Hersey's just perfect, for starters

A bunch of quick starts has led to a perfect six-game start for Hersey.

In five of the wins the Huskies scored in the first inning to get the jump on their opponents.

"We've been fortunate," said Hersey coach Bob Huber after an 11-1 win in 6 innings over Dundee-Crown put its record at 6-0. "More often than not we get something going and that certainly helps."

Just ask one of the beneficiaries, left-hander Ryan Busse, who allowed only 1 unearned run in 13 innings and two victories.

"That's a huge thing to be sitting on the bench as a starting pitcher," Busse said. "To pick up a nice two-spot in the first inning helps tremendously.

"Everyone feels comfortable and everyone's finding a role."

Alex Lee gets it going in the leadoff spot and Jake Knauss has handled the move from the middle of the order to the No. 2 spot. There is also plenty of pop in the middle with Domenic Biagini, Chris Polinski and Steve Danielak.

"We have great team chemistry," Polinski said. "I feel pretty confident in our team. Starting off 6-0 is a great start and it boosts everyone's confidence."

So does the early work of top two starters Busse and Danielak (2-0).

"We were all laughing about it," Busse said of just missing a second shutout a day after Danielak threw a 1-hitter at Notre Dame. "They were saying, 'Buss, how are you going to show up Danielak?' I'll settle for the win."

Hersey will also take solid starts from junior Joe Perricone similar to Monday against Evanston. He allowed only 2 hits and 1 earned run and had 12 strikeouts in a 2-2 game called after 61/2 innings because of lightning and darkness.

And while Huber half-jokingly said he wished it was June, he does like what has gone into Hersey already getting a third of the way to its 18 wins of last year.

"I'm happy and pleased," Huber said. "They're hustling and playing hard and that's what we ask them to do. They seem to be a cohesive group to this point."

Familiar face back at Wheeling: Mike Tice joked about the re-introduction of assistant coaches John Wendell and Pete Ogilvie on his staff at Wheeling.

"I was still in high school," Tice laughed of Wendell and Ogilvie originally working together at Wheeling in 1972. "I tell the kids we have about 120 years of experience on the staff and we should be able to get kids better."

Wendell took last year off after retirement ended his 23-year tenure as head coach at Buffalo Grove. Tice said Wendell does know a lot of the kids since he taught a lot of them in driver's education.

"It's so much fun having John out there," Tice said. "I don't always have to be the bad cop."

Now he can help with some of the finer points of the game without the head coaching demands.

"I'm having fun," Wendell said. "I'm doing a lot more teaching now."

Wendell and Ogilvie also joked about their days coaching the same little league team. Wendell's sons Brad and Scott and Ogilvie's sons Peter and Teddy played together.

Professional assistance: Buffalo Grove now has a pair of Grybashes on its coaching staff as head coach Jeff has been joined by his brother Dan, who ended his professional pitching career after shoulder surgery.

Dan Grybash spent parts of two seasons in the Brewers organization after he was chosen by them in the 34th round of the 2003 major league draft and played for independent league teams for parts of five seasons. He finished with a 39-24 record.

"It's been nice for us," Jeff Grybash said. "He has a couple of buddies who are starting to transition to managing. This is a perfect way to test and see how he likes it.

"He brings a unique experience to it. He knows his stuff and the kids want to learn from him."

John Hummel, who led Schaumburg to the 2002 supersectional and was the captain of the Daily Herald All-Area team, is student teaching and helping Todd Meador at Hoffman Estates. The left-handed pitcher spent three years in the Pirates organization after he was taken in the 16th round of the 2002 draft and pitched for two years with independent league teams before his professional career ended in 2006.

"I was walking in the hall one day in school and I see this guy and I go, 'John Hummel?'" Meador said. "He turns around and goes, 'Hey, Mr. Meador.'

"He said, 'Do you mind if I coach baseball with you?' I said, 'Oh my gosh, are you kidding me? With your background I'd love to have you.' He's very dedicated."

Hummel played freshman basketball at Schaumburg for Meador, who left after that season to take over the Hoffman baseball program.

Not easy in the ESCC: St. Viator doesn't have an easy start to East Suburban Catholic Conference play when it hosts Benet in a Saturday doubleheader on April 17. But the senior group led by pitchers Brendan King and Julian Sipiora, third baseman Kevin Gannon, shortstop David Alameda, center fielder Jake Mastrangeli and outfielder Louie Cairo won the conference title as sophomores and hopes to make some noise this year.

"To go 14-4 at any level in this conference is pretty good," said Viator coach Mike Manno. "They have a chip on their shoulder right now because some rankings have put us fifth or sixth and they've taken offense to that a little bit. Now it's time to put up or shut up."

Senior Anthony Quagliano also made his first appearance at first base in the seventh inning of Monday's win at Elmwood Park. Quagliano, who also closed games for the Lions last spring, received doctor's clearance to return ahead of schedule from a torn ACL suffered in the last regular-season football game in October.

Good as Gold: Taking two of three from defending co-champion Morton to open West Suburban Gold play definitely wasn't bad for Leyden.

"To have five Division I pitchers (in the WSC Gold) is unheard of," Leyden coach Gary Wolf said. "It's probably the toughest year since I've been coaching. We have some tremendous talent in our league.

"It's always talented, but by far this year it would have to be one of the top leagues in the area from top to bottom."

Wolf and the Eagles are fortunate to have one of those top-level pitchers in Illinois State signee Dan Savas. He went the distance in a 1-0 win over Morton in eight innings Monday.

"He really looks good," Wolf said. "He's got his off-speed pitches working and he's bringing it right now."

Leyden will have to battle without one of its top hitters for at least three weeks. Junior Justin Stawychny, who Wolf considers a Division I hitter, is out because of a stress fracture in his back that wasn't fully healed.

"Justin's a huge loss," Wolf said. "If we can keep the ship steady, when he comes back hopefully we'll be a pretty dangerous team."

Sacrifice flies: Palatine outfielder Trey Cannon has committed to Wisconsin-Whitewater and Elk Grove catcher-first baseman Nico Piscopo committed to play at Clarke College in Iowa - Elk Grove pitcher and all-area linebacker Kyle Pfister has committed to play football at Illinois Wesleyan but may also get a chance to pitch ... Buffalo Grove senior second baseman Brian Crowell is one of the first two recruits to Roosevelt University, which will revive athletics for the 2010-11 school year after a 20-year hiatus. Roosevelt is coached by former Palatine pitcher and Harper College coach Steve Marchi - Former Maine West star Tyler Ladendorf has been assigned to the Oakland Athletics' high Class A Stockton affiliate in the California League ... Hersey and St. Viator meet in neutral territory at 7 p.m. today at Rec Park in Arlington Heights ... MSL play starts next Wednesday and is highlighted by defending West champion Fremd hosting Barrington at 4:30 p.m. ... Coaches are reminded to send weekly stats by Tuesday nights via e-mail to mmaciaszek@dailyherald.com or FAX to (847) 427-1173.