ST. CHARLES, IL - In game one of a three-game series between rivals, St. Charles East and St. Charles North, the Saints of St. Charles East prevailed 3-2.

The Saints opened up a 3-1 lead early in the game, thanks to a run in the top of the second inning and two more in the third. In the two-run third inning, freshman Kyle Hayes came to the plate with the game tied at one, two outs and runners on first and second. Hayes hit what looked to be a routine groundout to the second baseman but the ball took a bit of a bad hop and was unable to be fielded. On the error, John Dellostritto came around to score from second base and the runner on first advanced to third. With runners now at the corners, St. Charles North starter Steven Hamer, a Miami (OH) commit, picked over to first base and picked Hayes off. What looked to be the final out of the inning, was not to be, as the home plate umpire ruled the pickoff throw a balk and awarded the Saints a free base, allowing the third and final run of the game to score for the Saints. That run proved to be a big one as the Saints were able to hold off the North Stars of St. Charles North the rest of the way.

St. Charles East (19-8-1) got a quality start from senior left-handed pitcher Brett Brueske. Brueske attacked the North Stars lineup throughout, consistently working the corners of the plate and mixing in his curveball. Brueske’s final line was 5.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 K, 2 BB. Senior right-handed pitcher Jeremy Cox came in and threw a hitless inning and a third to pick up the save and preserve the Saints victory.

Hamer, the North Stars starting pitcher and cleanup hitter, put a scare into the St. Charles East faithful in the final inning. Trailing 3-2, with a runner on first base, Hamer turned on a ball and drilled a fly ball over the right fielders head. However with the wind blowing in, the ball hung up and the potential game-winning walk off home run was caught on the warning track for out number two.

St. Charles North (23-3) took the early 1-0 lead with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Sophomore leadoff hitter, Ryan Thiesse reached on an infield single and later scored on an RBI groundout by Justin Dunne.

Hamer threw well in the loss. The left-hander struck out six in 6.1 innings, scattered six hits, three runs, one earned and only walked one.

Junior Thomas Schroeder went 1-for-3 with a double and run scored for St. Charles East.

The two teams are set to match up once again on Wednesday and Thursday of this week.

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

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