Naperville North bats put up some big numbers
With one inning of offensive brilliance, Naperville North's baseball team erased four games of frustration.
The Huskies scored 12 runs in their first trip to the plate and rolled to a 21-8 five-inning win over Waubonsie Valley in Wednesday's nonconference matchup in Aurora.
Eleven of Naperville North's first-inning runs came with two outs as the Huskies (2-3) sent 16 batters to the plate. They added 5 runs while batting around again in the top of the second.
Waubonsie Valley (3-3) had its share of booming hits as well, but the outcome was pretty much put to rest with Naperville North leading 17-2 after two innings.
The Huskies' 12-spot in the first inning exceeded the 11 runs in their first four games combined.
"It was crazy, the first four games we've really been struggling hitting," said Laurenzo, who hit a 3-run homer in his second first-inning at bat. "I think our pitching and defense has been good enough to win, but we haven't really hit the ball well enough to win any games. Today it felt nice. Everyone was hitting."
Mark Khoury and Laurenzo, respectively hitting third and fourth, went a combined 6-for-6 with 5 RBI apiece. Sam Siebers, who sparked the two-out first-inning barrage with a 2-run double, also had 3 hits and drove in 4 runs.
That was more than enough offense for Huskies starting pitcher Robert Leonard, who gutted through 4 innings to claim the win. Luke Brennan ended the game by sending down the Warriors in order in the bottom of the fifth.
"It is what it is, that's baseball," said Waubonsie Valley coach Dan Fezzuoglio, whose team has lost three straight after a 3-0 start. "The one thing I'm really concerned with our last three losses, is we were a totally different team when we were 3-0. We have to get back to doing what we were doing then. We weren't making mistakes, mentally and physically. And we had more timely hitting."
The middle of Waubonsie Valley's order had a big day as Tyler Hasper, Ben Vietri and Luke Marzano all had 2 hits. Vietri doubled home a run while Marzano blasted a 2-run homer.
Every starter but Christian Robert had at least one of Naperville North's 16 hits, but Robert walked twice and scored twice. Ryan Krainz and Alex Garon each went 2-for-3 with a double and 2 RBI.
"Big first inning, something we've been waiting for the entire season," said Huskies coach Carl Hunckler. "The bats came alive. It's just one of those unique things. That doesn't happen very often. That's sort of like Halley's comet coming."
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