Tuesday, April 27 Roundup

By Drake Skleba

 

In the North Suburban Lake, No.2 Stevenson (18-1; 6-1) and No.8 Warren (18-3; 4-1) won their openers in their crucial series with No. 12 Mundelein (16-4; 5-3) and Libertyville (11-7; 5-2).

 

Stevenson won a thrilling 5-4 victory, in eight innings, over Mundelein in Lincolnshire on Tuesday. Junior left-hander Blake Fiedelman (3-0) blanked the Mustangs over the last 2 2/3 innings and picked up the win when senior CF Cory Lasky singled home the game-winner in the bottom of the eighth.

 

Warren defeated Libertyville 6-2 behind a complete game from senior LHP Zach Schneider. Schneider allowed two runs and struck out 6 in improving to 6-1 on the mound. Libertyville’s sophomore right-hander Dar Townsend (3-2) was the hard-luck loser as the Wildcat defense committed five errors in the game.

 

Stevenson will travel to Mundelein today and Warren will travel to Libertyville. The PBR’s Drake Skleba will be in Libertyville for all the action in the crucial Lake Division clash.

 

 In the North Suburban Prairie, Antioch’s senior Andy Greene sent the Sequoit fans into a frenzy when he ended the proceedings with a game-winning blast to defeat defending Prairie Division champs Lakes 2-1. Antioch and Lakes are rivals, so Greene’s’ blast was extra special for the fans in Antioch on Tuesday. Antioch (7-9; 4-2) received a complete-game performance from senior Chris Terzic (3-4). The two clubs will travel to Lakes (12-9; 3-2) in Lake Villa for the rematch on Wednesday.

 

In the Big 12, Bloomington (13-7; 5-0) defeated Decatur MacArthur 10-0 in five innings. Heartland Community College-bound RHP Dylan Johnson fired a two-hit shutout at the Generals, striking out 10.With the gem Johnson improves to 2-3 on the season. Senior SS Derek Floyd led the Purple Raider attack with 3 RBIs. Bloomington sits atop the Big 12 standings with a ½ game lead over idle No.18 Normal West (14-5; 4-0)

 

In the Catholic League, No. 7 St. Rita (19-3; 8-1 Blue) defeated De La Salle at U.S. Cellular Field 3-1 behind NIU-bound senior Anthony Andres (6-0). Andres fired a complete game three-hitter, striking out 8, and drove in a run for the Mustangs, who pulled within a game of idle Providence (16-5; 8-0 Blue). Junior Joe Filomeno and sophomore Stefano Belmonte also drove home runs for the Mustangs. De La Salle (13-5; 6-2 White) falls two and half games back of No.3 St. Laurence (21-1; 9-0 White).

 

No. 2 St. Laurence (21-1; 9-0 White) blew past Marist 10-0 in five innings in a nonconference game in Burbank on Tuesday. Porsche Player of the Week LHP Kyle Wood improved to 5-0 on the mound with a five-inning shutout. Junior catcher Charlie Naso had three hits and drove in a pair for the Vikings. The red-hot NIU-bound Tom Keating was 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles, a triple and four RBIs for the Class 4A contenders from Burbank. 

 

In the West Suburban Gold, No.7 Downers Grove South (17-5; 8-1) swept past Leyden 8-3. Miami of Ohio-bound SS Danny Walsh and junior Kyle Engle led the assault on Leyden. Junior John Dillon fired a complete game with six strikeouts for the Mustangs…Willowbrook (14-7; 6-3) swept away Hinsdale South 8-3 behind senior Erik Maki, who had a perfect 4-for-4 day with four RBIs.

 

In the Central State 8, No.7 Chatham Glenwood (13-2; 7-0) defeated Jacksonville 2-0 behind a five-hit shutout from senior RHP Bryce Sablotny. Sablotny struck out three and improved to 4-0 for the Titans. Battery mate, EIU-bound catcher Jacob Reese, had two hits to lead the Titan offense.

 

In a battle between the top two teams in the Central Suburban South, Maine South (12-5; 6-0) defeated Evanston 5-4 in Park Ridge. University-of Illinois-bound RHP Ronnie Muck improved to 7-1 on the mound and had a 3-for-3 day at the plate to lead the Hawks past Evanston (12-7;5-1).The two teams meet  Thursday,  the PBR’s Drake Skleba will be there  for all the action in Evanston.

 

New Trier (10-8; 3-3 CSL South) won its fifth straight behind senior RHP Connor Murphy (3-0). Murphy went the distance for the Trevians and sophomore Josh Perlmutter had a pair of hits, including a home run and drove in three runs for the surging Trevians.

 

Glenbrook South (12-6;4-2) rolled past Waukegan 6-2 as senior 3B Pat Guinane hit a two-run homer to make a winner of 6-foot-3 sophomore Josiah Carlson.

 

On Monday night, Ottawa Marquette (17-6) defeated the two-time defending Class 2A champs from Stanford Olympia 1-0. Ottawa Marquette’s 6-foot-5, 235-pound RHP junior Joe Ceja outdueled Olympia’s Heartland Community College-bound RHP Clint Stroud in a classic pitchers duel. The Louisville recruit fired a three-hit shutout at the Spartans, striking out two to improve to 5-0 on the season. Crusader Tanner Barra coaxed a bases-loaded walk out of Stroud (5-1) in the fifth inning for the Crusader game-winner.

 

In the Cornbelt, Joshua struck down the defending Class 2A champions from Stanford Olympia on Tuesday. Mahomet-Seymour (15-6; 7-0) seniors Joshua Raymond and Joshua Menecher to be precise. Raymond hammered a three-run homer and Menacher hit a solo shot as the Bulldogs defeated the Olympia 5-3. Stanford Olympia falls to 16-7; 4-3 in the Cornbelt.

 

Marian Central Catholic senior LHP Dave Luczak (3-1) pitched and hit the Hurricanes past No. 19 Rockford Boylan, 11-6, in a nonconference game on Tuesday. Luczak hammered a three-run homer to help his own cause. MCC improves to 13-5 and Boylan falls to 12-4.

 

In the West Suburban Silver, giant-killer Hinsdale Central (7-9; 4-5) struck again. This time WSC Silver leader Lyons Township (15-6; 9-3) fell to the Red Devils as junior Jacques Camalick hit a two-run homer, his sixth of the season, and Red Devil ace Will Pahos improved to 4-1 on the mound with the victory…Downers Grove North (12-7;7-4) defeated York 2-1 on another game-winning homer for the Trojans Notre-Dame-bound senior SS Eric Jagielo. ISU-bound LHP Joe Claver picked up the win and improves to 4-1 on the season. York falls to 9-9 and 4-4 in the WSC Silver…Glenbard West shocked Oak Park 3-2. Glenbard West is 8-10; 3-3 in the WSC Silver. Oak Park is 5-4 in the Silver.

 

In the South Suburban Red, Shepard (12-7, 10-1) and Richards (17-7, 9-1) kept pace with victories on Tuesday. Shepard defeated Reavis 11-3 behind a four-RBI day from Justin Smykowski…Richards defeated cross-town rival Oak Lawn 9-5 behind the big bat of senior Benjamin Dafgard, who broke up a 4-4 tie with a two-run shot, his ninth of the season, to lead the Bulldogs to victory.

 

In the South Suburban Blue, Lemont (12-7; 8-2) romped past TF South 12-2 behind junior left-handed hitting SS Kevin Goergen. Goergen had two hits and drove in four runs for the Indians. Junior RHP Jeremy Santiago fired a complete game five-hitter… Bremen stunned Oak Forest 9-4 on Tuesday, causing the defending Blue Division co-champs Lemont and Oak Forest (13-4; 10-2) to be all even in the loss column at the familiar top of the SSC.

 

In the Du Page Valley, No.4 Naperville Central (17-2; 8-0) blanked Glenbard East 10-0 behind a six-inning shutout by University of Illinois-Springfield –bound RHP Marc Mantucca (4-0). Mantucca allowed three hits and struck out 8. Illinois Wesleyan-bound RF Bobby Czarnowski drove home three Redhawk runs and Kansas State-bound 1B Shane Conlon chipped in with three hits.

 

No. 13 Naperville North (17-2; 7-1) kept pace with Central with a 9-6 win at Wheaton Warrenville South.Huskie 6-foot-6 senior 1B Andrew Arenson led the North attack with two hits and four RBI. 6-foot-6 RHP Matt La Cosse picked up his fourth win without a defeat on the mound. Maryland-bound Charlie White slammed the door on the Tigers in the last two innings to notch the save.

 

Wheaton North (17-3, 7-1) continues to amaze and stay in the DVC race with a 16-2 romp over West Aurora. Senior Mike Coduto was the star of the Falcons romp over the Blackhawks. Coduto fired a five-inning complete game to improve to 4-0 on the mound. The left-handed hitting Falcon was 4-for-4 at the plate. Hard-hitting 6-foor-4 junior Jeff Schalk hammered a homer and drove in three for the Falcons. Wheaton North has lost to Glenbard North in the DVC and to No.7 Downers Grove South and York in nonconference play this spring.

 

In the Fox Valley, Huntley (16-4; 10-3 Valley) rolled past Woodstock 11-1 in six innings. Senior Chris Klein (4-1), freshman Bryce Only and senior Phil Pupillo all homered for the Red Raiders. Klein fired a complete game two-hitter striking out seven Streak hitters…Cary-Grove (13-9; 9-4 Valley) routed Woodstock North 12-1 in five innings behind a complete game performance from junior RHP Kevin Weber (4-0). Senior Matt Kownick drove in three for the Trojans…

 

In the Fox Valley Fox, Prairie Ridge (13-6; 8-2) defeated McHenry 9-1 and opened up a one game lead on Grayslake Central (13-5; 7-3), who was off. The defeat knocks McHenry (13-4; 9-3 Valley) into second place behind Huntley in the Valley.

 

In the Big Northern East, Harvard’s senior RHP Chase Blazier struck out 10 and improved to 5-1 on the mound as the Hornets romped past Richmond-Burton 9-0. Blazier  scattered six hits and received all the offensive help he would need from senior SS Colin Carpenter, who hit a pair of homers and drove home three for the 15-5; 3-2 BNE Hornets.

 

In the Western Sun, Geneva defeated Rochelle 2-0 behind a one-hitter by Oakton Community College-bound RHP Riley Perry. Perry improved to 6-0 on the season.