Libertyville makes statement, hammers Maine South

By Drake Skleba
Senior Writer

LIBERTYVILLE – Not being ranked in the PBR Preseason Power 50, the Libertyville Wildcats felt a little disrespected. For Maine South, ranked 22nd in the preseason, the Hawks would feel the wrath of the slighted Wildcats.

With the game tied at 1-1 heading into the bottom of fifth, Libertyville (5-1-1) would send 11 men to the plate; seven would hit safely, six would score and the Wildcats would go on to an 11-1 demolition of Maine South in six innings.

The game started out as a great pitchers’ duel between Maine South left-hander Mike Virgilio and Libertyville junior right-hander Jeff Barton. Libertyville picked up an unearned run in the first inning to grab an early 1-0 lead.

Eastern Illinois-bound centerfielder Frank Perrone deposited the baseball on to Route 176 in the top of the fourth to tie the game at 1-1.

In the fateful fifth, Libertyville would score six times on seven hits. Senior RF Matt Vogt (2-for-3, RBI) would drive in the first run of the inning on a single, scoring sophomore Jimmy Govern. Govern had singled to lead off the fifth. Junior catcher Evan Skoug then ripped a two-run single, scoring Alec Semersky and Noah Greenberg. Govern would drive in the final two runs of the inning with his second single of the inning.

In the sixth, the Wildcats would score four more times with Govern coming up with the walk-off RBI single, promoting the 10-run rule to be in effect.

“Jeff pitched a beauty for us,” said Govern. “I was happy to get two singles in the fifth, especially the two-RBI single. It was nice to end the game with the walk-off single.”

Barton scattered seven hits and allowed one run in his complete-game performance.

Maine South (4-2) had two-hit days from senior Zach Jones and left fielder Eric Sons.