Hitting at bottom puts Stevenson over the top against Prospect
It all started at the bottom for the Stevenson offense in Monday's nonconference baseball game at Prospect.
Catcher Jeff Ferstein and third baseman Michael Martin, who hit eighth and ninth, got the Patriots rolling to all of their runs in the third and fourth innings as they held on for a 6-4 victory in Mount Prospect.
"We've got pretty much two leadoff guys," Ferstein said of Martin and center fielder Corey Lasky. "It turns the order over and it goes right to our power guys. We definitely can have innings like that."
It was enough for the Patriots (2-0) as senior Merrick McGrady threw a solid 5-plus innings for the win and hard-throwing Kyle Ruchim finished for the save.
Prospect (1-2) scored first as John Coen (2-for-3) doubled on McGrady's first pitch and Peter Bonahoom (2-for-4) had a one-out RBI single. Starter Scott Plaza breezed through the first two innings with three strikeouts.
Ferstein lined an 0-1 curveball to right-center for a double and the Patriots' first hit.
"A lot of it was the guys up in the lineup told us what to look for," Ferstein said. "They said it was real easy to pick up the curveball. I generally try to go away."
Martin bunted the next pitch for a single.
"They both can handle the bat and Michael runs exceptionally well," said Stevenson coach Paul Mazzuca. "That's what we envisioned at the bottom of the lineup."
Lasky lined a tying double to left and Kory Cutler followed with a sacrifice fly. Ruchim (2-for-4) had an RBI single and Patrick Wilson capped the outburst with an RBI double.
Ferstein walked and Martin was hit by a pitch to start the fourth and a two-out error put Stevenson up 6-1.
McGrady allowed only 3 hits into the fifth when Matt Molini doubled with one out and Steve Dazzo hammered a 1-1 changeup to left for a 2-run homer.
"I thought he did a great job of getting ahead of the hitters and locating his fastball," Mazzuca said after McGrady had 6 strikeouts and 2 walks. "He battled. They're a very good hitting team."
Ruchim came in after Thomas Kelly doubled to start the sixth.
Pinch hitter Brad Coffman's RBI single made it 6-4 and Ben Menich's three innings of 1-hit relief with 4 strikeouts gave the Knights a chance to come back.
Coen singled with one out in the seventh but Ruchim got Dazzo and Bonahoom for his third and fourth strikeouts.
"Every game we've faced some quality pitching and that's going to pay some dividends down the road," said Prospect coach Ross Giusti.
"Ben came in, had command of all three of his pitches and was outstanding. That's going to do a lot for his confidence."