Cary-Grove capitalizes on Hampshire's mistakes
It was a mixed bag for Cary-Grove senior left-handed pitcher Larkin Hanselmann.
Hanselmann, who had a no-hitter through 6 innings, had to work through 5 walks and 4 Trojan errors. But in the end Hanselmann, who worked 6⅓ innings, hurled Cary-Grove to a 6-1 win over Hampshire in Fox Valley Conference baseball action in Cary Wednesday afternoon.
'I really wasn't on my game today," said Hanselmann. "My defense really picked me up with some good plays. I was able to locate my pitches and change speeds early on."
Hanselmann (3-0) gave up 1 run on 2 hits while striking out 6 with 5 walks before giving way to reliever Nick Kirk with one out in the seventh.
"Larkin is a tough kid who did a great job of working through his walks and our errors," said Cary-Grove coach Don Sutherland."He muscled up on some pitches which caused some of the walks. For the season, he has pitched fantastic."
Hampshire (3-2, 0-1), which left 8 runners on base, collected its first hit of the game with one out in the seventh on a single by Nick Mohlman.
Tristyn Ross followed with a single and Mohlman scored on an RBI single by Noah Schrader. Hanselmann left the game after the Schrader single. Kirk entered the game and got the final two outs to preserve the win for the Trojans.
Hampshire wasn't able to overcome 4 errors.
'You can't give Cary-Grove 4 and 5 outs in an inning," said Hampshire coach John Sarna. "Offensively, unfortunately, it took us until the seventh to make adjustments at the plate. We had opportunities but didn't capitalize on them."
Cary-Grove (4-4-2, 1-0) scored first on Hampshire pitcher Trey Schramm in the second on an infield RBI single by Connor Leach.
The Trojans scored 3 more in the fourth, keyed by an RBI double from Jon Starr and an run-scoring single by Hanselmann.
Cary-Grove added an unearned run in the fifth and No. 9 hitter Eric Keniuk lofted a solo homer in the sixth.
Hanselmann led the Trojans' attack with 2 hits and an RBI.
Schramm, the losing pitcher, threw 4 innings giving up 4 runs on 4 hits. He struck out 4 with 2 walks.
"Trey showed some mound rust in his first game of the season," said Sarna, "I do like the way he competed. He will be fine."