Plainfield North Takes Early Lead, Cruise Past Minooka

MINOOKA, IL - On an overcast, fair weathered afternoon, the Minooka Indians played host to the Plainfield North Tigers in a Southwest Prairie Conference clash. The defending 4A state champ Tigers put up three runs in the first inning and never looked back coasting to a 5-1 conference victory.

Plainfield North sent all nine hitter to the dish in the first with Cameron Kissel, Brandon Hutson (Rock Valley JC commit) and Noah Mazza (Joliet JC commit) all collecting RBI hits, Kissel clubbing a double. Minooka starter Kyle Walter minimized the threat striking out two to end the frame with the bases juiced.

The only offensive noise from the Indians came in the top half of the second. Nate Cochran leadoff with a pull side single and Nick Gough singled him home four batters later. The inning saw three base knocks, the other off the bat of early pinch-hitter Sam Burduris.

North then tacked onto their lead in consecutive innings. Hutson delivered a double to his pull gap in the third and came in to score on a Walter balk. Ryan Tribe led off the fourth with a single and came into score on a Kissel single, perhaps the hardest hit ball of the day.

Tigers senior Josh Fleming allowed one earned while scattering six singles through his four inning start. A relentless attack of the strike zone bode well for Flemming as he forced the Indians to expand the zone often resulting in five punch outs. Hutson tosses three hitless innings with one K in relief.