Baseball: For starters, York hitters get going against Benet
Batting first in the York baseball lineup isn't a completely new experience for senior Cam Fowler.
“I haven't led off at York, but I've led off on different ballclubs so I know how it is,” Fowler said. “You've just got to see pitches. You can't base off your first at-bat the whole game.”
Fowler struck out on four pitches to open Wednesday's game at Benet and then was hit by a pitch.
In his third at-bat Fowler delivered a bases-clearing double that opened breathing room in York's 6-2 victory in Lisle.
The Dukes (2-3), who had 9 hits, have totaled 13 runs in back-to-back victories. In their first three games they scored just 4 runs and lost them by a combined 6.
“We played two very tough opponents with Naperville Central and Waubonsie Valley. It put us to the test,” Fowler said. “I got timely hitting today. Through and through the whole lineup's been real solid. I think it's the team chemistry that's really going to carry us.”
Winning pitcher Matt Riecker (1-0), Marc Thieme and Frank Romano each had 2 hits and Nick Lee doubled. The Dukes scored 3 runs in the third and fourth innings before the Redwings (2-4) scored twice in the fourth.
“I'm always more concerned at the beginning of the season with pitching and defense. That has been what has been keeping us in games,” York coach Dave Kalal said. “We don't historically face a lot of live pitching in practices leading up to our first game so it just takes a little bit of time to get rolling and figure things out.”
Benet still has plenty to figure out with practically an entirely new varsity lineup. Even returnees Dan Sobolewski and Josh Tumpane have missed games because of obligations with basketball and hockey, respectively.
Sobolewski had two infield singles and Mark Moran had two innings of scoreless relief. The Redwings had 8 hits but stranded eight runners, five in scoring position. And throw in two double plays and an apparent hard-hit single to center turning into a force at second base.
“We're at the point right now that little things are way too big because it's early in the season and we're still learning,” Benet coach Scott Lawler said. “A whole lot of new faces. It's going to be a fun season, but we're going to have to kind of learn and play at the same time.”
York No. 8 hitter Joe Polowsky joined No. 7 Thieme and No. 9 Romano in reaching base twice. The trio's consecutive singles, including bunts by Thieme and Romano, set up Fowler's bases-clearing double to left field in the fourth.
“That's got to be our M.O. We have guys in the lineup that have to learn to do those things to get on base so guys at the top of the order can hopefully do their job and get them in,” Kalal said.
After Polowsky walked to begin the third, Romano beat out a sacrifice bunt. On a double steal Polowsky scored following an errant throw to an unoccupied third base. Riecker's infield single scored Romano and Riecker scored with Lee's double and Phil Schlitter's sacrifice fly.
The 3-run double gave breathing room to Riecker, who had a no-decision March 22 against Glenbard East, a 4-3 loss after York led 3-1.
“I had a lot of similar (situations Wednesday), just making sure they put the ball in play to give us a chance to win,” Riecker said. “I did all right. I got in a few jams but most of the time I got out of it.”
Benet designated hitter Josef Haasl started the fourth with a double and scored when C.J. Birck singled. Back-to-back singles by Tyler Bautista and Erik Jones followed, but they were stranded by an infield popup.
A flyout ended the second with the bases loaded. Cole Miller worked the final two innings, hitting one batter.
“They did a good job of mixing their pitches. Instead of us swinging at our pitches, we actually swung at some pretty good pitcher's pitches with guys on, like high fastballs that we popped up,” Lawler said. “Kudos to them and we need to get better at putting the ball in play with guys in scoring position or hitting the pitch we need to.”