Friday, April 9 Roundup

 

By Drake Skleba

 

Libertyville rallied past No. 6 Stevenson 6-5 in eight innings in a North Suburban Lake opener for both teams on Friday. Libertyville (5-3; 1-0) was led by 6-foot-2 senior Jeff Fowkes. Fowkes had two hits, including the game-winner, in the bottom of the eighth and drove in three runs for the victorious Wildcats. Libertyville senior catcher Tyler Schweigert homered for the ‘Cats. Stevenson was led by senior Patrick Wilson, who drove in three for the Patriots.

 

Naperville North upends No. 10 St. Charles North 7-6 in a nonconference game on Friday. Senior catcher John Ryan won it for the Huskies in the bottom of the seventh with an RBI single, scoring first baseman Andrew Arenson with the game-winner. Arenson had three hits, including a two-run jack to help lead Naperville North (6-1) past  previously undefeated St. Charles North (6-1).

 

Normal West shocked No.3 Chatham Glenwood 9-7 in a nonconference game in Normal on Friday. West’s senior first baseman Jason Cullen had two hits and four RBIs to lead the 5-5 Wildcats. Cullen hammered a two-run homer to give Normal West the lead for good in this central Illinois shootout.

 

Junior Kyle Vaughn (3-0) picked up the win in relief. ISU-bound Brock Stewart had a pair of hits and scored three runs. Junior Adam Seifert had two hits, including a double and drove in a run.

 

Chatham Glenwood falls to 6-1 on the season. Senior Jake Ingold hit a three-run homer and EIU-bound catcher Jacob Reese added three hits, including two doubles and a pair of RBIs.

 

After Benton (9-1; 2-1) scored twice in the top of the eighth, host Massac County rallied with three in the bottom half of the inning to stun previously undefeated Benton 9-8 in a Southern Illinois River-River Ohio Division game on Friday. Benton’s senior catcher Mark Uhles was 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Rangers. Massac County improves to 6-2 overall and 1-2 in the SIRR-Ohio.

 

No.1 Naperville Central (8-0) senior shortstop Nick Linne (Northwestern) had a 4-for-4 day, scoring three runs in leading the top-ranked Redhawks to a 7-4 win over the hosts from Hoffman Estates on Friday.

 

For Brother Rice (7-3), revenge is sweet … The Crusaders, behind Brian Baldwin’s (3-0) three-hit shutout, and sophomore Brian McQuillan’s grand –slam, smashed Andrew 11-0 in five innings. The victory avenged a 12-0 humiliating regional final defeat to Andrew (6-3), ending the Crusaders 30-3 season in 2009.

 

LSU-bound senior shortstop Kevin Koziol had two hits, including a home run and drove home three Crusader runs. Sophomore Garrett O’Neill added two hits and three ribbies.

 

Lake Park (6-0; 1-0) rallied from a 10-2 deficit behind the booming bat of senior Matt Kaiser to stun defending Upstate 8 champ Neuqua Valley 13-10 in eight innings. The wild slugfest was the Upstate 8 Conference opener for both clubs.

 

Kaiser had four hits, including three home runs and six RBIs. Kaisers’ second blast tied the game at 10 in the sixth and then his final two-run shot in the eighth gave the Lancers the lead for good. Senior right-handed pitcher, Evansville-bound Peter Spear shut down the Wildcats over last three innings, striking out six, to pick up the win and improve to 2-0 for the season.

 

Lemont (5-3; 2-1) defeated Evergreen Park 9-8 in a South Suburban crossover on Friday. The Indians received home runs from senior catcher Pat Driscoll and senior second baseman Mike Dvorak. Junior left-handed hitting shortstop Kevin Goergen chipped in with three hits, including a pair of doubles and two RBIs

 

Homewood-Flossmoor’s (6-1) senior right-handed pitcher Aaron Hauge improved to 2-0, as the Vikings defeated Bradley-Bourbonnais 6-1 in a Southwest Suburban crossover battle. Hauge struck out 8 in his six-inning stint. Senior Jack Sheehan and junior Ryan Rasmas each had three hits and a pair of RBIs to lead the Vikings assault.

