By Drake Skleba

 

WHEATON - In an early-season DuPage Valley Conference showdown on Monday, No. 3 Naperville Central (13-1; 4-0) and Wheaton Warrenville South (10-6; 3-1) were in a battle through five innings.

 

The Redhawks clung to 3-2 lead as the game entered the top half of the sixth. As has happened often this spring, the Redhawk offense exploded. After the dust had settled, Naperville Central had plated six runs and rolled to a 9-2 win.

 

Both starting pitchers, junior lefty Dan Ludwig (3-0) of Naperville Central and senior lefty Eric Richter (1-2) of Wheaton Warrenville South, pitched well. Ludwig fired a complete-game six-hitter, allowing two runs and striking out seven. Richter, who deserved a much better fate, allowed all nine runs, six of which were earned, and struck out six in his 5 2/3 innings of work.

 

“I pitched well but my defense was really great, especially Matt Soria,” said Ludwig. “Ryan’s (Walsh) two-run double in the second inning was big for us. This was a big win for us and we are all looking forward to playing at Benedictine University tomorrow night.”

 

Naperville Central jumped out on top in the second on a clutch two-out, two-run double by senior catcher Ryan Walsh (2-for-3; 2B; 2RBI). Richter, who had been victimized by a Tiger miscue, loaded the bases in the inning with no outs. The crafty lefty induced a 1-2-3 double play to appear to get out of the inning unscathed. But then Walsh’s dagger gave the ‘Hawks a 2-0 lead.

 

“I saw the ball well today,” said Walsh. “I hit a pair of fastballs today on my hits. Luddy (Dan Ludwig) really pitched well for us today. His curveball was unbelievable. When he has all his pitches working he is unhittable.”

 

Wheaton Warrenville South battled back to tie things up at 2, scoring single tallies in the third and fourth innings, against Ludwig. In the third inning, senior left fielder Neal Johnson had an RBI single to get the Tigers on the board.

 

In the fourth inning, senior first baseman Mike Heaton singled home senior second baseman Joey Tedeschi (2-for-3; 2B), who had tripled to get the Tigers even at 2 after four innings.

 

In the fifth, the Redhawks took a lead 3-2 when senior third baseman Marc Mantucca (3-for-3; HR, 2 RBI, BB) ripped a single to right. When the Tiger right fielder bobbled the ball, Kansas State-bound senior first baseman Shane Conlon (2-for-4; RBI; 2R), who had singled, raced home with the lead run.

 

Naperville Central put the game away in the sixth. Senior second baseman Matt Soria drove in the first run of the outburst on a single up the middle, just out of the reach of the Tiger defenders, to give the Redhawks a 4-2 lead. Soria had a pair of hits and had a stellar day defensively at second.

 

“On the big hit in the sixth, Richter kept giving me breaking balls,” said Soria. “I was able to drive one right up the middle and get home a big run for us.”

 

Conlon struck again with an RBI single that bad-hopped past the Tiger first baseman, followed by a booming two-run triple from senior centerfielder Matt Cmiel. Mantucca then launched his second homer of the season, scoring Cmiel ahead of him to conclude the scoring.

 

“This was a tight ball game for us for a while,” said Mantucca. “Richter was tough. I had a pretty good day at the plate today. I concentrated on taking the ball to the opposite field. It’s just satisfying to know that we have people that can produce offensively for us throughout our lineup.”

 

As stated, the two DVC powers will meet Tuesday night at Benedictine University in Lisle, under the lights at 7:30. Naperville Central’s Conlon will match up with Wheaton Warrenville South’s junior Jason Schuman.

 

“Well, another good day for the Redhawks. I have been saying that a lot this season,” said Naperville Central head coach Bill Seiple.  “We are really playing good baseball. Luddy battled today on the mound for us. Ryan Walsh got us started with the big two-run double and Matt Soria, who has been struggling lately, had a big hit for us in the sixth.”

 

The two clubs will conclude their series back here in Wheaton on Wednesday at 4:30.

 

“We battled with Central for four innings, but you can’t afford to make the mistakes we made tonight  against them,” said Wheaton Warrenville South head coach Tim Brylka. “Eric Richter pitched well but we made too many errors. Eric deserved a better fate.”