Baseball: Geneva downs Bartlett

Geneva 11, Bartlett 4: A 5-run first was bookended by a 4-run sixth for the Vikings (10-4, 6-1) during an Upstate Eight win over the Hawks. Dylan Baer was a monster, going 4-for-4 with a home run and a double while Jack Wassell (2-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 2B), Justin Hasewega (3-for-4, RBI) and AJ Hostman (2 RBI) added to the offense. Mitchell Merges (5 IP, 2 ER, 4H, 5K, 2 BB) improved to 3-1 on the mound. Johnny Johnson doubled for Bartlett (3-9, 1-1) while Eric Johansen had 2 hits.

Burlington Central 9, Barrington 8: Never say die. The Rockets (7-6) may have given up 3 runs in the top half of the seventh to blow a 1-run lead against the Broncos, but Paddy McKermitt's walk off single that scored Josh Noeska capped a 3-run comeback, all with 2 outs in a nonconference win. The seventh began when Craig Schuring reach on an error. After a 1-out single by David Lauber, Schuring stole third base. With runners on the corners with 2 outs, Brandon VanBuren (2-for-4, 2 RBI) singled to left, scoring Schuring. Lauber also scored and McKermitt (3-for-3, 4 RBI) followed with the game-winner. Noeska also earned the win in ⅔ innings of relief.

Kaneland 5, ACC 4 (8 inn.): Jacob Violett reached base safely on an error in the eighth inning and an error on Matt Rosko's grounder to second allowed Violett to score in extras for the Knights (3-5) in nonconference action. Hitting stars for Kaneland were Weigand (3-for-3), Luke Calabrese (3-for-4, 2R, 2 2B) and Jake Marczuk (2-for-3) while Will Ring (3 IP, 0 ER, 1H, 1K) earned his first win of the year. Jimmy Laurenti went 3-for-4 for ACC (10-5) while Sean Sinisko doubled. Austin Berens had 2 hits but suffered the loss on the mound.

West Aurora 6, Batavia 5: The Blackhawks (3-5-1, 1-0) put up a 4-spot in the third and used 2 insurance runs in the sixth to help stave off the Bulldogs (7-3, 4-3) for a UEC crossover win. Ryan Becker (2-for-4, 2 RBI, 2B, 3B) was a tough out along with Connor Palmby (2-for-4, 2 RBI), who gave enough offense for Trevor Hannan's win, who gave up 5 hits on 3 runs (2 earned) with 5 walks and 1 strikeout. Logan Love got the save. Batavia's Jared Martin went 2-for-3 (2B, RBI).

St. Charles East 11, West Chicago 1 (5 inn.): The Saints (8-5, 3-2) 7-run seventh did all the damage against the Wildcats in UEC crossover action. Kyle Tiltges (2-for-4, 3B), Joe Sciarrino (2-for-3), Nik Klebosits (2-for-3, 2 RBI), Corbin Marucco (2-for-3, RBI) led the Saints offense while Shawn Ligocki got the win on 67 pitches in 4 innings. He struck out 4 on 4 walks with 1 earned run and 2 hits.

South Elgin 11, Larkin 7: The Storm (4-4, 1-0) cranked out 14 hits to get past the Royals in UEC crossover action. Kevin Barry (3-for-3, 2 RBI) and Nate Gomez (3-for-4) led South Elgin while Adam Walker (2B), Mitch Butvilas (2 RBI) and Patrick Keaty (RBI) had 2 hits each. Bryant Diel also doubled while pitcher Jake Stanck (5.1 IP, 5 H, 4R, 2 ER, 7K, 2BB) got the decision. Larkin's best offensive hitter was Zach Edgar who had 2 hits while Mario Marengo had 2 RBI. Michael Rodriguez and Kordell Thomas doubled but it wasn't enough for Sam Morford on the mound, who gave up 4 earned runs on 6 hits and 3 walks in the loss.

Dundee-Crown 4, Woodstock 0: Danny Denz didn't need much offense to support him on the mound as he allowed 2 hits and struck 14 on 111 pitches in a FVC crossover win. The Chargers (8-5, 3-0) did come around with 4 in the sixth, as Andrew Zimmer and Jonathan Mays both went 2-for-3 with 1 RBI.

