Atteo pitches Prospect past Elk Grove; Barrington rallies past Fremd

Prospect needed it, and Pasquale Atteo went out and got it for the Knights.

Atteo came up with a solid complete-game pitching performance for a second straight outing to help Prospect bounce back against Elk Grove 7-2 Wednesday in Mt. Prospect.

"It was a big win for us," said Prospect coach Ross Giusti, whose team lost to Elk Grove 6-5 on Monday. "Pasquale was just phenomenal. He was locating everything and he had a good rhythm today."

The victory left Prospect (19-6, 8-3) and Elk Grove (15-7, 8-3) deadlocked atop the MSL East. The teams have 2 games each against East opponents and 3 games against the West, with both teams both still having to play West leader Barrington.

Pitching could make the difference down the stretch, and it did Wednesday.

Atteo (4-1) was coming off a 1-hit performance against Buffalo Grove. He allowed 6 hits against Elk Grove, with 4 of those coming in the third inning when the Grens scored both of their runs.

"I just go out there every day with an edge and try to compete," said Atteo, who allowed just 1 hit after the third. "I just try to have my mind focused and have the right mentality before the game. It was a big game, but we are still trying to take it game by game."

Elk Grove was in control early thanks to its third inning, and the defensive play of catcher Sean Fege.

The Grens had 3 consecutive singles by Taylor O'Connor, Austin Shallcross and Matt Wary to load the bases with no outs in the third. Christian Camacho, who had 2 hits, followed with a sharp single to right, driving in O'Connor. But Prospect right fielder Mike Piotrowski made a perfect throw home to gun down Shallcross. Wary later scored on a fielder's choice to make it 2-0.

Meanwhile, Fege threw out one runner attempting to steal and ended a Prospect threat in the third when he picked a runner off of first.

Undaunted, Prospect came back to tie the game in the fourth.

The Knights loaded the bases on an error, a walk and single by Piotrowski. Jack Courtney then blooped a single into left, scoring a run, and Prospect tied the game on a bases-loaded walk.

Prospect broke it open in the next inning when they batted around to score 5 runs.

Jake Cavaiani, who struggled on Monday, recovered very nicely Wednesday with his second hit of the game, a long shot to right-center for a double. A single by Luke Karz and a walk loaded the bases for the Knights.

Courtney walked to force home a run and Trey Compton had a sacrifice fly to drive in another to make it 4-2. Tyler Damasky, who did not play on Monday, then belted a triple to right to clear the bases and break the game open.

"It has been an up and down season for me," said Damasky, who had 2 hits on the day. "I am just trying to help the team any way I can."

Damasky would scored easily on Matt Nadler's single as the Knights led 7-2.

"I think we picked ourselves up with two outs with guys in scoring position," Giusti said. "Some guys stepped up today with some really big hits."

Elk Grove coach Terry Beyna said pitching was the difference in the game.

"I think we came out with good intent," Benya said. "But execution, especially on the mound, was poor. Any time you don't throw enough strikes and get ahead of hitters, especially against a quality team like theirs, you are going to pay for it."

Barrington 7, Fremd 6: The host Broncos came up with a two-out, 3-run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning to earn a wild victory in MSL West play.

Barrington (19-7, 10-1) got a two-game split with Fremd which leaves the Broncos with a 4-game lead in the West Division.

Casey Dodge and Mitch Pfeiffer both had 2 hits for Barrington. Pfeiffer stole 2 bases, and one of Dodge's hits was a double.

Nick Marion earned a win in relief after tossing 2 scoreless innings and Jake Coon drove in 2 runs.

Mack Rosman started for Fremd, striking out seven and allowing only an unearned run in his 4 innings.

Fremd (12-12, 6-5) got a solo homer from Tom Austin, a triple from Kaz Higuchi and 2 hits apiece from Ian Bohn and Ethan Hajdukovic.

Buffalo Grove 9, Hersey 8: The host Bison did all their scoring in the first four innings and made it hold up for a second straight win against Hersey in MSL East play.

Justin Hasek drove in 2 runs and earned a pitching victory, and Joey Pinakidis and Ben Moran had 2 hits apiece for the Bison (11-14, 6-5).

The top four hitters in the order for Hersey (7-13-1, 5-6) - Brett Harris, Will Trossen, Ryan Allain and Nick Zouras - had 2 hits apiece as the Huskies produced 11 hits.

St. Viator 4, Marian Central 1: Cole Kmet tossed a complete game, striking out three and allowing only an unearned run as the host Lions (19-7) prevailed in East Suburban Catholic Conference play.

Kmet had a fine day at the plate as well, finishing 3-for-3 and driving in a run. Matt Darling drove in 2 runs, Ben Dickey went 1-for-2 with a pair of walks and 2 runs scored, and Kevin Monson had a double.

Conant 8, Hoffman Estates 4: Nick Roberts delivered the big hit, a 3-run homer with two outs in the top of the sixth inning, to help Conant top the host Hawks.

Matt Mills tossed a complete game for Conant (14-9, 6-5), allowing 6 hits and 3 walks with 3 strikeouts as the Cougars moved into a second-place tie with Fremd in the MSL West.

Ryan Ward worked 6 innings for Hoffman Estates (10-10, 3-8) and struck out 10.

Wheeling 5, Rolling Meadows 3: The host Wildcats produced a 5-run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a second straight from the Mustangs in the MSL East.

Matt Vollmer scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball for Wheeling, which got a complete game from Nathan Cooney (5 strikeouts, no walks) on the mound along with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate.

Brenden Spillane finished 2-for-3 for the Wildcats (8-14, 3-8), and Alex Khaterchian and Christian Hubbard both drove in 1 run.

Jack O'Neil and Terry Moran had 2 hits apiece for Rolling Meadows (4-20, 2-9).

Palatine 7, Schaumburg 1: Mitch Dolen's 3-run homer in the sixth inning helped give the visiting Pirates some breathing room and a two-game split with the Saxons in MSL West play.

Andrew Breytenbach doubled twice, and Chris Macahon also doubled and drove in 2 runs for Palatine (9-16, 4-7).

Winning pitcher Chris Refka limited Schaumburg (13-10, 5-6) to 4 singles while striking out four.