By Drake Skleba

 

NAPERVILLE - With all the hype of its rival Naperville Central has received for being the Prep Baseball Report’s preseason No. 1 team, Naperville North is here to remind people that there’s another high-quality team across town.

 

Led by solid pitching performances by seniors Kyle Klosak and Harrison Katz, No. 43 Naperville North opened its season with an impressive win by defeating No. 37 Willowbrook 8-3 on Monday.

 

Klosak (1-0), an Oakton CC recruit, fired five shutout innings for the Huskies as his teammates had given him a 5-0 cushion. Klosak tired in the sixth, allowing three runs and left with one out and a man on first. Enter Katz.

 

Katz threw a pair of harmless wild pitches and then proceeded to retire the two Willowbrook hitters he faced to preserve the lead.

 

“Coach (Carl Hunckler) told me to do my job and get the two outs,” said Katz. “I threw well and my defense did their job. We have a number of pitchers on this team who can really pitch. I believe we will be very good this year.”

 

Naperville North (1-0) added three unearned runs in the sixth to bust the game open. Katz retired Willowbrook in order, striking out the first two Warriors in the seventh, to record the opening-day save for Klosak.

 

“My defense did a great job for me tonight,” said Klosak.”I pitched well tonight but wish I could have finished the game. A great team win for us.”

 

Naperville North picked up a couple of unearned runs in the first. Willowbrook right-hander Steve Cox (0-1) deserved a better fate. Naperville North senior CF Charlie White (2-for-3, RBI) led off the inning with a single to center and went to second on an error by the Willowbrook centerfielder. With two outs, Huskies cleanup man senior Jack Krejci was hit by a Cox pitch.

 

With senior Andrew Arenson at the plate disaster struck Cox and the Warriors.

 

Cox threw strike three past Arenson but his catcher dropped the third strike and threw wildly to first, scoring both White and Krejci for a 2-0 North lead.

 

In the fourth, Naperville North received RBI singles from sophomore 3B Mariano Long, White and senior SS Alex Khoury to open up a 5-0 lead.

 

“We were really excited about tonight’s game,” said White. “We all played well tonight. I am happy with the way I hit the ball.”

 

Willowbrook (0-1) erupted for three runs in the sixth on an RBI double by senior Eric Maki and RBIs from CF Mike Elgeness and 2B Brad Collins.

 

Willowbrook’s SIU-bound RF/RHP Brian Monette was on base three times with a pair of singles and a walk.

 

“We played poorly on defense tonight,” said Willowbrook head coach Steve Gilliam.” Steve (Cox) and Brian (Monette) pitched well and we battled back with the bats. We just have to play better defense.”

 

Naperville North senior 2B Idris Hanidu added a single in three trips and had a pair of stolen bases. Hanidu ended the proceedings with a diving catch to end the game.

 

Naperville North senior LF Matt LaCosse made a great diving catch for a double play to thwart a Warrior rally in the third with the Huskies up 2-0.

 

“Overall we made mistakes tonight but we did what we had to do to win,” said

Naperville North head coach Carl Hunckler. “Kyle pitched well in spots for us and Harrison did  a great job for us in relief. We had some clutch hits tonight as well.”