PBR DAILY ROUNDUP

March 22, 2012

By Drake Skleba

No. 2 Lyons Township (1-0) won its season-opener 10-0 in five innings over Montini (3-2)

No. 3 Normal West (4-0) slipped past the Potters of Morton 3-2, behind the Wildcat’s sensational junior RHP Matthew James (2-0). James allowed a run and five hits over six innings to pick up his second victory of 2012. 10 Potter hitters were strikeout victims of James. Junior Alex Jefferson nailed down the save for James with a scoreless seventh. 

James and Jefferson’s battery-mate, hard-hitting junior C Adam McGinnis, had a pair of hits and drove in a Wildcat run. Wildcat senior Garrett Cook’s two-run single in the fourth was the eventual game-winner.

Pitching has been the name of the game at West under heads coach Chris Hawkins. For the 29^th time in the last 30 games, the opposition was held to four runs or less.

No. 4 St. Laurence (3-0) won “The Battle of Burbank,” outslugging cross-town rival Reavis 11-7 on Thursday. Creighton-recruit junior Kevin Smith led the Viking onslaught with four hits and four RBI. Viking sophomore Brad Wood chipped in with three hits and scored three runs.

No. 10 Glenbrook South (1-2) lost again, this time to undefeated Leyden 4-2 on Thursday. Leyden (3-0) was led by Eagle senior RHP Angel Sanchez (2-0). Eagle senior Mike Szopinski was a one-man wrecking crew for the Eagles with a pair of hits and three RBI.

In a battle of Top 25 teams, No. 25 Machesney Park Harlem (3-0) squeezed past No.19 Huntley 2-1 in Machesney Park. Iowa Western CC-bound Drake Robison sent the Huskie fans home happy, when he dropped a perfect suicide-squeeze bunt which brought in the winning run.

McHenry Community College-bound Derrick Mason pitched the first five innings for Harlem, allowing just one run. Huntley senior RHP Justin Gundlach fired six innings allowing but a single run in his first start of the season for Huntley (0-1).

Robison's squeeze made a winner of Harlem senior Parker Anderson (1-0), who fired two scoreless innings in relief of Mason.

No. 24 Edwardsville (2-0) stopped No. 32 Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin (0-1) in a battle of state-ranked teams in Edwardsville on Thursday. Edwardsville junior C Alex Pizzini had two hits and an RBI double, which gave the Tigers the lead for good. Tiger senior Devin Breihan (1-0) fired four innings of shutout relief to pick up the win on the mound for Edwardsville.

No. 38 Lockport (1-0) tuned up for the Porters trip to Marion for the Miner Classic at Rent One Park next week. In a Southwest Suburban crossover affair in South Holland, the Porters scored 11 runs in the first three innings and crushed Thornwood 14-1 in five innings. Porter senior Doug Matthews led the Porter attack with four RBI. Senior Nick Davito (1-0) picked up the win on the mound.

The Porters ran wild on the Thunderbirds, swiping eight bases in their four innings of work. The Porters will play two in Marion on Monday. At nine they will meet No.43 St. Charles North and at noon they will play Warren.

No. 41 Lincoln-Way East (1-1) blanked Romeoville 1-0 behind Griffin senior Bobby Kosola, who drove home the game-winner for East, making a winner of Griffin starting pitcher Brandon Bollman. Bollman pitched five scoreless innings allowing three hits in his first start of the season.

No. 42 York (2-0) slipped past Hoffman Estates 4-2 in Elmhurst on Thursday. Duke junior Jake Rzesutko led the Duke attack with three hits and an RBI. Senior Chris Nesbit (1-0) picked up the win on the mound for the Dukes.

Manteno (7-0) nipped arch-rival Bishop McNamara of Kankakee, 3-1 in Manteno on Thursday. The Panthers were awarded a couple of gift-wrapped runs by the Fighting Irish in the fourth, when the Bishop Mac defense imploded. The first Panther run came on a wild pitch and then a throwing error on the catcher allowed senior Billy Liss to score as he attempted a steal of third.

Speaking of steals, the runnin’ Panthers picked up five more after 10 the day before. Senior CF J.J. Withrow picked up a pair of thefts giving him 11 on the season. Panther junior C Ryan Sample, who is hitting as hot as our unseasonably hot temps have been, had another hit and RBI. Sample is currently hitting .545 with 12 RBI. Panther senior Paul Dufrain (1-0) fired a two-hitter at the Irish with six Ks.

