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Naperville Central Uses Six Run First To Down Wheaton-Warrenville South

May 8, 2015

By Colin Sallee
Area Scout

NAPERVILLE, IL - Naperville Central wasted no time answering a first inning run by Wheaton Warrenville South, as they put up six runs in the bottom of the first on their way to a 12-2 drubbing of the visiting Tigers.

The visitors jumped out to a 1-0 lead after a misplayed pop up on the infield allowed leadoff hitter Spiro Pavlou to score from second base with two outs.

Three consecutive hits started the home half of the first, the third of which was a towering three-run blast off the bat of leftfielder Bob McMillen (Iowa State commit, football).

The Redhawks sent 12 batters to the plate in the first inning, recorded five hits, plated six runs and chased opposing pitcher Jake Kyllonen out of the game before a third out was recorded.

Sophomore shortstop Connor Gurnik was in the middle of all the action, spraying two doubles in the game, one to each gap, and collecting two RBIs in the process. Gurnik would finish 3-for-4 in the contest with two runs scored. 

“I feel pretty comfortable taking what the pitcher gives me and going the other way if need be,” said Gurnik. “They stayed up and away from me for most of the day, I stuck to my approach and was able to help my team win the game.”

Naperville’s designated hitter, senior Billy Oliver, was 3-for-4 and was a home run shy of the cycle while collecting three RBIs of his own. His last hit, a screaming line drive to leftfield activated the 10-run mercy rule during the bottom of the fifth.

Redhawk starting pitcher Glenn Kozlowski (5-2 on the year) was effective, as he pitched with a lead for virtually the entire game. He would surrender another run in the fifth, a single off the bat of Wheaton Warrenville South catcher Justin Kelly, who was 1-for-3 on the day with an RBI.

Wheaton Warrenville South (11-13) struggled to find rhythm with the bats, as they scratched out just three hits in the game. 

Sophomore Spiro Pavlou was the bright spot, scoring both of his team’s runs and going 1-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base. 

Naperville Central improves to 12-11 on the year. The two squads meet again today at Wheaton Warrenville South at 4:30 pm, then finish the series tomorrow back at Central. Game time for Saturday’s contest is 10 am.

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