By Drake Skleba

ORLAND PARK ? The first week of May has arrived and under the long and storied tutelage of Sandburg head baseball coach Doug Sutor, May is the time the Eagles begin to soar. Thursday was no exception. When in a crucial Southwest Suburban Conference Blue Division showdown with second place Lincoln-Way East, the Eagles struck for seven first-inning runs, erasing a 1-0 Griffin lead, and crushed their guests from Frankfort 17-5 in six innings.

With the win, Sandburg (12-5; 6-1) opens up a two-game lead in the loss column over Lincoln-Way East (16-6; 6-3) and Lockport (12-9; 5-3), which was stunned 13-8 by Lincoln-Way Central on Thursday.

Sandburg hit the Griffins with a big seven-run first inning. Back-to-back RBI doubles by Eagle junior 2B Zach Reks (3-for-4, 2 2B. 2RBI) and EIU-bound SS Brant Valach (2-for-3, 2 2B, 2RBI) plated the first two Eagle runs. RBI singles by senior 1B Nick Carney (2-for-3, SF, 3RBI) and junior 3B Dan Rizzie (2-for-4, RBI) followed.

?We really came out and hit the ball today, said Reks. ?I am very happy with my performance and hope to continue hitting the ball well.? 

Starting and winning pitcher senior Nick Bates (3-for-5, 3RBI) drove in the sixth and seventh runs of the inning when he ripped a two-run double.

?We hit the ball well today,? said Bates. ?We struggled early in the season but I think our bats are coming around with the warmer weather. I didn?t have my best stuff on the mound but battled through it. Felt real good at the plate today and had a good day.?

The Eagles tacked on three runs in the fourth inning. The inning was highlighted

by another RBI double by Reks and ribbies from Valach and Carney.

?We played a really good game today,? said Carney. ?I?m happy with my performance today. It was great to drive in the three runs and help my team win.?

Lincoln-Way East picked up three runs against Bates in the top of the fifth. Griffin seniors 3B Alec Ornelas (1-for-3, 2RBI) and LF Matt Rosenberger drove home the Griffin runs.

Sandburg answered with a three spot in the fifth to take a 13-4 lead into the sixth. Eagle No. 9 hitter senior DH Bill Cronin hit his first home run of the season.

?This was a big win against Lincoln-Way East,? said Valach. ?There?s a big rivalry between the schools in all sports. It?s nice to get a win over them.?

The Griffins closed to 13-5 on an RBI double by leadoff-man CF Chris Scott (1-for-3, 2B, RBI).

Eagle senior C Mike Malfeo (1-for-3, 2 BB, HR, 3RBI) sent everyone home in the bottom of the sixth when he launched his fourth dinger of the year with a pair of Eagles aboard to mercifully end this one 17-5.

?I had a bad day at the plate,? said Malfeo. ?I didn?t have many good swings except on the last one.?

Lincoln-Way East?s junior 2B Bobby Kosola chipped in with a pair of hits, including a double for the Griffins.

?I really like where we are at right now,? said Sutor. ?We are really starting to play the way we are capable of. Early in the season we tried a lot of different things. You must break an egg to make an omelet.?