By Drake Skleba

 

CARY - To say that Cary-Grove’s junior right-handed pitcher Kevin Weber was a one-man wrecking crew in the Trojans 5-3 victory over McHenry would be an understatement.

 

For starters, Weber (7-0) fired a complete game five-hitter at Fox Valley Conference Valley Division leader McHenry on Saturday. He allowed three runs and struck out five. That’s just for starters.

 

With his bat, Weber had a perfect day with a pair of two-run doubles and a sacrifice fly. The second double drove home the game-winners in the bottom of the sixth, breaking up a 3-3 tie.

 

In the McHenry seventh, the multi-talented Weber showcased his glove by snuffing out a Warrior comeback. Not a bad morning for Weber and the Trojans.

 

Weber started out his impressive day with a  two-out, two-run double to give the Trojans an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second.

 

McHenry (19-8; 14-5) took the lead 3-2 in the top of the third on a booming bases-clearing double by Warrior right fielder Justin Diedrich (2-4, 2B, 3 RBI). Diedrich’s blast was the only mistake Weber made on the day.

 

In the bottom of the fourth, Weber tied things up at 3 with a sacrifice fly, scoring Trojan junior DH Matt Panek (1-for-2; R), who had singled.

 

In the bottom of the sixth, McHenry starting pitcher Kevin Wollscheid (3-4) retired the first two Trojan hitters. Trojan senior centerfielder Steve Hapanovich (2-for-3; 2B; R) ripped a 0-2 pitch to right for a double.

 

“I have been working on waiting on the pitch,” said Hapanovich. “I am really happy I was able to get some big hits today to help us win. We feel we can win the conference next week and go a long way in the tournament.”

 

Junior pinch-hitter Tyler Lau won a cat-and-mouse battle with Wollscheid and coaxed a walk. Weber then took an outside fastball from Wollscheid and laced a drive to the right field corner. The ball landed squarely on the right field line in front of the foul pole. Hapanovich and Lau raced home and scored and the Trojans led 5-3.

 

“I did not want to get called out on an outside pitch,” said Weber. “I went with the outside pitch and poked it down the right field line.”

 

In the McHenry seventh, Weber hit Warrior first baseman Jordan Oster and then allowed a single to centerfielder Pat Maher. With the top of the order coming to the plate, trouble loomed.

 

Warrior leadoff man Pat Murphy laid down what appeared to be a successful sacrifice bunt. But Weber pounced on the bunt and fired a strike to Trojan third baseman Stuart Gaulke to force Oster at third.

 

Weber bore down and struck out Diedrich for the second out. Warrior shortstop Chase Matheson represented the last Warrior hope. Matheson hit a rocket back at the mound. Weber snared the laser and fired to Trojan first baseman Nick Richter ending this thriller.

 

“I pitched well today but I owe a lot to my great defense,” said Weber. “My catcher Alex Wians called a great game today for me. It was a great win for us and I think it will give us the spark to lead us to the conference championship.”

 

The Trojans received additional support from senior left fielder Eric Chandler (1-for-3) and junior second baseman Mike Vilardo (1-for-3; R).

 

"Everything starts and ends with Kevin today," said Cary-Grove head coach Don Sutherland. " Kevin pitched a gem against a very good McHenry team.Kevin has pitched that way all year for us. With his bat he drives in all five runs for us,including the game-winning double in the sixth. Kevin had a very,very,very good day today."

 

Sutherland continued: " Steve Hapanovich had a huge double to get the sixth started with two out," said Sutherland." Steve battled and hit an 0-2 pitch. This was a huge win for us today."

 

Defending Valley champion Cary-Grove (18-11; 13-6) moves to within a game of McHenry. Huntley (20-7; 13-5) met Crystal Lake South in Crystal Lake on Saturday and remains in the Valley hunt. Cary-Grove and McHenry will meet in McHenry on Monday.

 

“We missed some opportunities and gave them a couple of runs in the second,” said McHenry head coach Brian Rockweiler.  “Kevin pitched well enough to win for us today. We are in first place going into the last week of the season. That’s a good place to be.”