By Drake Skleba

ST CHARLES – The classic Battle of St. Charles had a little bit more riding on it this year than local bragging rights. After St. Charles North had won 7-4 in eight thrilling innings at East on Tuesday, the two clubs entered Wednesday’s game tied for first in the Upstate 8 Conference-River Division.

St. Charles East scored single runs in the fifth and sixth to rally past the North Stars 3-2. Fighting Saint junior lefty Nick Huskisson (4-3) fired a seven-hitter at the North Stars (23-11; 17-7) with seven strikeouts.

With the win the Fighting Saints (20-10; 18-6) clinched at least a share of the U8C-River Division title.

St. Charles East trailed 2-1 after four innings of play on a beautiful Wednesday afternoon. Fighting Saint junior catcher Joey Hoscheit would tie the game at 2-2 on a clutch two-out RBI double, scoring shortstop Nick Erickson, who had singled in the top of the fifth.

“It was great to beat them here after they beat us at our place on Tuesday,” said Hoscheit. “I tried not to hang my head when I gave them a run by throwing the ball into left-field. I wanted to make up for that mistake and fortunately I did. Tomorrow will be a fun game at Elfstrom. Big crowd and our biggest game of the year. We don't want to share the title with them.” 

Junior centerfielder Anthony Sciarrino's infield hit deep in the hole at short would score junior Tommy Wilson, who had reached on the fifth North Star error, with one out in the sixth.

“It was a good victory for us to wrap up the conference,” said Sciarrino.”I had been struggling lately and it felt good to get a hit, even though it didn't leave the infield.”

Huskisson struggled in the early innings, but appeared to be throwing harder at the end of this contest. In the last three innings of the game, he allowed a harmless single and a walk to North.

“It feels great to clinch the conference championship in what was the biggest start of my life,” said Huskisson. “My curveball was my best pitch tonight.”

“Maybe a little adrenaline was pumping for Nick,” said St. Charles East head coach Len Asquini. “He really finished strong and pitched outstanding for us tonight. We played well and had a better approach at the plate tonight. We had some clutch hits in which had been struggling lately.”

The two clubs will meet at Elfstrom Stadium in Geneva on Thursday night at 7 in the rubber-match of this huge three-game series. A North Star win would make the arch-rivals share the 2012 Upstate 8 Conference River Division championship.