By Sean Duncan

WEST CHICAGO - At 5-foot-9, 175 pounds, it?s easy to take Wheaton Academy junior right-hander Trevor Swaney lightly. He?s not exactly an imposing presence on the mound. Perhaps that?s what Aurora Christian did on Tuesday ? take Swaney lightly.

More likely, it was Swaney?s stuff ? his easy mid-80s two-seam fastball and sharp breaking ball ? that rendered Aurora Christian?s offense ineffective while leading Wheaton Academy to a 3-1 victory.

The two teams entered the game tied for first in the Suburban Christian Conference Gold Division. Thanks to Swaney?s efficient complete game, Wheaton Academy (15-6, 9-3) gained a split in the two-game series after Aurora Christian (17-5, 8-4) won 4-0 on Monday. Pitching in 37-40 degree weather (Editor?s Note: it felt like 25 degrees, tops, out there), Swaney allowed four hits, no earned runs, struck out seven and walked two to improve his record to 5-1.

?I felt pretty good in the bullpen,? said Swaney. ?I felt a little different than other times. I felt really good. ? This is big for us. I knew we had to win this game after they beat us yesterday.

?I?m thankful God blessed with me with a good arm, because he didn?t bless me with size.?

After issuing his only two walks in the first inning, Swaney settled down to retire the side in order three times, including the seventh against the heart of Aurora Christian?s offense. What was so impressive about Swaney?s performance was he started the game at 84-86 mph and finished the game there. His velocity ? or arm-side run on his fastball ? never changed. He also didn?t show his curveball until the second time through the order, and he got several critical strikeouts with it.

Swaney, who entered the game hitting around .480, also helped himself by going 2-for-3 with an RBI single in the first inning.

?He really stepped up today,? said Wheaton Academy first-year coach Brad Byrne. ?He?s got a great two-seam fastball and his curveball has developed into a strikeout pitch. He also has a very good changeup. Trevor keeps proving people wrong. ? This is a huge win for us. Aurora Christian has a great reputation.?

Junior catcher Alex McNally also tallied an RBI single in the second inning for Wheaton Academy, which took advantage of four Aurora Christian errors.

Aurora Christian junior right-hander Mitchell Holtz certainly pitched well enough to win. None of his runs were earned, and he yielded only three hits and struck out seven in the loss. The Eagles? best scoring opportunity came in the fourth, when they loaded the bases, but Wheaton Academy second baseman Drew Sandberg made a leaping snag to rob junior shortstop Josh Haugen.