth to erase a 5-3 Benet lead and win the crucial ESCC battle. Senior C Mike Stromberg and junior Andrew Barreto each had three hits and two RBI to lead the Roadrunner attack. Junior Tim DalPorto added four hits, two runs scored and an RBI while junior RHP Jake Bartels (3-1) picked up the win. Bartels also contributed a pair of hits and an RBI. Benet falls to 9-5 overall and 1-2 in the ESCC.

Notre Dame 2, St. Patrick 0
Notre Dame (7-10; 2-3) blanked St. Pat’s under the lights at UIC on Monday. Don RHP Patrick Dillon fired a two-hitter at the Shamrocks with six strikeouts. Joe Kukla led the Don attack with two doubles
a single and plated both ND runs.

West Suburban Gold

No. 20 Downers Grove South 8, Addison Trail 7
Downers Grove South (15-3; 11-1) scored four times in the top of the seventh to erase a 6-4 AT lead and complete the series sweep of the Blazers. Mustang senior Javier Martinez had a pair of doubles and drove home four runs to lead the DGS attack. University of Pacific-bound Danny Mayer continued his hot hitting with two hits, including a double and drove home a pair.

Southwest Suburban Blue

No. 16 Lincoln-Way East 14, Joliet Central 1
Lincoln-Way East (10-2; 3-1) galvanized the Steelmen in five innings on Monday. Griffin Evan Sandman continued his torrid hitting with three more hits and two RBI to lead the L-WE attack. Chad Prieto went 3-for-3 with two RBI and Jack Dwyer chipped in with two hits and two RBI. On the mound, Jeremy Gucfa (2-0) picked up the win.

Homewood-Flossmoor 3, No. 11 Joliet West 1
H-F (6-5; 2-1) stunned the 11th-ranked Tigers, scoring a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to break up a 1-1 tie and go on to victory on Monday. Junior Issac Cutrara singled and plated two runs to lead the Vikings to victory. Senior Teddy Romas fired a three-hitter at the hard-hitting Tigers.

Joliet West (10-4; 2-2) was led by Anthony Dinardo who had two hits and plated the lone Tiger run.

Lincoln-Way Central 4, Bolingbrook 1
Lincoln-Way Central (9-5; 3-2) rolled past Bolingbrook behind senior LHP Matt Mikolajczak, who allowed an unearned run and two hits in his stellar six-inning performance. Mikolajczak had eight strikeouts. Junior RHP Kevin Mampe pitched a scoreless seventh to nail down the save. Senior Ryan Kahne had two hits and two RBI to lead the Knight attack while C AJ Murdock singled and also drove home two Knight runs.

No. 25 Lockport 10, No.10 Sandburg 8
(See Game Story)

Southwest Suburban Red

No. 1 Lincoln-Way North 9, Bradley-Bourbonnais 3
Lincoln-Way North (15-0; 5-0) routed Bradley-Bourbonnais in Bradley on Monday. Creighton-bound Kevin Smith singled and plated three Phoenix runs and allowed two runs in five innings to improve to 5-0 on the mound for L-WN. Smith’s batterymate, red-hot senior C Ryan Pellack, singled and had two RBI for the state’s top-ranked team.  

Andrew 16, Thornton 2
Andrew (12-6; 5-0) destroyed Thornton in five innings on Monday. T-Bolt seniors Kevin Walsh, Colin Mangin and junior Kyle Fitzgerald all drove home a pair of runs for Andrew. Senior LHP Cameron Simak allowed two unearned runs and two hits to improve to 5-0 on the season.

Southwest Prairie

No. 15 Plainfield South 5, Minooka 4
Plainfield South (11-2; 7-0) won for the 10th consecutive time, defeating Minooka on Monday. The Cougars last loss was a 14-2 drubbing by Minooka, in the third –place game in the WJOL Area Invite on Saturday March 30. The Cougars were led by senior C John McNulty, who had a perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate with a run scored and an RBI. Tyler Butler chipped in with a pair of hits and Cougar junior LHP ace Trevor Henderson (3-0) picked up the win with relief help from junior RHP Ryan McQueen who nailed down his second save of 2013. Henderson struck out 10.

