AREA BASEBALL ROUNDUP SATURDAY MAY 8

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC

JOLIET CATHOLIC 8 NOTRE DAME 0 GAME ONE

After freshman Jake Gimbel threw a three-hit shut-out at Coal City on Thursday, Hilltopper senior Drew Buss (2-2) would not be outdone by his underclassman teammate.

Buss fired a three-hit shutout of his own at the hard-hitting Dons (4-13, 2-5) with 10 strikeouts and did not walk a batter.

The Hilltoppers (7-8, 2-1) exploded for their eight runs in the third inning to put this one away.

Junior Lorenzo Rios (2-for-3,RBI) continued his hot-hitting with an RBI single to put the Hill up 1-0. Junior Mike Ascencio made it 3-0 with a booming two-run double. Junior Ryan Louthan got plunked with the bases loaded for a 4-0 Hill lead. Senior Clemente Torres and Gavin Sebby (1-for-2 RBI) made it 6-0 on a pair of bases-loaded RBI walks. The final two runs of the eight-run inning were scored on a wild pitch.

The Dons were led by Nick Giamarusti, who had a pair of singles, while Hank Friedrich chipped in with a double,

JOLIET CATHOLIC 6 NOTRE DAME 5 GAME TWO

The Hilltoppers (8-8, 3-2) swept the ESCC twin-bill with ND (4-13, 2-6) as Joliet Catholic head coach Jared Voss used five pitchers throwing an inning each. Voss then had junior Mike Ascencio throw two scoreless innings to nail down the save for winning pitcher, junior Jake Spotofora.

Trailing 3-1, the Hilltoppers scored five times in the top of the fourth to open up a 6-3 lead they would not relinquish.

Senior Grant Cameron's RBI double pulled the Hill within 3-2. Ascensio and senior Frank Ryan gave the Hilltoppers the lead 4-3 on a pair of sac flies. Danny O'Brien extended the Hill lead to 5-3 with an RBI single before a Dons miscue made it 6-3 Hilltoppers.

The Dons were led by Keenan Burgos, who doubled and drove home a pair of runs. Anthony DeAngelo singled and had two RBI, while Mike O'Conor and Nick Giamarusti each had two singles for the Dons. Giamarusti went 4-for-6 in the twin-bill for ND.

BENET ACADEMY 8 ST PATRICK 5 GAME ONE

The Redwings (4-7,2-3) received a battle from the last place Shamrocks (2-8, 0-7). The 'Wings jumped out to a 4-0 lead only to have the Shamrocks close to within 4-3 after 4 1/2 innings.

In the bottom of the fifth, Redwing junior Tim Baer put the 'Wings up 5-3 with an RBI single and a Shamrock miscue extended the lead to 6-3.

In the top of the sixth, the Shamrocks closed to within 6-5 before senior Giancarlo Hall's RBI single and another Shamrock miscue made it 8-5 after six innings. Junior Matt Nelson (1 2/3 IP, 0R 0H 0ER SV) retired the Shamrocks 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh to nail down the save for Redwing starting and winning pitcher, junior Josh Novak (4.2IP 3R, 6H, 1ER, 7K 1BB).

BENET ACADEMY 4 ST PATRICK 2 GAME TWO

The Redwings (5-7, 3-3) broke up a 2-2 tie with two runs in the top of the sixth to wrap up the ESCC twin-bill sweep of the Shamrocks (2-9, 0-8).

Redwing senior Pete Messina (2-for-3, RBI) put the 'Wings up 3-2 with a clutch two-out RBI single, scoring sophomore Luke Bafia (1-for-3, RBI), who was hit by a pitch.

Giancarlo Hall drove home Messina with a clutch two-out RBI double for a 4-2 Benet lead.

Junior Tyler Dean had a perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate for the 'Wing, with a pair of doubles.

Junior RHP Sam Zagorak allowed no earned runs and two hits with eight strikeouts in his 4 2/3 innings of work to get the win. Senior RHP Kaden Kumzi fired two scoreless innings of relief to nail down the save for Zagorak.

WEST SUBURBAN GOLD

DOWNERS GROVE SOUTH 10 MORTON 0 (FIVE INNINGS)

The DGS Mustangs (13-1, 10-1) swept away the Morton Mustangs (2-10, 1-7) behind senior Matt Scolan and

senior RHP Joe Titone. Scolan continued his all-out assault on the baseball, with a single, double and three RBI. Mustang starting pitcher,Titone (2-0), allowed one hit and four shutout innings on the mound, to pick up the win.

