Baseball / Lake County roundup

Junior Justin Blasinski stole the show on senior day for Lakes' baseball team.

Blasinski provided the the game-winning RBI on a bases-loaded single to center field in the bottom of the eighth inning, as the Eagles defeated visiting Marian Central 4-3 Saturday.

Blasinski was 3-for-4 on the day with 2 RBI. Lakes (19-12) received another strong pitching performance from Vince Rotunno, who went 6 solid innings, allowing only 2 unearned runs on 3 hits.

The Eagles could not hold a 3-2 lead in the top of the seventh, however, as Marian Central tied the game with the help of 2 walks and a wild pitch.

In the bottom of the eighth, senior Brad Borzick led off the inning with a walk. Senior Joe Sisk followed by drawing another walk and then after a wild pitch put runners on second and third, junior Bryan Gross was intentionally walked to load the bases. That brought Blasinski to the plate for his end-of-game heroics.

Bill Morris (2-1) pitched 2 innings in earning the win.

Grayslake Central 11, Wauconda 3: Leading 4-2 heading into the top of the seventh inning, the visiting Rams erupted for 7 runs.

With the nonconferene victory, Grayslake Central closed out the regular season with a 24-10 record, having won 16 of its last 18 games.

Jay Hoffmann, Freddie Landers and Kyle Clark each had a pair of hits with Hoffmann scoring 3 runs and Landers and Clark each plating a pair. On the mound, junior David Llorens picked up win No. 5 on the season as he, Kyle Henke (3 strikeouts, no walks) and Greg Gauger (2 strikeouts) combined for 8 strikeouts and 5 hits.

"It was a great regular season and I'm happy for the kids for winning conference and just playing sound baseball, " Rams coach Troy Whalen said. "They are relaxed and having fun, and that's what the game is about."

Tyler Meyer was 2-for-3 for Wauconda (10-19).

Vernon Hills 10, Niles West 4: Tommy Earhart went 3-for-4 with a triple, double, 4 RBI and 2 runs scored, as the Cougars finished the regular season wirh a nonconference victory.

An 11-hit, 10-run outburst helped Vernon Hills (22-11) end a four-game skid. Jake Boyer (2-for-3, double, 3 runs), Connor McNamara (2-for-2, run, 2 RBI) and John Goehrke (2-for-3, run) also had big days at the plate. Pat Crowley also had a triple.

Winning pitcher Nick Newman (7-4) allowed 1 run on 1 hit over4 innings. Crowley threw 3 innings of relief.

Mundelein 5, Highland Park 1: Derek Parola went 2-for-4 with a 2-run homer for the Mustangs in their regular-season finale.

Luke Peterson was 2-for-2 with a double, Ryan Hollander went 2-for-4 and Adam Turner got the win for Mundelein (31-2).

Grayslake North 11, Maine East 1: Freshman Pat Schafer earned the win in his first varsity start, pitching 6 innings, allowing 1 run, which was unearned, while striking out eight and walking just one.

Andrew Mikusa went 3-for-4 to lead the visiting Knights' 15-hit attack. Grayslake North got 2 hits apiece from Merrick Gentile (double, 2 RBI), JP Zalewski, Alex Alvarez, Ryan Gross (double) and Dylan Foster.

Warren 3, Schaumburg 2: Andrew Nickell went 2-for-3 with an RBI, as the Blue Devils captured their regular-season finale.

Scott Gordon got the win, while Andrew Hill notched the save. Ben Dinter singled and walked for Warren (21-12-1), while Dominic Cuevas singled and scored.

Lake Zurich 7, Evanston 2: The host Bears got 3-for-4 efforts from both Danny Neises and Trevor Staley, each of whom are had an RBI.

Lucas Ehrhardt was 2-for-2 for Lake Zurich, which was playing its first of two games on the day, while Colton Wagner knocked in a pair of runs. Neises' double accounted for the Bears' only extra-base hit.

Sam Zoibi went the distance on the mound to earn the win, allowing no earned runs, 8 hits and striking out one.

Lake Zurich 5, Deerfield 4: In their second game of the day, the host Bears scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh.

Lake Zurich (19-11) received 2-for-3 performances from Danny Neises (double) and Nick Sanders, each of whom also drew a walk.

Nick Aiello picked up the win in relief.

Libertyville 8, Glenbrook North 2: Jimmy Govern had 2 of the Wildcats' 6 hits in their final regular-season game and also drove in 2 runs.

Hunter Van Wagner (3 RBI) and Ben Manski doubled for Libertyville (29-5).

Patrick Wales was the winning pitcher, allowing both Glenbrook South runs in 4 innings, while striking out five and walking five. Jack Shanahan threw 2 scoreless innings for the Wildcats, and Ben Kimpler tossed 1 inning without allowing a run.

Stevenson 5, Cary-Grove 4: