Baseball/Fox Valley roundup
South Elgin 4, Hampshire 1: Justin Brylski reached on a one-out error in the top of the fifth and scored the go-ahead run on Nick Menken's single, and the Storm added 2 insurance runs in the seventh to win this nonconference game. Junior Antonio Danesi went 2-for-3 with a double and RBI, and junior pitcher Max Keough tossed a 3-hitter with 6 strikeouts and a walk to lift South Elgin. Trey Schramm, Colin Gogoel and Brandon Bowen had the only hits for Hampshire (2-4). Losing pitcher Alex Crinigan went the distance, allowing 4 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits wit a walk and 6 strikeouts.
St. Edward 6, IC Catholic Prep 0: Junior Jake LaFrenz pitched a 2-hit, 16-strikeout masterpiece to power St. Edward (1-5-1) to its first victory of the season in this Suburban Christian Gold opener. LaFrenz walked 1 batter and hit another with a pitch in his 107-pitch outing. The St. Edward offense was held to a lone hit by Vicente Camerena, yet five different Green Wave batters were credited with a run batted in due to 7 bases on balls issued by IC, which also committed 5 errors.
Schaumburg 5, Larkin 4: The Royals scored twice in the bottom of the seventh, but Schaumburg reliever Johnnie Flynn notched the save with a 3-pitch strikeout that stranded the tying run at third and the winning run at second. Losing pitcher Will King (1-1) allowed 4 runs (1 earned) on 9 hits. He walked 2 and struck out 4 in 5 innings, but the junior was undermined by 5 Larkin errors. Senior Brayden Royse went 2-for-2 with a double, 2 walks and 2 RBI for Larkin (4-2). Rockford East 9, Westminster Christian 4: Ian Merlak went 3-for-3, Nick DeMaira went 2-for-2 with a double and a walk and Justin Rasmussesn drove in 2 runs, but it wasn't enough in this nonconference loss to the E-Rabs. Three Westminster Christian pitchers were allowed 9 runs (3 earned) as the Warriors (1-7) committed 4 errors. Starter Brendan Ruffolo took the loss. He allowed 3 first-inning earned runs on 3 hits and 3 walks.
Conant 8, Dundee-Crown 0: Five Chargers singled but they couldn't muster a run in this nonconference loss in Hoffman Estates. Anthony Forte went 2-for-4 with a double and 4 RBI for Conant. Losing pitcher Jared Ludwig allowed 3 runs (2 earned) on 4 hits, walked 1 and struck out 3 in 4 innings for Dundee-Crown (3-5).
Huntley 6, Rockford Boylan 4: Trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth, Illinois recruit Mark Skonieczny hit a 3-run home run to give Huntley the lead and Jon Nugent singled home another run to cap the rally. which made a winner or relief pitcher Kyle Sabie (3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 4 K). Skonieczny, Matt Sullivan and Tommy Kiriakopolous each had a double among their 2 hits for Huntley (5-2-1).
Johnsburg 3, Crystal Lake South 1: Casey Oliver went 2-for-3 with a triple, but the Gators were held to 4 hits and were unable to capitalize on 3 walks and 2 Johnsburg errors. Winning pitcher Jake Schyvinck's complete game effort topped South's Michael Danca, who allowed 3 earned runs on 4 hits in 5 innings.
Jerry Fitzpatrick contributed to this report