By Drake Skleba

 

PLAINFIELD - Scott Vachon fired a four-hit shutout and junior right fielder Sean Renzi homered and drove in four runs as No. 11 Plainfield North cruised to a 6-0 Southwest Prairie Conference victory over Oswego on Wednesday.

 

With the win, Plainfield North (26-5; 17-3) clinched at least a share of the 2010 SPC title. A victory today at Oswego (19-12; 11-9) would give the Tigers the title outright, their second consecutive after winning the SPC with a perfect 21-0 mark ’09. Second-place Minooka (27-7; 16-4) defeated Plainfield East on Wednesday and will meet the Bengals in Plainfield on Thursday.

 

Vachon, a 6-foot-6 senior right-hander, took a no-hitter into the fifth and settled for a four-hit masterpiece. The St. Xavier University recruit struck out four and walked two as he improved to 7-0 on the campaign.

 

“I threw strikes today and my defense played very well,” said Vachon. “With two strikes,I just wanted to make contact and got the single in the first, and when it got by the right fielder we got a couple of runs which is always nice to have the lead. Sean is on fire for us and had quite a day. It’s always nice when the guy in front of you is hitting bombs.”

 

With one out in the bottom of the first, senior catcher Zac Pacanowski (2-for-3; HBP) and Renzi singled. Vachon followed with a single to right. When the Oswego right fielder misplayed the single, senior Mike McGreevy, who was running for Pacanowski, and Renzi raced home.

 

“Scott pitched a great game for us tonight,” said Pacanowski. “I had a pretty good day at the plate today. We want to win tomorrow and win the conference outright.”

 

In the Tiger second, Renzi struck again with a clutch two-out, two RBI single to double the Tigers lead to 4-0.

 

Vachon was sailing through the Panther lineup through the fourth. Renzi (3-for-4; HR, 4RBI) gave the Tigers a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth when, with McGreevy on for Pacanowski, hammered his eighth homer of the season.

 

“Scott pitched very well for us today. We gave him some run support and we played great defense,” said Renzi.  “Coach has been on me to keep my weight back and drive the ball. I have been doing that lately and hitting well. We want to win tomorrow and have the outright conference title. In the tournament if we can continue to play well, we can go a long way.”

 

Oswego senior RHP Parker Meek (4 IP 6R 5H.3ER 1K 2BB) falls to 4-5 on the season. Meek had a double in three trips against his counterpart Vachon. Meek’s battery mate junior catcher Ty Schwerin had two of the four Oswego hits.

 

“We ran into a tough pitcher in Vachon,” said Oswego head coach Chris Neitzel. “We would like come back tomorrow and win at home. I would like to get everyone healthy and then see what we can do in the Class 3A state tournament.”

 

On Wednesday, May 26, Plainfield North will open play in the Class 4A Plainfield North Regional against the winner of Monday’s battle between Hinsdale South and Plainfield Central.

 

“This was a good win for us to clinch a tie for the conference championship,” said Plainfield North head coach John Darlington. “Of course we want to come out tomorrow and play well and win the title outright.  … Scott Vachon pitched very well for us today. Scott has really pitched well for us all year. He was around the plate all day.”