Elk Grove Takes Down Schaumburg Behind Camacho

April 22, 2016

By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

Elk Grove 5, Schaumburg 1

ELK GROVE, IL – On Friday afternoon the Elk Grove Grenadiers hosted the Schaumburg Saxons. Elk Grove (10-6) sent senior right-handed pitcher Christian Camacho to the mound to face off against Schaumburg (9-6) senior right-handed pitcher Andrew Ralston. Camacho proved to be too much for the Saxon hitters as his complete game, 14 strikeout performance, led Elk Grove to a 5-1 victory.

Camacho, an Auburn recruit, was impressive from the outset, striking out two, in a quick 1-2-3 first inning. In the second, Camacho found himself in a bit of trouble, with runners on first and second with only one out. He proceeded by ramping his fastball up to 89 mph, resulting in a swinging strikeout to the following hitter. After a hit batter, the bases were loaded with two outs. He once again touched 89 mph with his fastball before getting a swing and miss on a slider for the strikeout to end the inning.

The lone run against Camacho came in the fourth following a one out double by Jack Bellinger. Bellinger advanced to third on an error and scored on a RBI groundout by David Tornabene. After the run scored in the fourth, Camacho struck out the next five batter and did not allow a base-runner past first base for the rest of the game.

The Grenadiers offense scored two in the second and three in the sixth on their way to the 5-1 win.

Leading 2-1 in the sixth and needing insurance runs, the Grenadiers had a runner on second with two outs and AJ Navarro at the plate. Left-handed hitting Navarro, who already had two singles on the day, flared a ball down the left-field line. The ball bounced out of the left-fielders glove allowing the run to score from second and giving Elk Grove a 3-1 lead. The final blow of the inning came when Camacho drove a two-run double into the right-center field gap giving Elk Grove a 5-1 lead.

Elk Grove hosts Maine South on Saturday at 11:00 am. Schaumburg returns to action on Saturday for a double header at Lake Zurich starting at 11:00 am.

Statistical Highlights

+ RHP Christian Camacho (Elk Grove) – 7IP, 3H, 14K, 0BB, 1HBP – 2-for-4, 2 2B, 3 RBI
+ 2B AJ Navarro (Elk Grove) – 2-for-3, RBI, R
+ 3B Joe Lopez (Elk Grove) – 1-for-3, 2B
+ 1B Jack Bellinger (Schaumburg) – 3-for-3, R