PBR DAILY ROUNDUP

March 17, 2012

By Drake Skleba

No. 3 Normal West (2-0) traveled south to Galesburg and returned to McLean County with a couple of solid victories. Junior RHP Matthew James (1-0) struck out 10 in a solid 5 1/3 inning performance against Moline, as the Wildcats prevailed 4-1. Junior Nick Hieb slammed the door on the Maroons, firing 1 2/3 innings of spotless relief to earn the save.

In the second game of the day at Galesburg, the ‘Cats hammered Pekin 7-3. James used his bat this time, driving home four runs with two doubles and a single. NIU-bound Wes Sery had three hits and picked up the win in relief against the Dragons.

No. 4 St. Laurence (1-0) picked up a thrilling 4-3 victory in eight innings in the Vikings season-opener in Burbank. Viking senior Dan Cronin’s bases loaded single drove home the game-winner, much to the delight of the large Viking contingent that gathered at Viking Field on Saturday. Senior Mike Solofra tied the game at 3-3 with his sac-fly in the bottom of the sixth. Cronin’s RBI single in the fifth tied the game at 2-2. UAB-bound Viking LHP Nick Altobella had six strikeouts through the first four innings, and gave up a pair of runs in the fifth to end his day. Brad Wood (1-0) relieved Altobella in the sixth and picked up the win on the mound for the Vikings. 

No. 5 Joliet Catholic Academy (1-0) defeated Lemont 6-1 in the season- opener for both clubs. Illinois-bound LHP Kevin Duchene (1-0) allowed one hit over six innings and struck out nine Indian batters. Duchene’s battery-mate junior C  Alex Voitik hammered a two-run shot for the first Hilltopper homer of the season. Andrew Gudac had two doubles that plated a pair of Hilltopper runs.  

No. 6 Mt. Carmel (2-0) rolled past No. 33 Rockford Boylan 8-4 at Haggerty Field. Senior RHP Ty Laurish improved to 2-0 on the mound with a solid 5 1/3 inning performance. Senior Frank Kelly had a perfect 2-for-2 day.

No. 13 Lincoln-Way North (1-0) defeated Brother Rice 9-2 in the Phoenix season-opener on Saturday. The defending Phil Lawler/IHSBCA Summer State Champs were led by junior C Ryan Pellack, who went deep with the bases loaded for the Phoenix. Junior RHP Mike Miller (1-0) picked up the win on the mound and Andy Ricker also went deep in the Phoenix opener.

No. 14 Harrisburg (1-0) opened the season with an 11-1 victory over Tuscola (3-1) on Saturday. Bulldog junior SS Ryne Roper had two hits and three RBI to lead the Bulldog attack. John A. Logan-bound Tyler McGowan went deep for the first Bulldog homer of 2012. Junior RHP Cameron Cummins (1-0) fired three innings of scoreless relief to pick up the win.

No. 17 Herscher (2-0) swept Crete-Monee 9-6 and 6-2. NIU-Bound Justin Ruckman hit a two-run bomb to lead the Tigers in game one. In game two, senior Logan Orr had the big hit when he hammered a shot that left the premises with the sacks full for the game-winner.

No. 35 Oak Lawn (2-0) did something on Saturday that the Spartans had done only once since 1990. Behind junior RHP Bob Kametas (1-0), the Spartans beat No. 9 St. Rita 3-0 in Oak Lawn. Kametas allowed one hit and fanned six. Senior RHP Mike Yacko then came in to slam the door in the final two innings. Spartan senior SS Alec Barnhart led the Spartan attack with two hits, including a double and two big RBI.

No. 37 Lake Zurich (1-0) rolled past Fremd 9-4 in the Bears season-opener.Senior James DeGeorge had a perfect 3-for-3 day with two doubles. Sean Eder, John Orlando and Tanner Kiser all plated a pair for the Bears. Purdue-bound RHP Mike Lutz (1-0) picked up the victory on the mound.

No. 50 Aurora Christian (2-0) hammered Hinckley-Big Rock 14-3 and 11-1 to start the 2012 campaign on a very positive note. NIU-bound LHP Bobby Kutzendorf (1-0) and sophomore J.T. Baksha (1-0) picked up the Eagle victories on the mound. In game one, Kuntzendorf faced nine hitters and had nine strikeouts in his three innings of work on Saturday. The future Huskie helped himself with a pair of homers and four RBI among his three hits.

Senior Josh Haugen had two hits, including his first home run of 2012 and drove in a pair. Valparaiso-bound Jake Hanson had three hits, including two doubles and an RBI. In game two, Baksha allowed one earned run in his three-inning stint and recorded five strikeouts of the six outs he recorded.

