Friday, April 23 Roundup

 

By Drake Skleba

 

No.1 Harrisburg (25-0; 9-0) routed Benton 13-4 in Benton on Friday. With the win, the top-ranked Bulldogs clinched the Southern Illinois River-River Conference Ohio Division championship. Junior RHP Keelin Rasch improved to 5-0 on the season. Senior 1B Dawson Montfort hit a pair of homers. Junior Cain Sheldon and Logan Leverett also homered. Benton falls to 15-4, 6-3).

 

In the Fox Valley, Grayslake Central hammered Huntley 7-1 as senior RHP Matt Murphy (4-0) fired a complete game five-hitter, striking out eight as the Rams put an end to a two-game skid. Senior Kevin DeRue had three hits and three RBI to lead the Ram attack. Huntley (14-3; 8-2) fell behind red-hot McHenry (13-3; 9-2) in the Valley Division race. McHenry blasted Woodstock 10-3 on Friday. Defending Valley champs Cary-Grove (12-7; 8-3) crushed Woodstock North 10-0 for their seventh consecutive win. Prairie Ridge (11-6; 7-2) destroyed Dundee-Crown 17-2 to hold on to the Fox Division lead.

 

In the Mid-Suburban East, Hersey (12-3; 4-1) routed Elk Grove 13-5. Senior LF Domenic Biagini and junior Joe Perricone homered along with senior Jake Knauss as the Huskies rolled. Perricone picked up the win on the mound for Hersey.

 

MSL West leader surprising Hoffman Estates (8-9; 4-1) defeated Schaumburg 2-0 to close out the first round of divisional play on top.

 

In the MSL West, Barrington (10-8; 3-2), behind a complete game from 6-foot-4 RHP Sean Buchholz, defeated  Palatine 5-1. Buccholz allowed four hits and struck out 9 to improve to 3-1 for the season. Junior SS Jack Scheffler drove in a pair for the Broncos.

Junior Cody Bobbitt had a pair of hits and drove in the lone Palatine (10-8; 3-2) run.

 

Fremd (8-6; 3-2) defeated Conant 3-2 behind a complete game masterpiece by senior LHP Clint Terry. Terry improves to 4-3 on the season. Senior 2B Kevin Ciardiello had the game-winner with a two-run single for the Vikings.

 

In the Upstate 8 Conference, No.20 St. Charles North (14-3; 6-2) defeated Bartlett 6-3 behind North Star seniors 1B Mark Budka and SS Ryan Richardson. Budka had two hits including a two-run homer, and Richardson added a pair of hits and RBIs for the North Stars. Junior LHP Phil Warner improved to 3-0 on the mound with the win. Jake Johansmeier nailed down the save.

 

South Elgin (12-4; 7-3) defeated Elgin Larkin 7-4 behind juniors John Menken and Nathan Halas. Menken had a 4-for-4 day with three RBIs and Halas improved to 2-0 on the mound with the win.

 

Lake Park (12-4; 6-2) crushed East Aurora 11-1 in five innings. Senior RHP Kevin Miller fired a complete game four-hitter to improve to 2-1 on the season. Seniors Matt Kaiser and Peter Spear led the Lancer attack. Kaiser had three hits and drove in a run while Spear was 2-for-2 with an RBI as the Lancers stayed in the U8C race.

 

Waubonsie Valley (9-7; 7-3) routed Elgin 10-2 behind a complete game five-hitter from Warrior junior left-hander Matt Mecaskey (2-1). Senior 2B Eric Sousanes doubled and drove in three for the Warriors. Senior 3B Sam Carius chipped in with a pair of RBIs.

 

Homewood Flossmoor’s Heartland Community College recruit LHP Aaron Hauge fired a complete game two-hitter, striking out 15, and leading the Vikings to a 7-1 win over Marian Catholic at H-F Friday night. Hauge improves to 4-0 on the season for the 13-2 Vikings.

 

For Lincoln-Way Central (14-5), revenge was sweet as the Knights surprised No.11 Providence, 6-5 in nine innings. The second “Battle of New Lenox” was won on a clutch single by junior Ty Gellinger, scoring Jim Watson with the winner. Back on April 1 Providence defeated L-W Central 3-1 in eight innings, on junior RHP Sam Travis’ game-ending two-run bomb in the bottom of the eighth.

 

“The Battle of New Lenox III” could occur in the Class 4A Plainfield South Sectional where both clubs reside in what is probably the toughest sectional complex in the state. Joining the New Lenox powers are No.3 Naperville Central, No.5 Downers Grove South, No. 6 Plainfield North and No. 18 Naperville North. Throw in unranked Lockport and Waubonsie Valley and you can understand why this will be the toughest sectional in the state.