Lakes stays hot, tops Grayslake C.
Lakes' baseball team stayed hot Saturday.
After losing their first five games of the season, the Eagles have won four straight. Justin Blasinski hit a tiebreaking homer in the sixth, as Lakes beat host Grayslake Central 4-2 in nonconference action.
Grayslake Central (8-7) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning, as Freddie Landers had a leadoff double and scored on a single by Pat Burba.
Lakes (4-5) tied the game in the fifth. Joey Dahlke led off with a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved to third on Cody Nuxoll's sacrifice bunt. After Ethan Sage lined out to the second, Bryan Gross drew a walk. Joe Sisk then singled to tie the game at 1-1.
The Eagles got the remainder of their runs in the sixth. Blasinski led off with a solo home run to center field. Chase Slota then singled to left center. Brad Borzick pinch ran for Slota, stole second and scored on a single by Bill Morris. A sacrifice bunt by Dahlke moved Morris to second, before Nuxoll delivered a double down the left-field line to score Morris.
Gross earned the win with 2 innings in relief. He struck out four and allowed 1 unearned run on 2 hits. Morris picked up the save, throwing the last two innings, allowing 0 hits and striking out three.
Vernon Hills 5, Fenton 3: Brian Schrimmer and Nick Newman (third save) allowed a combined 3 hits, as the Cougars captured the nonconference game.
Shrimmer went 5 1/3 innings, allowing 3 runs (1 earned), striking out three and walking three. Newman fanned three and didn't walk a batter in 1 2/3 no-hit innings.
Once again, the Vernon Hills pitchers were supported with excellent defense, highlighted by outstanding plays by shortstop Jake Boyer and second baseman John Goehrke, coach Jay Czarnecki said.
Vernon Hills' Tommy Earhart went 2-for-3 with a run scored, stolen base and an RBI. Boyer (1-for-4), Pat Crowley (1-for-4, run, RBI), Jacob Feece (1-for-2, stolen base), Andrew Willey (1-for-3, 2 runs, stolen base), Connor McNamara (RBI) and Jordan Freibrun (RBI) also contributed offensively.
Libertyville 6, Evanston 1: Sean Ferraro led the Wildcats to the nonconference win, going 3-for-4 with 2 RBI and a run scored.
Libertyville (11-2) got 2 hits apiece from Noah Greenberg and Jimmy Govern (double, RBI, stolen base). Andrew Mack pitched 5 innings in earning the win.
Stevenson 12, Crystal Lake Central 4: Mitch Goll went 4-for-4 with 2 RBI for the visiting Patriots in the nonconference game.
Joey Morris (2-for-4, double, RBI), Sam Harris (2-for-5, double, 2 runs) and Sean Wilson (2-for-4, 3 RBI) also had big days offensively for Stevenson (4-6). Joe Olker allowed 2 runs over 4 innings to earn the win.
Mundelein 17, Rolling Meadows 5: The Mustangs improved to 16-0, getting 2-for-3 efforts from Michael Metz, Derek Parola and Ryan Hollander. Hollander and Luke Peterson doubled, while Luke Adams tripled. Tyler Kozaritz earned the win.
Deerfield 7, Grayslake North 5: Despite a 3-for-4 day from Alex Alvarez, the Knights dropped the nonconference game.
Alvarez had a double, 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. Merrick Gentile went 2-for-3 with an RBI for Grayslake North (7-8), while JP Zalewski also hit a double.
Prairie Ridge 6, Wauconda 1: Joey Lovelle accounted for the visiting Bulldogs' only run with his second home run of the season.
Wauconda (3-8) fell behind 4-0 in the first inning.
Grant 11, Cary-Grove 6: Simeon Lucas jacked a 3-run homer, doubled and knocked in 4 runs for the visiting Bulldogs in their nonconference win.
Ryan Noda (double, 2 RBI) and Eddie Kusiak also had a pair of hits each for Grant (13-1). Doug Murphey (2-1) pitched 5 innings for the win, allowing 3 earned runs.
Johnsburg 7, Antioch 1: Collin Prather homered for the Sequoits' only run in their nonconference loss.
McHenry 8, Lake Zurich 1: The Bears had just 3 hits, including a triple by Nick Jones and double by Colton Wagner, in dropping to 8-5.