Daily Roundup
By Drake Skleba
Senior Writer

Thursday, March 20 Games

Nonconference

No. 9 Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin 10, Kankakee Bishop McNamara 0
The Cyclones blew away the Fighting Irish 10-0 behind a combined shutout from junior LHP Ben McElwee (1-0) and senior RHP Peter Young. McElwee fired three scoreless innings striking out six and allowing one hit. Young completed the five-inning whitewash with two scoreless innings and also allowing one hit. Senior Corey Mason led the SHG (2-0) attack with a single, double and two RBI. Junior Sean Mason had a perfect 2-for-2 day with a double and two runs scored. Louisville-bound C Mitch Trees doubled, scored two runs and plated a pair.

No. 19 Brother Rice 11, Whitney Young 3
The Crusaders broke open a 3-3 game when they erupted for eight runs in the bottom of the fifth inning in a game played at Wheaton College on Thursday. Senior Kevin Biondic led the Crusader attack with a pair of doubles and drove home three runs. Erich Lieser also plated a pair with two hits. Kyle Hilliard singled home a pair of runs and Adrian Gonzalez chipped in with an RBI double. Ryan Kutt (1-0) fired two scoreless innings of relief with four strikeouts to pick up the win on the mound for Brother Rice (1-0).

Chicago Christian 12, Lisle 5
The defending Class 2A state champion Lisle Lions fell in their season-opener at Chicago Christian (1-0) on Thursday. The Knights were led by Christian Bolhuis who went 2-for-2 with a double and three RBI. Drew Van Buren bases-loaded-clearing triple plated three big runs for the Knights.Lisle’s Cliff Krause hit a solo blast for Lisle (0-1)

No. 75 Mount Vernon 8, Pinckneyville 3
The Rams evened up their record at 1-1 with an 8-3 triumph at home over Pinckneyville (0-1). Ram senior RHP Tyler Morgan (1-0) dominated the Panther hitters striking out 13 in his five solid innings of work. Morgan allowed one run and four hits while walking only one. Junior Ryan Campbell had two hits and two RBI to lead the Ram attack. Senior Thomas Weber went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI.

Auburn 6, Springfield 5
Auburn (2-0) scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and then withstood a Springfield (1-1) rally in the seventh and hung on for the thrilling victory. Auburn sophomore Brady Dowson’s RBI single broke up a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the sixth. The Trojans picked up an insurance run they would need on a groundout. Springfield closed to 6-5 in the top of the seventh but fell a run short. Dowson had three hits including a double with two RBI. Junior Mitch Bates (1-0) allowed two unearned runs in his three quality innings in relief to pick up the win

Quincy Notre Dame 5, Quincy 2
Round One of the “Battle of Quincy” went to Notre Dame on Thursday at Quincy Senior. Raider Justin Tillman (1-0) allowed one earned run and six hits in his six stellar innings on the mound for QND (1-0). Raider closer Joey Polak nailed down the save when he struck out the side in the Blue Devil seventh. Zach Vale singled, walked, scored a run and drove one home to lead the QND attack. Quincy (0-1) was led by Ben Mero and Jacob Jobe, who drove home the two Blue Devil runs. Andrew Eilers chipped in with two singles and scored a run for the Blue Devils. The two clubs will battle again at Quincy Notre Dame on Saturday morning.

Salem 4, Benton 3
The Salem (2-0) Wildcats won an eight-inning thriller at Benton City Park on Thursday. The Wildcats tied the game in the top of the sixth at 3-3 and then won it, scoring a run in the top of the eighth and then held off Benton (1-2) in the home half of the eighth. Wildcat Evan Maxey slammed the door on the Rangers firing 2 ⅔ innings of shutout relief. Maxie  (1-0) faced eight Ranger hitters and struck out six of them to pick up the win. Ranger senior Nate Higgins hammered a shot that left the premises at Benton City Park. Senior Tyler Owens had the only other Ranger hit, a double.   

St. Joseph Ogden 8, Watseka 1
The Spartans improved to 3-0 with a blow-out win in St. Joseph on Thursday. Brock Imke singled, tripled and drove home three runs to lead the Spartan attack. RHP Tyler McCormick allowed one unearned run in his four stellar innings of work to pick up the win. Spartan closer RHP Cole Berry retired nine consecutive Watseka hitters, striking out seven.  

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