Senior A.J. Taylor, doubled and drove home a Mustangs run, while seniors Kyle Fenner and Mike Bucher, each chipped in with a single and an RBI.

WEST SUBURBAN SILVER

DOWNERS GROVE NORTH 1 OAK PARK 0

After a season of football score sounding baseball games on Saturday morning, the Trojans (8-6, 3-5) played a baseball purist's delight. The game was scoreless heading into the Trojans bottom of the sixth.

A classic pitchers-duel between Oak Park RHP Aidan Krupp and the Trojans junior RHP Mike Gorman (2-1) had developed.

For the second game this week at Legion Field, the Huskies became very charitable guests.

Trojan sophomore Tony Kinopiots, on a 3-2 pitch, walked and advanced to second base on a passed ball. Kinopiots advanced to third on a productive ground out off the bat of senior Elijah Carter. Freshman George Wolkow walked. Senior Lucas Nielson got plunked to load the bases.

Senior Matt Schellbach, coaxed the eventual game-winning RBI bases on balls, scoring Kinopiots for a 1-0 Trojans lead.

Gorman walked and plunked a Huskie to put runners on first and second with one out. Gorman got the second out on a fly ball to Trojans CF Angus Nemeth and wrapped up his three-hit shutout on a force play by second baseman Ean Czech.

Gorman (2-1) struck out four and walked one.

CENTRAL SUBURBAN CROSSOVERS

NILES WEST 20 NILES NORTH 2 (FIVE INNINGS)

The Wolves (11-5, 3-4 South) bats were howling as they scored 10 runs in the top of the second and put this one away early behind Julian Garcia, KeSean Watson and Kyle Gibson. Garcia homered, singled and drove home four Wolf runs, while Watson singled, doubled and also had four RBI, for West.

Kyle Gibson had a pair of singles, a triple and drove home three Wolf runs.

RHP John Raciti fired 3 2/3 shutout innings, allowing four hits with five strikeouts to pick up the win on the mound.

MAINE SOUTH 4 MAINE WEST 0

Five in a row for the soaring Hawks (10-8, 4-3 South) behind a combined four-hit shutout from Timmy O'Brien and Charlie Schau. O'Brien struck out seven and allowed three hits in five innings to pick up the win. Schau allowed one hit in his two scoreless innings in relief to nail down the save.

Schau had a pair of singles at the plate, while Sam Marin singled and drove home the only run the Hawks would need. Luke Kracik chipped in with a single and a double for the Hawks.

NONCONFERENCE

MARIST 9 LOCKPORT 6 GAME ONE

For the second consecutive game, the Porters (9-5) faced one of the top pitchers in the state in Marist senior Mark Brannigan. Brannigan entered the game with an 0-1 record with an ERA of 1.00.

With the game tied at 1-1, the Porters bats unloaded on Brannigan (6 IP 6R 10H 6ER).

Connor Christian singled and scored when sophomore Anthony Martinez deposited a Brannigan pitch over the left field fence for a two-run homer and a 3-1 Porters lead.

After two out, Matt Santarelli singled and scored when Ryan Moerman blasted his seventh home run of the season for a 5-1 Porters' lead. Junior Vic Izquierdo, not to be outdone by Moerman, took a Brannigan pitch over the left field fence for his fourth home run and a 6-1 Porters.

As they have done all season, Marist (16-2) pulled within 6-3 after four innings and then made Brannigan a winner when they exploded for six runs in the bottom of the sixth to win the game.

MARIST 3 LOCKPORT 0 GAME TWO

In game two, the Porters (9-6) only mustered four hits against Marist's Cal Sefcik (4-0). Sefcik, the son of former MLB player and Marist (17-2) head coach Kevin Sefcik, went the distance, striking out five and walking none.

Porter junior catcher Matt Merk had his fifth perfect day at the plate of the season with a single and a base on balls against Sefcik. Ricky Pospisil doubled and Vic Izquierdo and Joe Fiorillo each singled for the Porters.

SOUTHWEST PRAIRIE CROSSOVERS

PLAINFIELD SOUTH 4 OSWEGO 3

The Cougars (9-1, 5-1 East) bounced back from Thursday's SPC East loss to Plainfield Central in style, with the one-run victory over SPC West power Oswego (9-4, 4-2 West). The game was tied at 3-3, in the Cougars bottom in the pivotal Cougars' fourth inning.

Cougar junior Zander Tubbs, led off the inning with a booming triple to the center field fence. After two outs, senior Jeremy McGuigan, crushed the Panthers, when he ripped a cluth, two-out, RBI double to right, scoring Tubbs, with the eventual game-winning run.