Oswego East 3, Romeoville 2
Oswego East (9-2; 6-0) kept pace with Plainfield South in the SWPC, winning a 3-2 thriller in Romeoville on Monday. The Wolves struck for three runs in the top of the sixth to erase a 2-0 Spartan lead and stay unbeaten in SWSC play. Wolves starting and winning pitcher David Schurr (5-0) went the distance allowing two runs and two hits. Schurr struck out 10 Spartan hitters.

Central Suburban Crossovers

Niles West 4, Deerfield 3
Niles West (10-1-1; 4-0 South) nipped Deerfield on Monday behind senior Kyle Colletta (2-1). Colletta had three hits and had an RBI at the plate and pitcher three innings of shutout relief to nail down the win on the mound for NW.

Maine South 4, Niles North 2
Maine South (9-3; 3-0 South) knocked off Niles North on Monday behind EIU-bound Hawk Frank Perrone. Perrone fell a homer short of hitting for the cycle and scored and drove home a run. Senior RHP Jack Touhy (3-0) allowed a run in his solid five inning stint to pick up the win. Touhy also drove home a Hawk run.

No. 17 Glenbrook South 11, Highland Park 1

Glenbrook South (12-2, 3-1 South) blasted Highland Park in five innings behind a complete-game 12 strikeout performance from senior LHP Kyle Pauly.  

Mid-Illini

Metamora 1, Pekin 0
Metamora (15-4; 6-0) blanked the Dragons behind a three-hit shutout by University of Arizona recruit sophomore RHP Trent Johnson (5-0) and a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the seventh from Alec Skender. Johnson was amazing, striking out 14 Pekin hitters and walking only one. Skender’s walk-off single scored Bradley University-bound Spencer Gaa. Gaa had three hits including a double and danced home with the game-winner that kept the Redbirds atop the M-I8 standings with Limestone.

Bartonville Limestone 7, East Peoria 4
Limestone (13-4; 6-0) rolled past East Peoria to remain atop the M-I8 standings. Junior Cody Rupp went deep for the Rockets and senior Josh Wormer and junior leadoffman Sean Green, each singled and plated a pair of Rocket runs.

Fox Valley Crossovers

Jacobs 12, Woodstock North 3
Jacobs (12-3; 4-1 Valley) hammered WN behind Joe Rizzuto who had three hits, including a double and drove home a pair of Golden Eagle runs. Connor Conzelman hit his fifth home run of 2013 with two on for Jacobs.

McHenry 2, Crystal Lake Central 1
McHenry (11-6; 4-2) scored a run in the bottom of the sixth to come away with a thrilling FVC crossover win in McHenry on Monday. Jack Glosson again was the hero for the Warriors with a pair of singles and an RBI. LHP Devon Gehrke (2-1) fired a six-hitter at the Tigers with seven strikeouts.

Interstate 8 North

Westmont 4, Plano 0
Westmont (12-3; 6-1) blanked Plano behind a four-hit shutout from Sentinel junior RHP Jean Pietrzak. Pietrzak fanned eight. Junior Zach Moran had a double and two RBI to lead the Sentinel attack.

Lisle 5, Sandwich 3
Lisle (8-4-1; 4-1-1) swept away Sandwich behind Lion ace LHP Ventrella. Ventrella went the distance striking out 10 to improve to 4-0 on the season. Ventrella’s junior battery-mate C Kevin  Coppin had two hits and two RBI to lead the Lions attack.

Interstate 8 South

Herscher 4, Manteno 1
Herscher (12-2-2; 3-0-1) defeated Manteno behind a seven-hitter from senior RHP Austin Mendell in Herscher on Monday. Mendell allowed one run and fanned 10 Panther hitters. Braden Mulstadt homered doubled and plated three to lead the Tiger attack. Manteno (11-2; 3-2) was led by junior Drew Nichols, who had a single and an RBI for the Panthers. The two clubs will meet again on Tuesday in Manteno at 4:30.  

