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Grayslake C. leaves Orlando with a 'W'

Grayslake Central's baseball team shined in its final game in Orlando, Fla., Tuesday.

Facing undefeated Lebanon, which was the state runner-up in Missouri last year, the Rams pulled out a 6-4 win.

Grayslake Central led 3-0 after five innings, then lost the lead when Lebanon scored 4 runs in the top of the sixth. But the Rams bounced back with a 3-spot in its half of the sixth.

Russ Lundius threw 5 shutout innings with 5 strikeouts and 2 walks, but earned a no decision. Kyle Clark, the third Rams pitcher, tossed the final 1⅔ innings in picking up his first varsity win.

Offensively for GC, Freddie Landers had 2 hits and drove in the game-winning run in the sixth. Mike Stone also had a pair of hits for the Rams, who went 2-2 in Florida.

"It's always nice to leave Disney with a win," said Rams coach Troy Whalen. "We really struggled down here, which surprises me with a somewhat veteran team coming back, but the kids found a way to get the 'W' today. Our pitching was great all week, and I can't say enough good things with how Russ (Lundius) threw the ball today against an aggressive-swinging team."

Vernon Hills 4, Jacobs 3: At John A. Logan College in downstate Carterville, the Cougars weathered the cold and prevailed in eight innings, as John Goehrke scored the winning run on a wild pitch after tripling.

"When Vernon Hills and Jacobs agreed to play this game in southern Illinois, neither team anticipated that the conditions would include a 30-degree windchill," Cougars coach Jay Czarnecki said. "However, both teams were able to battle through the elements to complete a competitive game with an exciting finish."

With Vernon Hills down 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth, Jack Duffley came through for the Cougars with a pinch-hit sacrifice fly to score Tom Earhart.

Brian Schrimmer provided a quality start for the Cougars, throwing 5 innings. He allowed 3 runs (1 earned) on 3 hits, while walking three and striking out four. Earhart earned the win in relief, pitching the final 3 innings, allowing no runs on 1 hit.

Vernon Hills 13, Harrisburg 5: On Monday, the Cougars used an offensive outburst and excellent pitching from Nick Newman to down the perennial Class 2A powerhouse.

Newman pitched 5 innings, allowing 3 hits, 3 earned runs and 1 walk, while striking out five.

Harrisburg struck first, scoring 2 runs on 2 hits in the second inning. The Cougars clawed back in the top of the third, as Pat Crowley (2-for-4, 3 RBI) and John Goehrke (2-for-4, 2 runs) both reached on infield hits and later scored on an error.

Vernon Hills took the lead for good in the fourth. With men on second and third and two out, Harrisburg elected to intentionally walk Goehrke. Two pitches later, Tommy Earhart laced a triple and scored on a throwing error on the same play.

After Newman set the Bulldogs down in the order, Jake Boyer (2-for-4) led off the fifth with a single that sparked a 3-run rally, which also included 3 walks and an infield error.

Vernon Hills put another crooked number on the board in the sixth. This time, it was Crowley who tripled with bases loaded and two out to push the lead to 13-2.

Harrisburg ended the scoring in the bottom of the sixth, taking advantage of a walk, 2 hit batsmen, an infield hit and an error.

Lake Zurich 6, Hazlewood 0: In St. Louis, the Bears won their first game under new head coach Chuck Gandolfi.

Derek Kornfeind worked 5 innings, allowing 3 hits and 3 walks, while striking out four to earn the win. Spencer Wright pitched the final 2 innings, allowing 1 hit.

Steve Vanstedum tripled and knocked in 3 runs for Lake Zurich, while Colton Wagner had a double. Danny Krueger and Danny Neises each had 1 RBI.

"Not much warmer down here, but the field was dusty," Gandolfi said. "We played a sound game with many situations to build on that can't be simulated in practice. Kornfield was tough today. He threw 80 pitches, 55 for strikes."

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