By Drake Skleba

 

GENEVA - The third and final segment of the Battle of St. Charles went down to the final out, as No. 19 St.Charles North held off its cross-town rival from East, 3-2, at Elfstrom Stadium.

 

St. Charles East had the bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. East second baseman Johnny Erickson stepped to the plate against North starting pitcher Jared Shurtleff (7-0). Erickson had a pair of hits against the North Star ace and was hoping to send the large Fighting Saint crowd home to the East side of St.Charles happy.

 

Shurtleff bore down and induced the hard-hitting Erickson to loft a fly ball to North Star senior right fielder Chase Williams, who squeezed the ball and the North Stars had a huge series win.

 

St. Charles East (16-9, 10-6) won the opener of this crucial Upstate 8 Conference series on Tuesday, 10-7. St. Charles North (21-4, 13-3) came back Wednesday to win 13-7.

 

Shurtleff, who was diagnosed with mononucleosis on Monday, scattered seven hits and the two runs he allowed were unearned. Schurtleff struck out five in remaining unbeaten this season.

 

“I was diagnosed with mono on Monday,” said Shurtleff. “There wasn’t anyway I was going to miss my start against East. I battled tonight with a lot of off-speed stuff. I didn’t throw very hard but my defense was great behind me and this was a super win for us tonight.”

 

In a battle of team aces, the Saints sent their junior lefty Wes Benjamin (7-1) to the mound.

 

The North Stars jumped out in front in the third on a clutch two-out, RBI single by senior second baseman Mike Budka. Budka’s hit drove home shortstop Ryan Richardson. Richardson, a University of Nebraska recruit, had doubled to be in position to score.

 

“Back at North, I was working in batting practice on hitting pitches that break away,” said Budka. “Wes Benjamin’s pitches have a lot of movement away and I was able to get one and drive it right up the middle into center and get our first run in.”

 

East answered with a pair of unearned runs against Shurtleff in the bottom of the third. Senior third baseman Ryan O’Dell came through with a two-out RBI single to give the Saints the lead 2-1 after three.

 

North tied the game in the top of the fifth on a Saint miscue. Senior third baseman Kevin Borst made East pay for its mistake when he ripped a Benjamin pitch for a double, scoring Budka, who had reached on an error, for the game-winner.

 

“I went up to the plate looking for a fastball and was able to nail the first pitch for the game-winning double,” said Borst. “This was just such a great win and the atmosphere here tonight was really something. We have to practice tomorrow and get ready for our big doubleheader with Lake Park on Saturday.”

 

In the bottom of the seventh, the never-say-die Saints loaded the bases after two out. Junior pinch-hitter Wes Phelps singled. Senior T.J.Travis walked and senior Robert Wendt reached on a North Star error to set the stage for the Erickson-Shurtleff showdown.

 

“This was a huge win for us tonight,” said St. Charles North head coach Todd Genke. “I am so proud of the way Jared battled tonight. Mike Budka has been clutch for us all year. I am really happy for Kevin Borst tonight. I t doesn’t get any easier for us. On Saturday, we have to battle a very good Lake Park club in Roselle.”

 

The hard-luck loser Benjamin pitched a great game for East. The sensational junior allowed one earned run and six hits. Benjamin fanned seven.

 

“I pitched well tonight,” said Benjamin. “I hit my spots for the most part. I made a few mistakes that hurt us. I really wanted to give our seniors an outstanding performance tonight. We fell a little short.”

 

St.Charles East head coach Dave Haskins said, “If we can just make the routine play we can play with anyone. Wes pitched a great game tonight. I am proud of the way we battled to the very end. We just didn’t pick up the ball tonight.”

 

With the win, the North Stars increase their Upstate 8 lead to a game and a half over Waubonsie Valley (17-7, 11-4).