By Sean Duncan

CHICAGO - St. Laurence coach Pete Lotus isn?t hesitant to insert a freshman into his lineup. Last year, he made Kevin Smith his starting shortstop all season despite not having any high school experience. This year, Lotus has enlisted the services of freshman Mike Kornacker all over the infield and on the mound.

So far this spring, Kornacker has more than validated his Lotus? move. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound freshman is one of the Vikings? most productive hitters and has been impressive on the mound, too. Kornacker delivered again on Thursday, as he helped lead No. 12 St. Laurence to a 12-3 Chicago Catholic League crossover victory at No. 22 De La Salle.

Kornacker went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI. He also pitched two hitless innings of relief behind an 80-82 mph fastball and an advanced changeup, a pitch he used to strike out two of his three punchouts.

?With all the great hitters in front of me, I get to see a lot of fastballs,? said Kornacker. ?I?ve been playing up my whole life, so I?m kind of used to it. I?m just trying to hold my own with the older guys.?

Lotus said Kornacker is hitting close to .500 for the Vikings, who improved to 12-2, 3-0 in the Catholic League.

?He?s been great for us all year,? said Lotus. ?He?s been unfazed through it all. He?s been a really nice addition for us. He?s fit in well with the guys and never once has he had an at-bat where I thought he was overmatched.?

Kornacker was far from the only standout Thursday. The Vikings pounded out 15 hits against De La Salle (9-3, 2-2), which has lost three out of its last four games. Senior third baseman Mike Chimera hammered two opposite-field home runs to left field and finished with four RBI. Purdue-bound Kyle Wood started the Vikings off in the first with a taper-shot blast to right field, his third of the year, and walked twice, once with the bases loaded.

Senior center fielder Steve Fiorella went 3-for-4 with three RBI, sophomore shortstop Kevin Smith had two hits and scored two runs, and junior first baseman Brandon Mallder drove in two runs.

Junior left-hander Nick Altobella (4-0) was the beneficiary of St. Laurence?s offensive onslaught. After allowing three runs on four hits in the first inning, Altobella settled down and yielded only one more hit the next three innings. In all, he struck out two and walked three in four innings.

?We swung the bats really well today,? said Chimera. ?If we continue to swing it like this, we?ll be a tough team to beat.?

On a ridiculously windy and cold day, De La Salle was the one who came out swinging, pushing three runs across on three consecutive run-scoring hits, including a double by senior catcher Mark Munizzi.

St. Laurence trimmed the deficit to 3-2 in the second before Chimera gave the Vikings the lead for good with a two-run homer in the third inning. The Vikings added four more in the fourth behind five hits, and the rout was on.

What made the Vikings? offense that much more impressive was it did it against a good pitcher, 6-foot-3 junior right-hander Anthony Shimkus (2-1). Shimkus showed an effortless 82-84 mph fastball, along with a solid breaking ball, and filled up the strike zone. Shimkus struck out five and walked three.

?[Shimkus] is a very good pitcher,? said Lotus. ?Our hitters had great approaches today.?

?What can you say, that?s a high-powered offense,? said De La Salle coach Nick Bridich. ?We?re playing the best competition we?ve seen, and we?re learning how to deal with it.?