Metea Valley shows what it can do

On the heels of another all-around strong performance on Tuesday, Metea Valley's baseball team has another opportunity to turn it into a habit.

With their potential in full bloom, the Mustangs opened a three-game Upstate Eight Valley series against rival Waubonsie Valley by topping the Warriors 6-3 in Aurora.

Two more games remain against the Warriors (21-5, 16-3) as Metea Valley (17-8, 11-7) tries to leave behind the inconsistencies of the past. Coming off three straight losses - after winning five straight - the Mustangs have recovered to win their last two games.

"We played pretty well," said Metea Valley coach Craig Tomczak. "We've been able to compete with a lot of teams this year, but sometimes those little things haven't gone our way. I like our group a lot. We need to clean a few things up and hopefully we're starting to peak at the right time of the season."

Metea Valley starting pitcher Sam Janus did his job and then some in 6-plus innings. He allowed a run on a third-inning sacrifice fly by Garret Howicz but didn't allow a hit in his final three innings.

Janus was relieved by Ben Belskis after walking leadoff hitter Casey Kemerling in the bottom of the seventh. Howicz pulled the Warriors within 6-3 with a 2-run, two-out double, but Belskis then ended the game with a strikeout.

Despite the loss first-place Waubonsie Valley still holds a two-game lead in the loss column over Neuqua Valley, which lost its Tuesday UEC Valley game to Bartlett.

"I'm a contact pitcher and had great defense today," Janus said. "I couldn't have done it without them. Great to get the first one."

Jacob Petersen's 2-run triple in the top of the first gave Janus a quick lead that grew to 4-1 on Andy See's fourth-inning 2-run single. After Jack Szott singled home a sixth-inning run, Petersen added a sacrifice fly in the seventh.

Waubonsie Valley starter Brandon Petersen struck out nine in 5 innings of work but took the loss.

"It wasn't our best game, that's for sure," said Waubonsie Valley coach Bryan Acevedo. "We've still got a long way to go here - six more conference games. And we've got to play good baseball."

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