Senior RHP Cade Homerding (2-0) allowed one earned run and five hits with five strikeouts, in his 5 2/3 innings of work to pick up the win. Senior RHP Tylor "Puma" Phommachanhom, finished off the Panthers allowing one hit, in his 1 1/3 innings of relief, to nail down the save for Homerding.

ROMEOVILLE 9 Plainfield North 3

The Spartans (7-8, 3-3 East) won for their fourth consecutive game, this time taking down the powerful Tigers of Plainfield North (8-4, 3-3 West). Senior Dylan Scafuri continued his hot hitting with a double, triple and drove home three Spartan runs. Junior Nick Kolze tripled and drove home a run for the 'Villle. Junior Jason Holgado chipped in with s single and the third Spartan triple of the game.

Junior RHP Alejandro De Leon allowed three runs and six hits in his solid 5 1/3 innings on the mound to pick up the win.

The Tigers were led by their junior lead off man Brandon Bak, who had two singles and a double and drove home all three runs. Dylan Evans and Jake Rock each chipped in with two singles.

MINOOKA 11 PLAINFIELD EAST 9

East (5-8 3-3 East) jumped out to a 5-0 lead after one inning and a 6-3 lead after three innings, before the Indians (9-6, 5-1 West) erupted for five in the bottom of the fourth and never trailed again.

Minooka sophomore Caleb Parker led the 12-hit Indian attack with three singles and drove home two Indian runs. Junior Niko Bibian went 1-for-2 with three RBI, while junior Ivan Dahlberg had a pair of singles and two RBI.

The Bengals were led by senior catcher Mike Bailey, who had a perfect 4-for-4 day at the plate with a double and two RBI. Jake Handley had two singles and a double and drove home two Bengal runs, while Ryan Skiba had a pair of singles and RBI. Christian Mitchelle chipped in with a single and a triple, with an RBI.

Indian junior RHP Ryan Norman (2-1) allowed two earned runs in his 5 1/3 innings of relief to pick up the win and junior LHP Adem Osmani retired the last two Bengals hopes in the bottom of the seventh for the save.

PLAINFIELD CENTRAL 6 YORKVILLE 4

The Wildcats (8-6, 2-4 East) trailed 4-3 with nobody out in the bottom of the fifth inning with Wildcat senior Josh Cunniff (2-for-2, 2B RBI) on first base having walked.

In the batters box stood senior Nate "Big Blast" Buchan (2-for-3, HR 2RBI). On a 1-1 pitch, Buchan launched a two-run blast over the left field fence for the eventual game-winning blast and a 5-4 'Cats lead.

Senior LHP Mason Kujak (4.1 0R 0H 0ER 1K 1BB) fired his third and fourth innings of spotless relief in the sixth and seventh innings to finish off the Foxes (10-5, 3-3 West) and pick up his first win of the season. Kujak (1-0) has yet to allow a run in his 12 innings of work for the season and has a 0.00 ERA.

OSWEGO EAST 10 JOLIET WEST 8

The SPC East-leading Tigers (7-8, 5-1 East), after falling behind 6-0 and then coming back for a 7-6 lead after four innings, fell to the Wolves (4-6, 2-4 West) in Joliet.

The Tigers were led by senior Matt Stariha, who went 4-for-4 with four singles and an RBI. Stariha is now hitting .426.

Manny Rincon (2-for-3,HR 3RBI) and Isaac Rios (2-for-3,HR, 2RBI) homered for the Tigers. For Rios the homer was No. 2 while, it was Rincon's first of the season.

JOLIET CENTRAL 5 WEST AURORA 3

The Steelmen (2-12, 0-6 East), behind an eight-hitter from junior RHP Alex Rocha and a huge day at the plate from senior Adam Fitzpatrick, disposed of their guests from West Auroa (3-9,1-5 West).

Fitzpatrick put the Steelmen up 2-0 with a booming two-run double scoring Gabriel Dunne (2-for-4) and Adam Hoehn-Aguilera (2-for-4) in the bottom of the second. Aguilera and Fitzpatrick extended the Steelmen lead to 4-0 with a pair of sacrifice flies in the third inning.

Rocha threw only 79 pitches in his complete-game gem, striking out five Blackhawk hitters and walking none. Rocha added a 2-for-3 day at the plate.

MONTINI 6 LISLE 4

The Lions (2-8) rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seventh before falling to the Broncos in Lisle. Nick Jachim doubled home two Lion runs to pull them within 6-2. Montini miscues led to the Lions pulling within 6-4, before they fell. Senior Cal Payne chipped in with a pair of singles for Lisle.