Thursday May 20

 

By Drake Skleba

 

O’Fallon (21-12; 12-2) won the Southwestern Conference championship on Thursday, squeaking past Alton 3-2 in eight innings. Panther senior RHP Alex Young (6-1) picked up the win with three shutout innings in relief.

 

No. 2 Naperville Central (29-4; 20-1) wrapped up its DVC championship season with a 4-1 win over Glenbard North. Kansas State-bound senior LHP Shane Conlon (8-0) fired a four-hitter, with 11 strikeouts at the Panthers, as the Redhawks won their 20^th DVC victory.

 

No. 5 St. Charles North (30-4; 22-3) won in dramatic fashion on Thursday. North Star senior shortstop Ryan Richardson blasted a game-winning three-run bomb turning around a 4-2 South Elgin lead into a 5-4 thrilling North Star victory. The University of Nebraska-bound Richardson made a winner of junior Ryan Jones (2-1), who had relieved senior RHP Jared Shurtleff. The win was the 11^th straight for the North Stars and tied a school record for victories in a season.

 

In the Fox Valley Valley: Two-time defending Valley champion Cary-Grove (21-11;16-6) moved a step closer to a third consecutive title as the Trojans, behind junior RHP Kevin Weber (8-0), defeated Crystal Lake South 4-1. Weber fired a four-hitter and struck out 11 Gator hitters en route to his eighth victory without a defeat. Weber had two hits and two RBI to help himself. Trojan senior LF Eric Chandler, had a perfect 3-for-3 with an RBI…Huntley (22-9; 16-7) kept pace with a 6-1 win over Dundee-Crown (11-21; 8-14).

 

Jacobs (18-13; 12-10) defeated McHenry 6-5 in nine thrilling innings on Thursday, sending the Warriors to their fourth straight defeat. Jacobs’ Danny Paitel fired five scoreless innings in relief, to pick up the win for the Golden Eagles. Paitel allowed but two hits and fanned eight in his superb performance.

 

Golden Eagle senior Ben Albano continued his assault on the baseball with a 4-for-5 day at the plate. Albano had a pair of RBI in the contest, No. 61 and 62 of the season. The 4-for-5 day improves his batting average to a robust .533. Albano has hit 15 homers in 2010.

 

In the Fox Valley Fox: Grayslake Central (25-7; 19-5) clinched a tie for the Valley crown with a 10-0 five-inning victory over Grayslake North. Ram senior Mitch Tielke fired a two-hit shutout…Prairie Ridge (22-10; 17-5) kept pace with a 10-5 win over Johnsburg in eight innings. Grayslake Central has concluded Fox Valley Conference play. Prairie Ridge must sweep Woodstock North (7-24; 0-22) today and tomorrow to grab a share of the Fox Division Championship, with Grayslake Central.

 

In the final day of Southwestern Conference Blue action, Homewood-Flossmoor’s senior Aaron Hauge couldn’t defeat No.18 Lincoln-Way Central with his outstanding left arm on Tuesday. So on Thursday, the Heartland Community College recruit singled home the game-winner in the top of the 10^th to defeat Lincoln-Way Central 4-3 and create a three-way tri-championship in the SSC-Blue.

 

Defending champion Sandburg (24-9; 9-3) will join Lincoln-Way Central (21-9; 9-3) and Lockport (21-12 9-3) as tri-champs. … Lockport grabbed their piece of the title, with a 13-3 demolition of Lincoln-Way East. Porter seniors, 3B Jory Koehler had three hits and five RBI and Josh Johnson chipped in with a homer and drove in four Porter runs in the championship-clinching victory.

 

In the South Suburban Blue, defending champ Oak Forest (20-7; 16-2) won the title again, with a 7-1 win over TF South. Bengal RHP Joe Mroczek (4-0) fired a four-hitter and drove in a pair of runs as the Bengals won the championship for first-year Bengal head coach Thaddeus Gatton.

 

Downers Grove North (19-13) defeated Morton 5-0 behind their Notre Dame-bound shortstop Eric Jagielo.The future Fighting Irish shortstop had three hits  ,including two homers and drove in two Trojan runs. Trojan senior Nick Goergen fired a one-hit shutout at the Mustangs.