O'Neal sees Glenbard West all the way through
Glenbard West pitcher Justin O'Neal felt one responsibility standing on the mound in the top of the seventh inning.
Finish the job.
The junior right-hander saw the potential game-tying run in the on-deck circle but didn't let it go that far. O'Neal completed the game - a 4-hitter - while leading the Hilltoppers to Monday's 4-1 victory over Hinsdale South in Glen Ellyn.
In his third start and fourth appearance of the season, it was O'Neal's longest outing. In a 91-pitch performance, including 21 in the seventh inning, he struck out five, walked one, hit a batter and allowed no earned runs.
"I just felt it was my duty to help our team win and push through," O'Neal said. "I just go one pitch at a time. If I throw a bad pitch I let it go and move on to the next one. My arm felt great today."
The outcome came down to two-out execution, especially early. In the bottom of the first, a pair of walks set up R.J. Paul's clutch two-out, 2-run single.
That was the only offense O'Neal needed, but the Hilltoppers (3-3) added 2 third-inning insurance runs thanks to two-out errors by the Hornets (3-4). Hinsdale South managed to put some pressure on O'Neal, but he escaped second-and-third jams in the third and fifth inning.
"Our pitching's been good, but we didn't execute," said Hornets coach Paul Hoel, who received 5 solid innings from starting pitcher Anthony Nicholas. "Little things add up. We're not playing as well as we should, but we've got a lot of young guys out there."
Hinsdale South finally broke through with two outs in the top of the seventh, taking advantage of 2 errors to score Zach Duffy with the Hornets' lone run on a double steal. O'Neal then coaxed a groundout to end the game.
Matt Porter and Zach Lutz had 2 hits apiece for the Hilltoppers at the bottom of the order. Four players had hits for Hinsdale South.
"Justin threw well and we made a lot of plays behind him," said Glenbard West coach Andy Schultz. "We had a couple big hits. Getting that lead in the first inning always helps settle them in."
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