Gems from Cooney, Ward power Wheeling, Hoffman Estates

Nathan Cooney pitched a nice game and also ended up scoring the winning run as Wheeling got off to a winning start in Mid-Suburban East baseball with a 2-1 victory over Buffalo Grove on Monday.

The visiting Bison had tied it at 1-1 in the top of the sixth. In the bottom half, Cooney walked and eventually scored on a single by Brenden Spillane.

Drew Roberts went 2-for-2 for the Wildcats (6-5, 1-0), and Cooney allowed 5 hits and got 3 strikeouts without allowing a walk.

Hoffman Estates 2, Fremd 1: Ryan Ward helped the Hawks get out to a winning start in MSL West play, tossing a 5-hit complete game.

Fremd had 3 of its hits in the first inning before Ward allowed just 2 the rest of the way.

Starter Mack Rosman also pitched very well for Fremd (6-5, 0-1), permitting 3 hits and striking out eight.

The winning run came across in the third inning, when Jeff Mayes tripled and scored on an error on at attempted play at third base.

Hersey 11, Prospect 7: No. 5 hitter Will Trossen finished 4-for-5 with a double and 2 RBI to help visiting Hersey start with a victory in MSL East play.

Just ahead of Trossen in the Huskies' order, Nick Zouras and Ryan Allain had 3 hits apiece. Hersey finished with 20 hits and used a 6-run seventh to overcome the 4-run deficit it had been facing.

Grant Miller homered for Prospect (10-3, 0-1), and Patrick Donohue, Matt Nadler and Lucas Karz double in a 10-hit attack as the Knights suffered a second straight setback.

Six pitchers saw action for Hersey (2-6-1, 1-0), with Luke LaSalvia getting credit for the victory and Zouras getting a save.

Barrington 12, Schaumburg 0 (6 inn.): Anthony DeLaurentis tossed a 6-inning 4-hitter and also led a 15-hit attack by Broncos with a home run in MSL West play.

Jake Petersen went 3-for-4, Mitch Pfeiffer doubled and had 2 hits and Jimmy Day finished 2-for-4 with a double for the Broncos (7-4, 1-0).

Conant 6, Palatine 5 (8 inn.): Jack Lunkes came through with an RBI single in the eighth inning as the visiting Cougars won their MSL West opener.

Matt Fauth homered for Conant (6-4, 1-0), and Matt Mills, Jack Reiger and Lunkes had 2 hits apiece.

Andrew Breytenbach started for Palatine (5-6, 0-1) and went 7⅔ innings; only 1 of the 6 runs charged to him was earned as the Pirates committed 6 errors. Breytenbach struck out 12.

Jimmy McLaughlin earned the victory in relief of Pat Smith with 3⅔ scoreless innings.