Larkin sweeps St. Edward

Brayden Royse and Jack McCracken came up with strong pitching performances as Larkin's baseball team swept a doubleheader from St. Edward Sunday, 9-4 and 8-1, in the season openers for both teams.

The two Elgin schools traveled to Lentz Field in downstate Jacksonville to get the season-opening twin bill played.

In the opener, Royse went 4 innings allowing just 1 earned run on 4 hits with 5 strikeouts and 2 walks. Will King pitched the final 3 innings, allowing just 1 hit, to pick up the save.

Royse was also 2-for-4 with a double at the plate for the Royals, while Tyler Kalusa (2 RBI), Dan Lenz (2-for-4, 2 doubles), Jon Lenz (2-for-4, RBI) and Johnny Avila (2-for-3, RBI) also contributed.

Tighe Koehring (2-for-4, RBI), Zach West (2-for-3), Ryan Nudd (RBI) and Gino Domel (RBI) led the offense for St. Edward. Jake LaFrenz was the losing pitcher.

In Game 2, McCracken threw 6 innings allowing 1 earned run on 4 hits with 4 strikeouts and no walks to earn the win for Larkin. He also went 2-for-4 at the plate, while Kalusa was 3-for-5 with an RBI and Royse 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.

West had a double and LaFrenz an RBI for the Green Wave. Jack Tierney took the loss.