Kolakowski, Fremd grab share of West title

Fremd center fielder Zenon Kolakowski is putting together a nice highlight reel of gold glove-caliber catches.

Two weeks ago, Kolakowski made a diving crash and grab into the fence at Elk Grove. His first-inning diving grab Friday at Schaumburg wasn't as physically smashing but still had a significant impact.

"I like this one," Kolakowski said of which catch was better.

Especially since it prevented a potentially big first inning and helped Fremd (16-11, 11-3) clinch a share of its second straight Mid-Suburban West title with an 8-2 victory.

Kolakowski also had a big impact at the plate as he blasted a 2-run homer in the first and went 3-for-4. Junior left-hander Sean Stutzman (5-1) settled down and pitched into the seventh for Fremd, which needs a win or Palatine loss in the final two division games to earn a berth in next Saturday's MSL title game.

"It feels pretty good," said Fremd third baseman Eric Paulson, who went 2-for-4 with a two-out, 2-run single in the fourth for a 5-1 lead. "Hopefully we can beat Hoffman (Monday). We want to win the (MSL) title this year."

Kolakowski hit his first homer of the year on a first-pitch fastball from Schaumburg (7-15, 3-10) lefty Kurt Kempema, who beat Fremd 2-1 in April. In the bottom of the inning, Kolakowski preserved the lead as he robbed Kevin Hilliard of at least a double to right-center with runners at first and second and no outs.

"I got a great jump on that one and saw it well off the bat," Kolakowski said. "It was hit more on a line but the wind kept it up a little bit and I had time to lay out for it."

Joe Dombek (3-for-4) followed with an RBI single but Stutzman ended the inning on a lineout and a flyout.

"(Zenon) is a great defensive outfielder," said Fremd coach Chris Piggott. "That was a heck of a play."

Clint Terry also had 2 hits and Kurt Kaufman had an RBI double and Stutzman had an RBI single in the seventh.

Stutzman threw 46 of his 109 pitches in the first two innings but allowed just 5 hits and 1 earned run with 7 strikeouts and 3 walks.

"Early he was getting the ball up and they were swinging the bats well," Piggott said. "Once he started getting the ball down and finally got his off-speed stuff over he was much tougher to hit."

Hersey 12, Wheeling 2 (5 inn.): Sean Thompson hit one of 4 homers for Hersey (22-8, 10-4) in the 5-inning win as it remained in a tie for the MSL East lead going into Monday's 4:30 p.m. visit by Prospect (17-9, 10-4).

Thompson drove in 4 runs, Alex Lee went 3-for-4 with a homer and 3 RBI and Jake Knauss and Joe Perricone homered. Jay Livesay went 3-for-3 and sophomore Trevor Haas went 4 innings for his second win.

Kalvin Thong had an RBI double for Wheeling (6-20, 2-11).

Prospect 13, Meadows 0 (5 inn.): Miles Osei (3-1) threw his second straight 2-hitter and Thomas Kelly hit his third homer in two games for MSL East co-leader Prospect in the win at Meadows (8-20, 6-8).

Osei had 6 strikeouts and 2 walks and also went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Kelly also had a sacrifice fly, John Coen (3 RBI) and Kyle Kapka had 2 hits and Ed Gerdes had 2 RBI.

BG 9, Elk Grove 5: Greg Sanders (6-1) allowed only 2 earned runs in his fourth straight complete game and hit 2 homers and had 3 RBI as Buffalo Grove (16-11, 9-5) stayed a game behind Hersey and Prospect in the MSL East.

Sanders and Tommy Ricciardi (3-for-4) hit back-to-back homers in a 3-run seventh. Jimmy Pinakidis and Andrew Van Wazer had 2 hits and Mike Hepner's two-out double sparked a 3-run second for BG.

Palatine 3, Hoffman 2: Sophomore Eric Scheuermann allowed only 1 in 4 innings as Palatine (16-12, 9-5) stayed alive in the MSL West race. Vince Portera had a tiebreaking 2-run single with two outs in the third and Dan Haze went 2-for-3.

Trent Rehusch went 3-for-3 and Erik Smoy went 2-for-3 for Hoffman Estates (13-17, 6-8).

Barrington 8, Conant 1: Greg Gerrard (3-1) allowed 2 hits in 6 innings and Barrington (17-13, 8-6) made the most of 4 hits in the MSL West win.

Ricky Alfonso had a 3-run triple for the Broncos and Jim Cook went 1-for-2 with 2 walks and 3 runs. Kyle Gizynski had a double and an RBI for Conant (10-10, 5-8).

Maine West 12, Maine East 1: Tony Meza (7-1) went 7 innings as Maine West (19-7, 11-2) moved closer to a repeat Central Suburban North title.