Richards (2-1) ralied past Stagg, 9-4, behind Bulldog senior 1B Lou Castro.  Castro stroked a triple, double and a pair of singles, while plating three Bulldog runs on Thursday. Bulldog senior RHP Jordan Julian (1-0) fired two scoreless innings in relief of Bulldog starter Jim Augle.

Champaign Centennial (5-0) won at Carter (TN) 6-1 behind a combined one-hitter from Charger seniors Zach Owens (2-0) and Kyle Rittin. Junior Drake Peratt and sophomore Zach Parks each had a pair of hits and an RBI for the undefeated Chargers.

Notre Dame (2-1) defeated Prospect 5-1 in six innings on Thursday. Don senior Tony Marcellino (1-0) picked up the win on the mound for ND.

Morgan Park (6-0) defeated Evergreen Park 6-2 behind John A. Logan C.C-bound Dejohn Suber, who drove in a pair of Mustang runs, and sophomore Rahman Williams (2-0), who went the distance for the Mustangs.

Wheaton Academy (3-1) routed Chicago Brooks 10-3 behind Wright State-bound Trevor Swaney. Swaney had three hits, including a double and plated two Warrior runs. Warrior senior Cory Herbert had two hits and an RBI and fired three scoreless innings on the mound with six strikeouts.

The Warriors will travel to The Sunshine State, where they will meet the 10th best team in Missouri, Rock Bridge (2-0) on Tuesday.

Defending Class 3A Champs Kaneland (1-1) outslugged Burlington Central 12-6 in action at Burlington on Thursday. Knight seniors Quinn Buschbacher and Tim Fox each hit three-run homers and drove in four runs each.

Burlington Central (2-1) was led by senior C Tanner Scott, who homered and tripled for the Rockets and drove in four runs. Rocket senior Zach Ranny had a perfect 4-for-4 day and went deep once for the Rockets.

South Elgin (1-1) scored four times in the top of the fifth and held on for a 6-4, five-inning victory over Wheeling (0-4) on Thursday. Storm senior Ryan Ford had a pair of doubles. Storm 6-foot-3 junior Joe Frivoled (1-0) picked up the win in relief for South Elgin. Storm senior Ryan Ford had a perfect day at the plate going 3-for-3, with two doubles and two RBI.

Yorkville (2-0-1) rolled past Plano 8-3 on Thursday. Fox junior Blake Szurowski plated a pair for the Foxes.

Lincoln-Way West (3-1) defeated Eisenhower behind seniors Matt Sutor (2-0) and Luke Morgan, who had two hits and two RBI for the Warriors.

Williamsville (4-0) defeated Bloomington Central Catholic 4-2 on Thursday. Bullet Nick Roscetti (2-0) allowed a pair of runs and four hits in his solid six-inning stint. Roscetti helped himself with an RBI triple.

Brother Rice (3-1) overcame Jackie Robinson North foe Lane Tech, 9-6, on Thursday in Mt. Greenwood. Crusader senior Garrett O’Neil went deep with the sacks full for the big blow for the Crusaders.

Aurora Central Catholic (2-0) blanked Hinckley-Big Rock 12-0 in five innings behind Charger junior RHP Matt Miller (1-0). Miller struck out six Royals as he went the distance for his first win of the year.

Gordon Tech (6-0) took a trip to El Paso on Thursday. El Paso, Illinois, that is.   And came home with a hard-fought 8-5 victory.

Argo (2-0) blanked Morton West 5-0 behind a one-hitter from Argonaut Jordan Ashley (2-0). Billy Hammond was perfect for Argo with a 3-for-3 day with three RBI.

Wilmington (3-1) defeated previously unbeaten Chicago Christian 3-1, on Thursday in Palos Heights. Chicago Christian falls to 7-1. Wilmington scored twice in the top of the fifth to break a 1-1 tie and roll to the Wildcats’ third  victory.

DeKalb (2-0-1) routed Sandwich 12-2 in six innings behind Barb senior 2B Kevin Sullivan. Sullivan had four hits and plated three Barb runs. Senior Zack price went the distance for the Barbs

The Hornets of Harvard (1-3) picked up their first victory of 2012 in impressive fashion on Thursday. Hornet junior Spencer Kessler (1-1) and sophomore Justin Nolen fired a combined shutout at Woodstock North and the Hornet bats erupted for eight runs as the Hornets blanked the Thunder 8-0.

Nolen helped himself with a pair of hits and two RBI. Hornet seniors Dane Miller and Jordan Little also had a pair of hits and RBIs to lead the Hornet attack.

Send all game reports to [email protected]