Nonconference

No. 13 Teutopolis 15, Farina South Central 4
Teutopolis (14-2) crushed South Central on Monday in five innings behind Darren Probst. Probst hammered a grand slam and drove home six Wooden Shoe runs. SIU-bound Kyle Pruemer also went deep and had three RBI for T-Town. Alex Goldstein chipped in with a single and a double and plated a pair for the Shoes. Probst allowed four runs in four innings on the mound and picked up the win.

Jackie Robinson North

Lane Tech 10, Taft 9
Lane Tech (11-8; 7-0) scored six times in the top of the seventh to stun rival Taft on Monday. Indian Matt Delanty doubled tripled and drove home two runs to lead the LT attack. Rudy Vargas added a single triple scored two runs and drove home a run. Jeremy Dixon added a pair of RBI. RHP Reuben Castro (4-0) picked up the win in relief.

Jackie Robinson South

Morgan Park 12, Harlan 2
Morgan Park (10-5; 4-0) blasted Harlan to remain atop the JR-South standings on Monday. The Mustangs were led by senior Marcellus Sneed who homered had two singles and plated two MP runs. Elijah McGinnis added a single triple and also drove home two Mustang runs.  

Simeon 10, Brooks 0
Simeon (7-4; 3-1) wiped out Brooks in six innings on Monday behind a one-hit shutout from Wolverine senior RHP Darien Clifton. Clifton fanned nine while Vanderbilt-bound 2B Ronell Coleman was 3-for-3 with a pair of triples, scored four runs and drove home three to lead the Wolverine attack.

Whitney Young 4, Washington 3
Whitney Young (8-6; 3-3) slipped past Washington on Monday behind 2B Justin Mitchell. Mitchell was 2-for-2 with a double and two RBI to lead the Dolphin attack.

Metro Suburban

Riverside-Brookfield 5, Timothy Christian 1
Riverside-Brookfield (15-1-1; 8-0) defeated Timothy Christian on Monday behind Bulldog ace Will Kincannon (5-0). Kincannon fired a one-hitter with 14 punch-outs against the Trojans, as the Bulldogs kept pace with Glenbard West (11-3; 9-0) in the MSC. The Bulldogs, who have flown under-the radar all year, have been discovered.  

Mid-Suburban East

Elk Grove 5, Buffalo Grove 3
Elk Grove (11-4; 4-0) hung on to defeat Buffalo Grove on Monday and stay atop the MSL-East standings. Grenadier starting RHP Mike Woods (5-1) allowed two hits and one unearned run in his solid 6 2/3 innings of work but needed relief help from EG closer Alex Tinkoff. Tinkoff retired the only Bison hitter he faced to nail down the save. Mickey Maize hammered a solo-shot for the Grens, while P O’ Mallley had a perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate. Luc DiMaso added two hits and drove home an EG run.

Mid-Suburban West

Palatine 5, Hoffman Estates 0
Palatine (6-7-1; 2-1) blanked Hoffman Estates behind a two-hit shutout from Pirate RHP Justin Juskiewicz. Juskiewicz fanned seven and helped himself at the plate with a single and an RBI.  Pirate leadoffman Anthony Fortunato had a 3-for-3 day including a double and drove home a Pirate run. Will Stewart chipped in with two hits and an RBI.

North Suburban Lake

No. 2 Mundelein 10, Warren 0
Warren (16-0; 5-0) romped past Warren behind SIU-bound Will Farmer. Farmer hammered a three-run bomb for the Mustangs while Ryan Dolan added four hits for Mundelein. UIC-bound RHP Mitch Schuluwitz improved to 5-0 for the 2nd-ranked Mustangs

S. Illinois River-River Mississippi

DuQuoin 3, Nashville 2
DuQuoin (16-6; 7-2) nipped Nashville on Monday to stay in the SIRR-Mississippi race. The Indians scored single runs in the fifth and sixth innings to rally past the Hornets in DuQuoin. Senior Brandon Fred went the distance allowing two runs and eight hits to pick up the win. Fred’s batterymate C Dalton Bingham had the only Indian RBI with a run-scoring single in the second.

