Larkin blows out South Elgin

Two of the Upstate Eight Conference’s most successful teams in nonconference play met in the league opener in Elgin Tuesday, but the result was surprisingly one-sided.

Larkin, sparked by a 10-hit attack and a stellar 6-inning performance from starting pitcher Miguel Villafane, blew out previously undefeated District U-46 rival South Elgin 11-1 in six innings.

The Royals scored twice in each of the first two innings against South Elgin starter Kenny Lowden, added 2 runs in the fifth on back-to-back solo home runs by Villafane and Victor Saldana and scored 5 unearned runs in the sixth inning to end the game early.

“It’s a good rivalry, almost as big as Elgin,” said Villafane, who held South Elgin to 1 unearned run on 6 hits, struck out 4 and walked 1. “It was a satisfying win, but we have to come back Thursday and play Metea (Valley), which is a pretty good squad.”

The victory lifted Larkin’s record to 6-2 overall, 1-0 in the Upstate Eight.

“We’ll take it,” Royals coach Matt Esterino said. “We keep telling them to act like you’ve been there before, middle ground. It’s a long season, so we’re still looking to get better. We still have things to work on (today). It’s a good start, but at the same time we have to keep getting better.”

South Elgin (5-1, 0-1) walked 2 Royals, hit 2 batters with pitches and committed 4 errors in the disastrous sixth inning, in which 5 unearned runs scored against left-handed reliever Ryan Ford.

“When you play flat, walk people and boot the ball around, you’re not going to win any games doing that — period,” South Elgin coach Jim Kating said.

Leadoff hitter Trevor Whitehead once again set the tone offensively for the Royals. The senior led off with a double and scored on a Drew Shore’s opposite-field single. Whitehead would finish his day 3-for-4 with 2 doubles, 2 runs scored and a run batted in.

While Whitehead was glad his team won the game, he felt the impact of the victory was lessened somewhat by South Elgin’s lackluster showing.

“South Elgin is a very good team, but it wasn’t their best performance,” Whitehead said. “It wasn’t their “A” game, so we won’t be satisfied with this win. We have to keep working hard, keep going.”

Both teams resume conference play on Thursday. South Elgin welcomes St. Charles East, while Larkin travels to face Metea Valley for the first time. Both games begin at 4:30 p.m.