Gowens Guides Libertyville Past Lake Forest

April 17, 2017

By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

Libertyville 4, Lake Forest 2

LAKE FOREST, IL – Behind the right arm of junior Riley Gowens and a two-run fifth inning, Libertyville took down Lake Forest 4-2 on Monday afternoon.

Libertyville (12-3) scored two runs in the top of the fifth to break a 1-1 tie. Ryan Greenburg started the rally with a leadoff line-drive single to left field and proceeded to steal second. Third baseman Tim Jean followed with a double to left-center field, scoring Greenburg and giving Libertyville the 2-1 lead. Jean would later score on a sacrifice fly to right field by Dan Marks, for the 3-1 lead.

After giving up the two runs in the top of the fifth, Lake Forest (3-6) fought back with their own rally in the bottom half of the frame. Charlie Reinkemeyer led off with an infield single and would later score on a groundout. The Scouts had the tying and go-ahead run in scoring position with two outs but Libertyville starter, Gowens got one of his eight strikeouts on the day to get out of the jam.

Gowens picked up the win, going six innings, scattering four hits, two earned runs, striking out eight and walking two. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound, right-hander went right after hitters all game long with a fastball that sat 87-89 mph, touching 90 early on. He mixed in a breaking ball for strikes at 74-77 mph but got a majority of his strikeouts on his lively fastball.

Libertyville turned to another talented junior, right-handed pitcher, Colin Fields, to close out the game in the seventh. Fields, also showed a lively fastball, sitting 86 mph, touching as high as 88 and mixed in a breaking ball with good shape and depth to it. Fields walked one and struck out one in his one inning save.

Andrew Gough, the Lake Forest starter threw well in his four innings of work. He avoided a lot of hard contact, scattered two hits, gave up one run, none earned, struck out two and did not walk anyone.

Jean led the way at the plate for Libertyville going 2-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI. Caleb Durbin added two hits of his own and an RBI for Lake Forest.

For more in-depth notes from the game - and all other games that we cover - visit the Illinois Scout Blog later.