S. Illinois River-River Ohio

No. 14 Harrisburg 5, Benton 1
Harrisburg (19-3; 8-1) clinched a tie for the SIRR-Ohio championship with a 5-1 over Benton on Monday. It was Braden Mayer and Ryne Roper day, as the Bulldog junior C was 3-for-3 with four RBI to and the future Fighting Illini RHP fired a two-hitter at the Rangers to improve to 7-0. Roper extended his scoreless inning streak to 42 but allowed a run in the seventh. The DR is awaiting word on whether the run was earned or not.

South Suburban Blue

Lemont 16, TF North 5
Lemont (9-3; 8-0) destroyed TF North on Monday behind a three-hit, two RBI day from Brett Twohill. Twohill had two singles and a double for the Indians. Red-hot Jake Terrazas had three more hits, including a double and drove home three more Indian runs. Terrazas is hitting a robust .533 for Lemont with 14 RBI.

Southland

Crete-Monee 10, Rich East 3
Crete-Monee (10-3; 6-0) continued to roll in the Southland behind Warrior starting and winning pitcher Craig Quick (3-1) Quick fired a six-hitter with 10 punch-outs against the Rockets.

Suburban Christian Blue

Montini 2, St. Francis 1

Suburban Christian Gold

Chicago Christian 11, Aurora Central Catholic 0
(See Game Story)

Upstate 8 River

St. Charles East 1, Batavia 0
St. Charles East’s (10-5; 8-2) senior RHP Matt Starai (5-0) fired a two-hit shutout at Batavia (11-3; 5-3). The Saints picked up an unearned run in the fifth and Starai made it hold up for the U8C-River leaders.

Upstate 8 Valley

Bartlett 5, Lake Park 0
Bartlett (9-2; 8-1) blanked Lake Park (11-3; 7-2) behind a six-hit shutout from senior RHP Colin Nowak (2-1) to take over sole possession of first place in the U8C-Valley. Nowak had seven strikeouts. Senior C Mike Roberson, junior Jake Barrutia and sophomore Justin Blanchett, each hit safely and drove home a Hawk run. Barrutia had a double.

Upstate 8 Crossover

Neuqua Valley 11, Elgin 1
Neuqua Valley (10-5; 7-2 Valley) crushed Elgin in six innings on Monday. Alex Wolanski was 3-for-3 with a double and drove home three runs to lead the Wildcat attack. Dylan Goss homered singled and drove home two runs while Mike Riesner drove home three for NV. RHP Jonathan Vik fired a four-hitter at the Maroons with five strikeouts.

Catholic White

De La Salle 10, Bishop McNamara 3
De La Salle (8-8; 4-4) romped past Bishop Mac on Monday behind juniors, RF Trevino Rodriguez and C Glen Kubek. Rodriguez went deep with two Meters aboard and Kubek plated a pair of runs for the CCL-White leaders.

St. Joseph 2, St. Ignatius 1
St. Joseph (6-7; 4-5) slipped past St. Ignatius behind a four-hitter from senior RHP Ryan Moritz. Moritz fanned four and walked four. Joe DeLuna had a single and an RBI to lead the Charger attack.

Nonconference

Mount Vernon 8, Alton 7
Mount Vernon (17-5) continued to roll, as the Rams outslugged Alton (15-4) at GCS Park in Sauget on Monday. Ram seniors, Landon Thomas and Colin Young each had two hits and two RBI to lead the MV attack. 6-foot-4 junior ace Brock Fulkerson improved to 6-1 on the season and received relief help senior Tyler Ellis who nailed down the save.

Glenbard South 14, Plainfield North 4
Glenbard North (11-3) scored seven times in the second inning and then scored five more runs in the sixth to mercifully put an end to this romp The Metro Suburban Conference leaders were led by Will Cornwell, who was a perfect 4-for-4 in the game with a double and four RBI. Ethan Gasbarro also plated four for the Raiders with three hits, including a triple. RHP Gasbarro (5-1) also fired a four-hitter at the Tigers with seven strikeouts. Nick Yangas chipped in with a two-run bomb for GBS.

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