Ciardiello takes a hit to help Fremd

Senior Kevin Ciardiello leads Fremd in runs batted in with 19.

But Ciardiello was ready to do whatever it took to get a run in with one out in the top of the seventh inning of Friday's Mid-Suburban League baseball crossover at Elk Grove.

Ciardiello got hit by a pitch for the second time of the game and season to start a tiebreaking 2-run rally as Fremd (11-8, 6-2) took sole possession of first place in the MSL West with a 3-1 win.

"I usually stand right up on top of the plate and I was even closer with this one," Ciardiello said. "We've been scrapping lately. Any way we can get the job done."

Vince Addison also got hit and Ciardiello scored when Sean Stutzman reached on an error. Evan Wright's infield RBI single was Fremd's third and last hit.

"It was ugly," said Fremd coach Chris Piggott. "Somehow we found a way to scratch a couple of runs across."

Kurt Kaufman got the win with 22/3 innings of 1-hit relief. Stutzman only gave up 2 hits but Piggott felt it was time for a change after Eddie Eid's tying RBI single in the fifth.

Elk Grove senior lefty Joe Majerus didn't allow the first of his 2 hits until there was one out in the fifth with the wind blowing out at 30 mph. None of the runs he allowed were earned as he kept Fremd off-balance all day with a slow curve and changeup and had 4 strikeouts and 1 walk.

"He didn't deserve to lose," said EG coach Terry Beyna.

"It was the best I've pitched all year," Majerus said. "I always focus on keeping the ball down and on a windy day like today it was more important."

Fremd center fielder Zenon Kolakowski made a terrific running, backhand grab as he slammed face first into the fence to rob Ryan Martinski in the first. Kolakowski hurt his left wrist and left the game in the third because he couldn't swing a bat, but Piggott expected him to be OK.

Conant 15, Buffalo Grove 14: In an MSL crossover that featured 9 home runs, Conant (9-6, 3-5) rallied from a 13-7 deficit after four innings.

Leading a 15-hit attack for the Cougars was Kyle Gizynski with a pair of homers. Mike Passaro and Otto Linderman also homered.

For the Bison (12-8. 5-3), Jimmy Pinakidis had a grand slam in the second inning. Ryan Nisbet (3-for-5) hit his sixth homer and Tommy Ricciardi (2-for-3), Greg Sanders (double, 3 RBI) and Steve Pollakov also homered.

Hersey 8, Hoffman 1: Steve Danielak (5-1) threw a 3-hitter with 12 strikeouts and also went 3-for-3 with 2 RBI as Hersey (15-5, 6-2) regained sole possession of first in the MSL East. Domenic Biagini hit his fifth homer and Sean Thompson homered.

Colin Conway had the Hoffman (9-11, 5-3) RBI in the seventh.

Schaumburg 12, Meadows 5: Visiting Schaumburg hit Rolling Meadows with an 8-run third in the MSL crossover.

Connor McHugh (2-for-3), Kevin Hilliard (2 RBI), Joe Dombek (2-for-4, 2 RBI) and Matt Brancato all doubled for the Saxons (7-10, 3-5) to help Roger Lane earn the win.

Eric Lowe went 3-for-4 for Meadows (6-15, 4-4).

Barrington 4, Wheeeling 2: Barrington (12-11, 4-4) broke open a 2-2 tie in the seventh of the MSL crossover.

Reliever Chris Rogers was the winner and Kyle Fitzpatrick had a double and 2 RBI for the Broncos. Dave Scanlon doubled for the Wildcats (4-16, 0-8).

Palatine 5, Prospect 5 (8 inn.): Prospect tied the MSL crossover with a 4-run seventh and it was suspended after the eighth because of darkness. Matt Molini started the seventh with a double, John Coen had an RBI single, Miles Osei had a 2-run single and Kyle Kapka tied it with an RBI double.

St. Viator 17, Maine East 2 (5): The host Lions (12-7) pounded out 16 hits in the five-inning nonconference win over Maine East (1-14).

Julian Sipora (2-for-2) homered and drove in 2 runs and Mac Mastrangeli (2-for 2) hit a solo homer. Ed Zahrebelski (1-0) was the winning pitcher