Coon takes control as Barrington wins in 10

Barrington's Jake Coon wanted another opportunity. And when he got it, he didn't let it slip away.

After striking out with the bases loaded and the game tied in the eighth inning, Coon delivered a shot to right-center field. That hit drove in the winning run from third in the 10th inning as Barrington outlasted Hoffman Estates 4-3 Wednesday in Barrington.

"It was a makeup," said Coon, who helped tie the game in the bottom of the seventh. "If I strike out with the bases loaded and two outs, I better do that the next chance I get."

Barrington (16-6, 8-0), which has won 10 in a row, almost saw that streak come to a crashing end to a Hoffman Estates team that the Broncos had beaten 12-0 in 5 innings on Monday.

"I told our team to be careful today," Barrington coach Pat Wire said. "That Hoffman team is a hungry team. (Hoffman coach) Todd Meador does an amazing job of motivating his players. You would have never thought by the way they played that they lost 12-0 to us."

Meador was pleased how his team came back on Wednesday.

"It was a gut-check game for us," Meador said. "I was very proud of the way they competed. Both teams had chances to win and they were the ones who were able to do it."

Hoffman Estates pitcher Ryan Davalos, who was making just his second start, handcuffed a Barrington offense that had produced 92 runs in the Broncos' last 9 games.

He got a lead when Brandon Harris reached base in the fourth on a walk. With one out, Matt Roesch lined a double to the gap in right-center to score Harris and put the Hawks up 1-0. Barrington finally broke through against Davalos in the bottom of the fifth. Jake Petersen singled and went to second on a wild pitch. Casey Dodge then drove in pinch runner Andrew Stopka with a single to left to tie the game at 1.

Hoffman Estates (9-8, 2-6) regained the lead in the sixth as Doug Rathje homered to lead off the inning. The Hawks then pushed over an insurance run when Jeff Mayes singled, went to second on a wild pitch, to third on a fielder's choice and scored on Brad Willis' sacrifice fly.

Barrington was down to its last chance against Davalos in the seventh. They loaded the bases on 2 hit batters and a walk. Coon hit a slow roller up the middle, and Hoffman Estates attempted to turn into a double play. But the throw was wild, with Coon safe and Mitch Pfeiffer racing across with the tying run.

That's when the Houdini act began for both teams.

Mayes was able to pitch Hoffman into extra innings in the seventh, when he got a flyout to end the inning, stranding Barrington runners on second and third.

In the following inning, Barrington loaded the bases with no outs. But Mayes struck out Pfeiffer and Jake Petersen swinging and got Coon looking at a third strike on a full count to end that threat.

Hoffman Estates had its chance to take the lead in the ninth when they loaded the bases on walks with 2 outs. But Petersen, who came on to throw 3 scoreless innings in relief, got a strike out to end that opportunity.

Mayes avoided another threat in the Barrington ninth and almost got through the 10th.

Jimmy Day, who made two spectacular catches in right field for Barrington, led off the decisive inning with a single.

"I was just trying to help my teammates with my fielding," Day said. "I was glad to get on base at the end."

Day was bunted to second by Pfeiffer. After a flyout, Coon found himself with 2 strikes before drilling the ball for the game-winner.

Casey Dodge had 3 hits for Barrington, while Day and Coon each had 2 hits.

"I am glad I have 40 guys on the roster," Wire said. "I almost needed them all. It was just trying to stay calm and be persistent out there."