Hanson had only one hit in the Eagles’ second-game victory. Hanson went deep with the bases full to complete a 4-for 6 day with two doubles, a grand-slam and five RBI. In game two, Eagle senior Kenny McCracken tripled and had three RBI.

Manteno (4-0) won a pair in Fairbury on Saturday. The Panthers defeated Streator 13-10 and then beat the hosts from Prairie Central 4-0. In game one against Streator, the Panthers spotted the Bulldogs a 5-0 lead after one, before rallying to prevail 13-10. Junior C Ryan Sample had three hits and four RBI to lead the Panther attack Senior Mark Reardanz also had three hits and drove home a pair for the Panthers and senior IB C.J. Irvin chipped in with three hits and an RBI.

Against Prairie Central, Reardanz picked up the win on the mound to improve to 2-0 on the campaign and senior Joey DiLeo was the offensive hero for the Panthers.

Nazareth Academy (2-0) swept St. Edward 11-6 and 10-0. Roadrunner pitchers Ed Gengo (1-0) and Kyle Piotrowski (1-0) picked up the wins on the mound. In game one, junior C Mike Stromberg had two hits and four RBI. In the nightcap, 6-foot-4 sophomore 1B Jack Bartels had three hits and a pair of RBI to lead the Roadrunners.

Streamwood (1-0) rallied past Oswego East 6-4 in eight innings in the Sabres 2012 season-opener. Sabre LHP Dalton Lundeen (1-0) pitched seven innings, striking out eight allowing four runs and six hits. Lundeen helped himself with a three-hit day at the plate.Senior SS Richie Gorski had two hits, including a triple and nailed down the save for Lundeen with a shutout inning of relief in the eighth. Senior Alex Morrow chipped in with a double and two RBI.

Richmond Burton (2-1) survived a three-run Crystal Lake South seventh inning uprising and hung on to defeat the Gators 7-5. Wright State-bound LHP E.J. Trapino was the man for Richmond Burton. Trapino (2-0) fired five solid innings, allowing just one earned run and three hits to pick up his second victory of 2012. Trapino fanned six Gator hitters. The future Raider lefty also used his bat, clubbing a home run among his two hits and driving home two as well.

Crystal Lake South (2-1) was led offensively by senior C Dom Winiecki and senior OF Will Ahsmann. Both Gators had two hits and plated a Gator run.

Chicago Christian (5-0) won a 14-10 slugfest with Westmont on Saturday. Senior 1B Trent Overzet went deep with two Knights aboard and junior 2B Brody Meyer also drove home three runs to lead the Knights past the Sentinels

Auburn (2-1) jumped out to a 9-1 lead and hung on to beat Hillsboro 10-7 on Saturday. Trojan seniors Logan Johnson, Travis Cumming and junior Bobby Muench all drove in a pair of runs in the Trojan victory. 

Burlington Central (1-0) opened up the season with a come-from-behind 6-3 win against Crystal Lake Central. Senior C Tanner Scott went deep with a man on and senior CF Ray Hunnicutt chipped in with a pair of hits. Senior RHP Zach Ranney (1-0) fired a five-hitter at the Tigers and fanned six.

Leyden (1-0) beat Palatine 5-1 behind senior RHP Angel Sanchez. Sanchez picked up the win on the mound and homered, doubled and drove home two Eagle runs.

Lisle (3-1) beat up on Northridge Prep 8-0 and 12-1 on Saturday. Lion senior Ty Howell had two hits and three RBI to lead the Lion attack in game one. In game two, sophomore Kevin Coppin drove in half of the Lion runs with a grand-slam and a two-run double. Junior Adam Drego chipped in with double and a homer and drove in three.

Lincoln-Way Central (4-1) swept Danville 1-0 and 5-3. Knight 2B Matt Fikin drove home the game-winner for the Knights in game one. Seniors RHP Jake Koslowski (1-0) and Tom Schuman (Save #2) hooked up for a combined shutout in game one. In game two senior Greg Wymer had two hits and two RBI to lead the Knights to the sweep of the Vikings (2-2) 

Morgan Park (2-0) defeated Hubbard 18-6 behind John A. Logan recruit SS DeJohn Suber. Suber hammered a two-run bomb for the Mustangs. Reggie Rogers had a perfect 3-for-3 day with two RBI.

Niles West (2-0) routed Lake View 11-1 behind the Wolves University of Michigan-bound SS Kevin Ross. The future Wolverine had a perfect three-for-three day with a double and an RBI.

Reed-Custer (2-0) won twice at the Jacksonville Invitational, defeating Immaculate Conception 12-9 and Valmeyer (MO) 11-6. The Comets were led by Ryan Johnson who had a 4-for-6 afternoon with five RBI.