By Drake Skleba
Senior Writer

PLAINFIELD- University of Illinois-Springfield-bound lefty Kyle Strepek and St. Xavier University-bound right-hander Matt Vanek, opened the 2015 Plainfield North Tiger season in style. Strepek (1-0) fired four no-hit innings with seven strikeouts, while Vanek fired a hitless inning of relief, to complete the Tigers season-opening five-inning romp of Morris. With one out in the bottom of the fifth, senior third baseman Rich Bryza’s, third hit of the day, a booming double, plated Carthage-bound Bryan Van Duser (1-for-3, R, 2 BB, RBI) with the tenth and final run of Plainfield North’s 10-0 victory.

“It was great to open the season up the way we did today,” Bryza said. “We were very confident coming into today’s game and we hit and pitched the way we thought we could. It felt good to have a great day at the plate. We were very excited in seeing our No. 6 state-ranking in the PBR today. I feel we can win conference and finally pick up a sectional championship as well.”

Strepek who was 9-1 as a junior for North in 2014, was lights out on the mound for the Tigers on a cool Plainfield afternoon. The southpaw struck out the side in the second and opened up the third with another punch-out. Strepek walked one and hit one, as a hard-hitting Morris (1-1) club, only managed three balls in play. Vanek recorded the first out of the fifthnon a fly-ball to left fielder Josh Garner before fanning the final two Redskin batters in the inning.

“We were great offensively and to throw a combined no-hitter on opening day is awesome,” Strepek said. “Our “Road to Joliet” began today and was a huge success. We’re really excited about our team this season. With all the quality arms we have and with way we can hit, it’s going to be fun.”

Plainfield North (1-0) picked up a pair of unearned runs in the first inning before putting away the Redskins with a five-run third. Augustana-bound catcher Jake Pacanowski and junior shortstop Zach Jarosz (2-for-3, BB, 2RBI) had clutch two-out RBI doubles, to highlight the inning. In fact, the first seven Tiger runs all came after two-out.

“This was a big win for us to open up the season,” Jarosz said. “I had a good day at the plate as we all did. I am really excited about this season and we expect to go far.”

NIU-junior recruit Jake Dunham chipped in with a 1-for-2 day at the plate with an RBI.

“Great way to start the season,” Plainfield North head coach John Darlington said. “We knew coming into the season that our pitching would be our strength. Kyle (Strepek) was outstanding today. He couldn’t get a grip on his curveball early but once he did he was unhittable. Matt (Vanek) did a great job in the fifth and Rich Bryza hit a ton for us. Zach (Jarosz) should have had three hits today. Our three seniors have worked hard to get to this point and it is good to see them all play well today.”

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