Crystal Lake South upends No. 9 Huntley

April 26, 2013

By Drake Skleba
Senior Writer

CRYSTAL LAKE - In a battle for the top-spot in the ultra-tough Valley Division of the Fox Valley Conference, Crystal Lake South rallied past No. 9 Huntley, 3-2, in a thriller in Thursday.

With the Gators (11-1; 8-1) trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth, senior centerfielder Jake Bigos ripped a clutch game-tying two-out RBI double, scoring leadoffman Troy Bittenbender, who had walked. Senior first baseman Max Meitzler performed another example of the Gators two-out magic when he ripped a two-out RBI single, scoring Bigos with the eventual game-winner. For Meitzler it was his team-leading 18th RBI of the season to go with his team leading .541 batting average.

“Big win for us, especially against Huntley. They are always a good team,” said Meitzler. “Tyler Hall pitched great for us. His curveball was really working tonight. Defensively, I thought we played well. On the game-winner, I shortened up a little and fortunately it fell in.”

A great pitchers’ battle took place between South ace right-hander Tyler Hall and University of Nebraska-bound Bryce Only. Huntley (14-2, 7-2) got on the board first on a bomb from junior shortstop Matt Sullivan, which rocketed off the top of the scoreboard beyond the leftfield fence. Sullivan would add a double to his productive day at the plate.

The Red Raiders picked up an unearned run against Hall in the third to open up a 2-0 lead after three innings. In the bottom of the fourth, the Huntley defense was in a giving mood, making three errors that led to the first Gator run.

In the bottom of the fifth after one out Bittenbender walked. Only (3-2) retired the next Gator hitter for the second out of the inning before the Bigos-Meitzler “two-out magic” show would commence.

“It was a huge conference e win for us being that the conference is so strong,” said Bigos. “I was going up there trying to stay ahead in the count. My first double, I hit a first pitch fastball and the game-tying double, I got a really good swing on it.”

Hall (5-1) finished the game by retiring the final six Red Raider hitters he faced, finishing with a five-hitter. The crafty righty picked off not one but two Red Raider base runners, to help himself out.

“I went into this game trying not to get too psyched-out against the great hitters Huntley has,” said Hall. “Sullivan put one off the top of the scoreboard on me but that was my only real mistake today. I pitched well and beat the best offensive team in our conference. It’s nice to be on top and we have a quality team here at South.”

Only helped himself out with two hits while University of Illinois-recruit Mike Skonieczny added a double for Huntley.

“Huntley and Only did a nice job today,” said Crystal Lake South head coach Brian Bogda. “I’m really proud of our seniors for coming through for us the way they did tonight. Max had a couple of big hits and Max came through with the game-winner. The two of them have been doing it all year for us.Tyler Hall pitched a great game for us tonight against a very powerful offensive team.”

You can watch a replay of this FVC-Valley classic at www.prepbaseballreport.highschoolcube.com

Crystal Lake South upends No. 9 Huntley

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