Geneva eases past Streamwood

After splitting the first two games of a three-game Upstate Eight Conference River Division baseball series with a 1-run loss and a 2-run win, Geneva's baseball team took the rubber game at Streamwood with a little bit of comfort.

Batting out of the cleanup spot for the Vikings (5-5, 3-3), Nate Montgomery went 3-for-4 with a double and 4 RBI, and winning pitcher Bryan Callaly (2-1) relied on his defense to get out of some jams as Geneva beat the Sabres (3-8, 2-4) in an 11-1, five-inning game on Thursday.

"I was just telling my assistants that this was the first time in a while that we didn't end in a 1-run or 2-run game," said Vikings' coach Matt Hahn. "It was kind of nice having some breathing room."

Jack Wassel (2-for-3, 3 RBI, 3 runs, 2 stolen bases) and Montgomery drove in runs in the top of the first inning for a 2-0 lead and A.J. Hostman had an RBI in the third for the 3-0 advantage.

However, that breathing room came late after Callaly preserved the early lead by stranding a runner at third base in the first inning and the bases loaded with one out in the second thanks to 2 of his 5 strikeouts. Callaly went 4 innings allowing 7 hits, walking 1 and hitting a batter.

In the bottom of the third inning Callaly again limited the damage after Hayden Holota, Zach Campbell and Tim Crom hit consecutive singles to open the frame and load the bases with no outs for Streamwood. Chris Bauer drove in the Sabres' lone run with a one-out single, but Hostman fielded a sharp grounder to third and got the force out at the plate and Callaly got the Sabres to fly out to center to end the inning with only 1 run allowed.

"I just pretty much had to stay focused on what I've been taught my entire life," Callaly said. "I had to focus on the batters, not on the runners. I trusted my defense to make the play behind me."

Ahead 3-1, Geneva added 3 more runs in the fourth inning and 5 in the fifth to end the game early. Nicholas Porretto (2-for-3), Garrett Davis (3 runs), Jason Croci (2 runs, 2 stolen bases), James Prisco (2 runs, 2 stolen bases, RBI) and Matthew Simpson (RBI) added to the Vikings' offense.

"We were just hoping to get out of that inning tied," Hahn said of the bottom of the third. "Bryan getting out of it like he did really jump started the offense and gave us momentum."

Campbell (0-3) suffered the loss for Streamwood after allowing 8 runs (5 earned) off 10 hits, 2 walks and one hit batter in 4⅓ innings of work.

For Sabres coach Ryan LaSota, stranding so many runners (8 total) was "déjà vu."

"So far, that's been the story of the season," LaSota said. "Throughout this whole series, we've done a good job getting guys on base. We're just not capitalizing on those chances."