Second best for Buffalo Grove

The second inning could not have gone better for Buffalo Grove or worse for Hoffman Estates in Wednesday's Mid-Suburban League baseball crossover.

Carthage-bound left-hander Jeremy Salzman minimized a Hoffman bases-loaded jam to 2 runs. And host BG turned what should have been a 2-run inning into a 10-run outburst and a 12-7 victory.

"Everyone was trying to take it to right field with the wind blowing in," said BG third baseman Andrew Van Wazer, who went that way three times for 2 doubles, a single and 4 RBI. "We had a good approach at the plate. Our hitting has carried us all season."

The only hit Salzman (4-1) gave up in the Hawks (11-13, 6-4) second was the first of Zach Demmon's 2 doubles. Salzman hit 2 batters and gave up bases-loaded walks to Joe Gordon and Chris Fett, who fouled four 3-2 pitches, but escaped with a called strikeout.

"The thing about it is even if Jeremy doesn't have his best stuff, he battles and he's always competitive," said BG coach Jeff Grybash, whose team is tied for second with Prospect in the East and a game behind Hersey.

"I didn't really feel like my stuff was completely there," said Salzman, who threw 115 pitches in 6 innings and gave up 5 hits and 3 earned runs with 7 strikeouts and 4 walks. "But I got the job done and that's all that matters.

"Our main goal this year is to battle through adversity."

Salzman started BG's second when he lined a homer to left through the wind. Van Wazer had 2 doubles, 5-foot-11, 246-pound Greg Sanders followed what he said was the first bunt hit of his life with a 2-run homer and Jimmy Pinakidis had an RBI single.

But Hoffman could have been out of the inning tied at 2-2 when a throw to the plate on Brian Crowell's single was in time to get Jake Monson but was dropped.

Lance Vesper gave the Hawks a shot by allowing 1 earned run and 2 hits with 5 strikeouts in 41/3 relief innings. But it was their third straight disastrous Wednesday after 26-0 and 12-0 losses to Fremd and Prospect respectively.

"We talked about if we're in the battle for a (West) championship we can't afford this," said Hoffman coach Todd Meador, whose team had 5 errors, took 3 called strikeouts with runners at third and lost two runners on the bases. "You cannot beat anybody in our conference playing like that."

Barrington 11, Prospect 10: Jack Scheffler went 5-for-5 to lead a 19-hit Barrington (15-11, 6-4) attack in an MSL crossover where both teams scored 4 runs in the seventh. John O'Connell went 4-for-5, Derek Foderaro homered, doubled and had 4 RBI and Ricky Alfonso (3-for-5) had a 2-run double in the seventh.

Ed Gerdes (3-for-5, 3 RBI) homered, Brian Bauer went 3-for-3 and John Coen was 2-for-4 with 2 RBI for Prospect (13-9, 6-4). Barrington catcher Max Redpath made an excellent play and tag for the game's final out on a rundown.

Hersey 16, Schaumburg 6 (5 inn.): Jake Knauss (4-for-4, 2 doubles, 3 RBI) and Alex Lee (3-for-4, 2 RBI) led an 18-hit attack, Joe Perricone and Steve Danielak homered and winner Ryan Busse (5-2) had 7 strikeouts for MSL East leader Hersey (18-6, 7-3).

Fremd 8, Wheeling 0: Sean Stutzman threw a 4-hitter with 13 strikeouts and 1 walk and Clint Terry homered for West leader Fremd (13-9, 8-2).

Meadows 7, Conant 0: Eric Lowe threw a 5-hitter with 7 strikeouts, Kevin Cwynar went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI and Pat McGinn homered for Rolling Meadows (7-17, 5-5).

Palatine 8, Elk Grove 3: Byron Skinner allowed 1 run with 13 strikeouts and 1 walk in 62/3 innings and went 3-for-4 with a homer for Palatine (13-11, 6-4) in the MSL crossover. Dan Haze went 3-for-4 with 2 homers and Joe Campe also homered. Donny Duschinsky homered for Elk Grove (8-18, 3-7).

Carmel 6, St. Viator 5 (8 inn.): Jimmy Spagna's 2-run single in the bottom of the eighth gave Carmel (19-4, 10-0) the East Suburban Catholic Conference win. Cory Kay homered for Viator (13-10, 5-5).