 

No.8 Plainfield North (8-1; 2-0) crushed Oswego East 26-5 in a Southwest Prairie game on Friday. Junior Sean Renzi (grand slam), senior Scott Vachon and junior Pat Cashman all homered for the Tigers. Senior Jeff Paulson also homered and had three hits and drove in five as the Tigers rolled.

 

Waubonsie Valley (3-3; 1-1) trounced St. Charles East 14-4 in five innings in an Upstate 8 Conference game. Senior right-hander Sean Smith improves to 2-1 on the mound for the Warriors. Smith drove home three runs to help his cause. Senior second baseman Eric Sousanes had 4 RBIs and senior third baseman Sam Carius had three hits and scored three runs. St. Charles East falls to 7-2 on the season and 1-1 in the Upstate 8.

 

Immaculate Conception’s right-hander Jose Godinez fired a no-hitter at Wheaton Academy as the Knights won the Suburban Christian Gold contest. Godinez fanned 11 and added a pair of hits at the plate for the 8-4 Knights.With the win the Knights improve to 2-1 in the Suburban Christian Gold. Senior Steve Maloney homered and doubled to lead the Knight offense.

 

Bartlett’s Bradley University-bound catcher Greg Partyka launched his fifth home run of the season and drove home five runs as Bartlett (6-3; 2-0) crushed Elgin 16-0 in an Upstate 8 Conference game on Friday. Partyka’s big three-run double led the Hawks to an 8-2 victory over Elgin on Thursday.

 

Lincoln-Way West’s junior right-handed pitcher Cody Vogler fired a complete game and struck out seven as the Warriors hammered Sandburg 11-6 in a Southwest Suburban crossover.Vogler improved to 3-1 on the mound as the Warriors evened up their record at 4-4. Vogler doubled twice and drove in three. Kevin Kintzel chipped in with a pair of hits and had three RBIs, as the Warriors dropped Sandburg to 5-3. Dan Fifer also had a big day at the plate for West.

 

Simeon’s sophomore Shane Brown fired a complete game as the Wolverines edged their rivals from Harlan 6-5 in a Jackie Robinson South battle on Friday. Brown (2-0) allowed two earned runs and struck out 9 as the Wolverines improved to 8-4 overall and 2-0 in the Jackie Robinson South. Brown had two hits and drove in a pair to help himself. Freshman Cory Ray and Quintin Richardson each had perfect 3-for-3 games. Marshawn Taylor had a pair of hits and RBIs to aid in the huge Simeon victory.

 

Streator (9-0) routed Dixon 20-0 in a NCIC-Reagan blow out. Winning pitcher Josh Epplin hammered a grand slam and threw a four-hit shutout striking out five. Blake Brown, was 4-for-4 with three RBIs for the Bulldogs who host defending NCIC-Reagan champs, La Salle-Peru on Tuesday.

 

Lincoln-Way East’s 6-foot-2 junior Matt Von Albade fired a no-hitter as the Griffins crushed Thornwood 17-1 in five innings. Albade struck out 12 and senior Matt Hartmann led the Griffin offense with a pair of RBIs in the Southwest Suburban crossover on Friday.

 

Aurora Christian’s (4-1) Mitch Holtz struck out nine in 6 2/3 innings, leading the Eagles to a 5-2 nonconference win  over Westminster Christian in Elgin. Holtz (1-1) didn’t allow a  run until the seventh. Junior Brent Minta struck out the only batter he faced, with the tying runs on base to record the save for Holtz.

 

Bethalto Civic Memorial (9-1) defeated O’Fallon 7-5 in a nonconference game on Friday. Civic Memorial’s senior Devin Caldwell improved to 3-1 on the season, firing a complete game, allowing three earned runs and striking out five. Senior shortstop Jesse Able and senior DH Ryan Cherry led the Eagle attack. Able had a huge two-run triple and Cherry had two hits and an RBI.

 

Two-time defending Class 2A champion Stanford Olympia (7-2) was led by junior Chase Hainline on Friday. The ultra-quick outfielder went 4-for-4 with a triple and five RBIs as the Spartans crushed East Peoria 16-2 in a nonconference game on Friday.