By Drake Skleba

 

DOWNERS GROVE- No. 4 Downers Grove South opened up defense of its 2009 West Suburban Gold Division championship in style on Saturday. The high-flyin’ Mustangs swept past one of their main challengers, Willowbrook, 15-3 and 10-4 to move atop the early WSC Gold standings.

 

In Game One, tied after five innings at 3, the Mustangs exploded for 12 runs in the bottom of the sixth and 10-run ruled the Warriors 15-3. Mustang junior centerfielder Jacob Wolf launched his second homer a three-run bomb to put an end to the proceedings. The home runs were No.3 & No.4 for the hard-hitting junior.

 

“I have really been hitting the ball well this season,” said Wolf.  “I hit a homer yesterday against Hinsdale Central. I have been crushing the ball lately, wherever it has been pitched. This was a great win.”

 

In Game Two, Parkland College-recruit senior right-handed pitcher Jake Rone (5-0) scattered seven hits and fired a complete-game victory for the Mustangs (11-2; 2-0). Rone allowed four runs and struck out three.

 

Downers Grove South 15 Willowbrook 3 (6 innings)

A pair of Division I-bound pitchers matched up in the opener of this crucial WSC Gold twin-bill. Louisville-bound junior right-hander Nick Burdi of DGS matched up with SIU-bound right-hander Brian Monette of Willowbrook.

 

Willowbrook (7-4; 3-2) junior catcher Danny Fahlgren (2-for-3, 2B, RBI) hammered a clutch two-out RBI double, scoring senior DH Steve Cox, who had singled, to put the Warriors on top 1-0 in the top of the second.

 

DGS junior leftfielder Kevin Strelak (2-for-3, 2 RBI) laced an RBI single to knot the game at 1 after four innings. In the top of the fifth, the Warriors received a pair of clutch two-out RBI singles, by St.Joseph’s–bound Brett Buchanan and Monette to pull ahead 3-1.

 

In the bottom of the fifth, Wolf with Miami of Ohio-recruit shortstop Dan Walsh on first having walked, hit a moon-shot over the centerfield fence, for a two-run homer tying things up again at.3.

 

Burdi (5 IP 3R 7H 3 ER 6 K 1BB) was relieved to start the top of sixth by junior John Dillon (2-0).

 

“We needed the two wins to get conference going,” said Burdi. “We knew Willowbrook wanted to beat us. They really hit me well today. My curveball was really good. I made some mistakes with my fastball. It would be great to go to Willowbrook and sweep Tuesday.”

 

Willowbrook senior third baseman Jose Castro greeted Dillon with a double. With one out senior centerfielder Mike Elgeness walked and with two outs, junior leftfielder Tyler Adams hit a laser which looked ticketed for the left field corner and two Warrior runs. Mustang third baseman junior Matt Wivinis, with cat-like quickness, snared the laser and tagged third for the force to end the inning.

 

“I knew I had to make that play to keep us in the game,” said Wivinis.

 

“In a blowout win the play that Matt made in the sixth could get lost,” said Downers Grove South head coach Darren Orel. “Matt’s play gave us the momentum to do what we accomplished in the bottom of the sixth.”

 

What the Mustangs did was score 12 runs on nine hits and three huge Warrior errors. In fact, because of the first miscue with one out to start the inning, all 12 DGS runs in the inning were unearned against Willowbrook relievers Buchanan (1-1) and junior Matt Tiberi.

 

Monette pitched a fine game for Willowbrook, allowing two earned runs and allowing five hits in his five-inning performance.

 

“Today’s kids like to swing the bat but don’t want to work with the glove,” said Willowbrok head coach Steve Gilliam. “We must improve defensively. Our poor defense has been our Achilles-heal for us all season. We can’t outslug every team we play.”

 

Downers Grove South junior DH Kyle Engle had a 3-for-4 day with a pair of RBIs for the ‘Stangs. Senior first baseman Pat Korienek and Rone each had 2-for-4 with a double and a RBI.

 

“We played well as a team and really hit the ball,” said Engle.” I hit the ball really hard every time up. Nick pitched well for us and it was a big win.”

 

Downers Grove South 10, Willowbrook 4

In game two, Downers Grove South scored  four unearned runs off of hard-luck loser senior Steve Cox (2-2)  in the first two innings and were given a quick 4-0 lead.

 

Wivinis (2-for-3, RBI, HBP) two-out RBI single in the first inning, gave the Mustangs a 1-0 lead. In the second inning with two outs, Mustang junior Max Vykouk singled and junior Nick Radenkovich walked. Engle hit a groundball that was misplayed and led to Vykouk, Radenkovich and Engle all scoring on three warrior miscues.

 

“I just hit the ball and kept running all around the bases,” said Engle.

 

It was just that kind of day for the Warriors.

 

In the fourth the Warriors battled back and scored three times to close to 4-3. Cox had an RBI double, Rone balked home a run and Fahlgren singled home the final tally of the inning. Fahlgren had a huge day for the Warriors, going 3-for-6 with a pair of RBIs.

 

DGS answered with a three spot. Engle doubled home a run and Walsh (2-for-4, RBI) singled home another.

 

“In the first game Willowbrook really came after us,” said Walsh.  “We matched their intensity and came away with a big win.”

 

Wolf added an RBI single in the fifth for his sixth RBI of the day. In the sixth, DGS added a pair of runs, highlighted by junior John Holakovsky, who had an RBI pinch hit single.

 

Willowbrook’s Buchanan hammered a solo shot in the top of the seventh to conclude the scoring.

 

“This was a big doubleheader sweep for us today,” said Orel. “Willlowbrook can really hit the baseball. Nick and Jake did a fine job for us on the mound. We are really scoring a lot of runs and playing quality baseball. I am happy with our 11-2 start but I really don’t concentrate on our record. I just want to improve every game.”