Baseball: Scouting the Class 2A postseason

Class 2A Morrison Sectional

Regional sites: Westminster Christian, Bureau Valley, Stillman Valley, Warren

Top regional seeds: Rockford Christian, Spring Valley Hall, Byron, Warren Coop

Westminster Christian regionalMatchups: Game 2: No. 6 Westminster Christian (10-18) vs. No. 3 St. Edward (9-16-1), Monday, 4:30 p.m.; Game 1: No. 5 Northridge Prep at North Boone, Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.; Game 3: No. 1 Rockford Christian vs. Northridge Prep/North Boone winner, Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.; No. 2 Aurora Christian vs. Westminster Christian/St. Edward winner, Thursday at 4:30 p.m.; Regional championship: Saturday at noon.

Outlook: Elgin private schools Westminster Christian and St. Edward face each other for local bragging rights and the right to face top seed Aurora Christian in a regional semifinal. The teams were scheduled to play Thursday but the game was rained out. St. Edward can pitch (2.59 ERA), led by the trio of Jake LaFrenz (38 IP, 1-5, 2.21 ERA, 67 K, 222 BB, 32 H), Jack Tierney (39 IP, 3-4, 2.33 ERA, 30 K, 32 BB, 27 H), and Nick Bouley (35 IP, 3-1, 2.80 ERA, 29 K, 10 BB, 36 H). The issues have been fielding and hitting. St. Edward has committed 63 errors in 26 games and has allowed more unearned runs (67) than earned runs (61). The team has also struggled at the plate, where they bat .257 collectively. The exceptions have been seniors Tighe Koehring (.403, 10 doubles, 12 RBI), Michael Castoro (.361, 17 runs, 8 RBI) and Tierney (2 HR, 18 RBI), a junior. Westminster Christian has experienced more fielding trouble than the Green Wave. The Warriors have committed 85 errors in 28 games for a team fielding percentage of .893. Westminster's top pitcher is senior Clay DeHaan (45⅓ IP, 1-5, 2.93 ERA, 63 K, 17 BB, 36 H). The Warriors are strongest at the plate. Offensive leaders include Frank Anquilo (.548, 5 doubles, 4 triples), Tyler Mamrot (.434, 6 doubles, 30 runs), Luke Weston (.430, 7 doubles, 3 triples, 17 RBI), Brendan Ruffolo (.343, 4 RBI) and Ian Merlak (.313, 28 runs, 16 RBI).

Advancement: The winner of the Westminster Christian regional faces the winner of the Warren regional in a Morrison sectional semifinal on Saturday, May 28 at 7:30 p.m.

Class 1A

Hinckley-Big Rock regionalOutlook: No. 5 Elgin Academy opens the postseason against No. 4 Hinckley-Big Rock on Monday at 4:30 p.m. The winner advances to face Kirkland Hiawatha in a regional semifinal on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.