By Drake Skleba

 

BURBANK - No. 17 St. Laurence scored six times in the fourth inning and went on to defeat No. 42 Lincoln-Way East 9-6 on Wednesday. The Vikings’ six-run onslaught wiped out a 4-1 Lincoln-Way East lead, as the Chicago Catholic League White Division favorites spoiled the Griffins’ season-opener.

 

Lincoln-Way East (0-1) scored a pair of unearned runs in the top of the second to erase an early 1-0 St. Laurence lead. In the third, Griffin senior SS Charlie Hern (2-for-3, 2B, HR, 2 RBI) hammered an opposite-field two-run bomb to right to give the Griffins a 4-1 lead.

 

“We battled all night,” said Hern, “I like to hit with power to right. I hit the ball well tonight I think we will be very good this season. We have a solid young team.”

 

Meanwhile, Griffin starting pitcher, senior Alex Stewart (3IP, 1R, 1H, 1ER, 2K, 1BB) was in control through three innings.

 

“Being our first game of the season, I had told Alex that no matter what the score was he was only going to throw three innings,” said Lincoln-Way East head coach Paul Babcock.  “Alex pitched well for us in his first start.”

 

St. Laurence proceeded to unload on the Lincoln-Way East bulllpen.

 

St. Laurence (2-0) received RBI doubles from senior 1B Tom Keating (2-for-2, 2B, RBI) and junior C Charlie Naso (1-for3, 2B, RBI) to close within 4-3. Junior DH/3B Bryan Villanova (1-for-1, 2BB), who had walked, scored on a wild pitch to tie the game. Naso, scored on a groundout to give the Vikings a 5-4 lead. Viking leadoff man senior Jim Topps, drove a two-run double to conclude the Viking scoring.

 

“I am seeing the ball very well to start the season,” said Keating.  “I got a fastball right down the middle and hit the ball to right-center for the RBI double. We are used to coming from behind. We had numerous come-from-behind wins last year.”

 

Lincoln-Way East closed to 7-6 against St. Laurence senior RHP Mike Chimera, who relieved Viking starter, senior Scott Koziol (3.2 IP, 4R, 2H, 2ER, 7K, 7 BB) in the fourth.

 

L-W East’s Hern doubled to lead off the sixth. Junior  3B Alec Ornelas hit to the right side and moved Hern to third. Chimera (1-0) struck out Stewart and then retired Griffin 2B Bryan Contey on a liner to short.

 

“I love being in pressure situations,” said Chimera. “I bore down and kept the tying run at third.”

 

St. Laurence No. 9 hitter, LF Josh Johnson, hit a two-run single to extend the lead to 9-6 in the sixth.

 

Chimera (1-0) pitched 3 1/3 innings and allowed only one earned run to pick up the win.

 

“This was a big win, especially the way we did it,” said St. Laurence head coach Pete Lotus. “We had some clutch hits in the six-run fourth. Everyone contributed to this victory. Mike Chimera did a solid job in relief for us. I am really happy for our starter Scott Koziol. He throws hard and struggled with his control but pitched well overall.”

 

Babcock was optimistic after the tough season-opening loss.

 

“Baseball is a game of making plays and you will be rewarded for making them,” said Babcock. “We were a play or two from winning this game. I am really happy with the way we battled tonight. I think we’re going to be alright.”