Mother Nature shuts down DVC's best

By Drake Skleba
Senior Writer

WHEATON – With lightning-quick efficiency, Player of the Year candidate Mother Nature struck again. In a crucial DuPage Valley Conference battle, No. 9 Naperville Central and No. 15 Wheaton North were even at 2-2 as the showdown moved to the bottom of the fifth.

As She has all spring, Mother Nature struck at 4:47 p.m. and followed with a short but efficient torrential down-pour. The men in blue sent both teams to their respective dugout to sit out the mandatory 30-minute lightning delay. After another outburst, the game was suspended until Friday.

The two clubs have a regularly scheduled game at Naperville Central on Friday at 4:30. Thursday's game will resume before the regularly scheduled contest, weather permitting.

In this game the hosts from Wheaton North (17-3, 9-2) struck first, picking up an unearned run in the bottom of the first. With Morehead State-bound Ryan Kent on second and two out, Falcon third baseman Tom Colletti popped up down the first baseline. Naperville Central starting pitcher Jeff Schank (Butler) dropped the pop-up in foul territory.

Given new life, Colletti promptly ripped a single to right scoring Kent with the first run of the game.

Naperville Central (14-5; 9-3) tied the game up in the third on an RBI single from the Redhawks No. 9 hitter Jason Wegner. Wheaton College-bound John Peltz ripped another clutch two-out RBI single as the Falcons regained their lead 2-1 in the bottom of the third.

In the top of the fourth, the Redhawks tied the contest at 2-2 on a Falcon throwing error.

Wheaton North’s junior right-hander Lake Bacher (6-0) retired the Redhawks in order in the top of the fifth. Shortly after, the game was suspended.