Highland Park knocks out No. 8 New Trier in 8
April 10, 2012
By Drake Skleba
WINNETKA – Highland Park senior LHP Jake Rubin went through an emotional roller coaster in leading Highland Park to a huge 7-4 victory over No. 8 New Trier in eight ultra-emotional innings. In a big Central Suburban League crossover battle, Highland Park (6-8; 1-0 North) blew a 4-1 lead and then rallied behind Rubin to win in eight.
With the bases loaded and two-out in a 4-4 tie in the top of the eight, Rubin went from Giant goat to hero. Rubin hammered a fastball from New Trier’s junior reliever Miles Link to the wall in right, clearing the bases and giving the Giants a 7-4 lead going to the bottom of the eighth.
Rubin relieved Highland Park starting pitcher senior Christian Biondi, (6 IP, 3R, 4H, 0ER, 7K, 1BB) with a New Trier runner on first and no one out in the bottom of the seventh with Highland Park clinging to a 4-2 lead. Biondi had fired a masterpiece at the hard-hitting Trevians.
Rubin walked the first hitter he faced and then recorded the first out of the inning on a strikeout. New Trier senior RF Chris Carr crushed a Rubin fastball off of the base of the left field fence, plating both Trevian runners to tie the game at 4-4. Trevian SS Sean Visconti (1-for-3, BB) was walked intentionally to set up a double play.
Trevian junior CF Jack Cloud came up in the spot in the Trevian batting order previously occupied by Northwestern-bound CF Josh Perlmutter. Perlmutter left the game when he jammed his wrist making a great catch to end the Highland Park fourth. Cloud lined into the double play Rubin was looking for and we moved tio the eighth.
After Rubin’s bases-clearing double in the top of the eighth, Jake went back to the mound to save what was his victory now on the mound. Rubin proceeded to walk the first two Trevian hitters in the bottom of the eighth. With the fans sensing a New Trier comeback, Rubin bore down to retire the next three hitters, the last two on strikeouts, to preserve the win for Highland Park.
“Christian Biondi pitched a great game for us tonight,” said Rubin. “I really didn’t want to steal his victory on the mound for us. We really wanted to open conference with a win. New Trier is a great team and we are really happy with the win. I just wanted to make contact and get the runs in. I got lucky.”
Highland Park picked up an unearned run in the top of the first inning. Biondi singled home the first of his two RBI to give the Giants a 2-0 in the top of the third.
New Trier (5-3; 0-1 South) picked up an unearned run against Biondi to close to 2-1 after three innings.
The Giants plated a pair in the top of the fifth. Biondi had his second RBI single and the Giants received a big sac-fly from senior 3B Adam Kaplan to take a 4-1 lead after five.
“It was a huge momentum maker for us,” said Biondi. “Coupled with yesterday’s win over Lake Forest, we can get on a roll. I tried to get the first guy out. Good day to pitch. I saw the ball good and had a good approach at the plate.”
New Trier picked up another unearned run in the bottom of the sixth to close to 4-2.
Highland Park had a fine performance from its leadoffman senior CF Dan Oversen. Oversen was on base three times with a pair of singles and a walk. Oversen also stole a base and made a couple of fine catches in center.
“We stayed focused during the entire game and we took care of business,” said Oversen. “I was really happy I was able to do my job as our leadoff man.”
New Trier was led by Carr, who had a pair of doubles and two game-tying RBI.
“I’m concerned with the health of Josh (Perlmutter),” said New Trier coach Mike Napoleon. “Josh is a big part of our offense and we need him in our lineup. I’m proud of the way we battled back and I thought we were going to win it in the bottom of the seventh.”
Watch the game live at highschoolcube.com