Vernon Hills edges Grayslake Central

Grayslake Central's baseball team is no stranger to 1-run losses and Saturday was no exception, as visiting Vernon Hills won 5-4 in a nonconference game.

It was Grayslake Central's third 1-run loss of the season.

"We haven't been able to get the clutch hit or the clutch play on defense," Rams coach Troy Whalen said.

Vernon Hills coach Jay Czarnecki was happy the way the Cougars kept it close.

"We did make our share of mistakes, both at the bat and on the field," Czarnecki said. "Our pitchers were able to hang in there for us."

Cougars starting pitcher Sam Perlin picked up his first win of his career. He allowed all four Grayslake Central runs on 6 hits, striking out four and walking two in 3⅔ innings. Andrew Smith pitched 2⅓ innings and Ben Geren threw the seventh for the save.

Sam Nozicka doubled and knocked in 4 runs to lead Grayslake Central.

"We have to come together as a team," Nozicka said. "When we do that, then we'll win the 1-run games."

Vernon Hills scored 3 runs in the top of the second against Rams starter Sam Ruhlmann, as Chris Kahn drove in Drew Winegardner (2-for-2), before Brennan Reback (2-for-3) doubled in both Kahn and Nick Conrad (1-for-2).

Jack Duffley's two-strike single scored Winegardner and Connor McNamara to make it 5-0 in the third, before Grayslake Central got a run back in its half of the inning. The Rams then scored three times in the fourth. They loaded the bases and Nozicka cleared them with a double.

The Rams had runners on first and second with two out in the seventh, but Geren got the final out on a flyball to right field.

Greg Gauger doubled twice for Grayslake Central, while Devin Moran and Hoffman also had doubles.