CL South 11, Woodstock North 0 (6 inn.): The Gators (3-0 in FVC) improved to 11-0 overall by beating the Thunder by the same token in shortened play. Gaffin Bright (3-for-4, 3 RBI) and Michael Humprhey (2-for-3, 3 RBI, 2B) led the CLS offense in this FVC crossover win. Ethan Weinandy tripled and Brad Quinlan double and pitcher Kyle Lang (1H, 8K, 4 BB) tallied the win in 5 innings pitched.

Jacobs 12, Grayslake North 4: Three runs in the second, third and fourth were a big reason the Golden Eagles (11-1, 4-0) were able to pound out 17 hits in a FVC crossover win. Camreon Wilson (4-for-5), Nate Meland (3-for-4, 3B, RBI), Casey Dennison (2-for-4, 2R) and Adam Kale (2-for-4, 2R) carried the Jacobs offense. Bryce Pahl (2B) had 3 hits and 3 runs scored while pitcher Brad Demkovich (4H, 4 ER, 5K, 3 BB) needed 4 innings to notch the win.

Streamwood 2, East Aurora 0: Adam Sodja struck out 13 Tomcats and gave up just 2 hits on 4 walks in a UEC crossover win. Ryan Fitzgerald (3-for-3) doubled and scored 2 runs while Juan Payne had 2 hits for the Sabres (2-10, 1-6).

Elgin Academy splits: The Hilltoppers for the first time in school history beat a 3A school to improve to 11-4 overall and 2-1 in the Independent School League conference. In the win, Kevin Kuykendall (2-for-4) and Andrew Wilson (2-for-3) both doubled and had 2 RBI. Kuykendall earned the win by going 3 inning, allowing 4 hits on 2 earned runs and 2 walks. Game 2 was right in their grasp until the Romans walked off with 2 runs in the seventh. Jonathan Cruz's triple scored 2 and Ian Wilson also tripled. Henry stone doubled for his only hit while Kuykendall suffered the loss in relief.

Harvest dominates IMSA: In Game 1 of a 2-game Northeastern Athletic conference sweep of IMSA, the Lions cruised to a 17-4 win behind Jack Nohava (2-for-4, 4 RBI), Ricky Lattanzio (2-for-4, 2 RBI) and Joey Pepper, who had 4 hits, including a double. Dominik Olech and Chad Jakel each had doubles as Harvest cranked out 17 hits, including a big 9-run sixth to break things open. Jakel earned the win on the mound in 3.1 innings of work, giving up 5 hits on 2 earned runs and 3 strikeouts. Game 2 was none different as Harvest (7-7, 4-2) won in 5 innings 16-1 as Olech went 3-for-3 with 4 RBI and 2 doubles. Also adding to the offense was Pepper (2-for-3, 2 RBI), Nohava (2-for-3, RBI, 2B), Drew Lewis (2-for-2, 2B, RBI), Reilly Gebhards (2-for-2, 2 RBI, 3B) and Grant Young (2B) as the Lions cranked out 16 hits. Pepper got the win in 4.2 innings, throwing 70 pitches allowing just 1 run on 3 hits with 6 strikeouts and 1 walk.

Westminster gets 2: The Warriors (6-11, 5-0) dominated the twin bill against Rockford Christian Life in Northeastern Athletic action. Game 1's 5-run second decided matters as Matthew Schulenburg (1-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 RS, BB) homered to lead the way. Theron Dorsey (2-for-3, RBI, BB), Tyler Schoemann (2B, RBI) gave enough offense for Justin Rassmussen (4IP, 2H, 2ER, 10K, 3 BB) to get the win on the mound. Game 2 saw Westminster jump out to a 5-0 lead after a 2-run third and 1 run in the fifth was the difference as Christian Life rallied for 3 in the fifth and 1 in the seventh. Held to just 6 hits, Dorsey, Mason Runkel and Ian Merlak all had 1 RBI each while Schoemann (4 IP, 4H, 3R, 1 ER, 4K, 3 BB) earned the win on the mound and Nathan Martinez (2B), who had the game's only extra base hit, notched the 3-inning save.

Prairie Ridge 4, Huntley 2: A 2-run, sixth inning rally by the Wolves gave PR the edge in this FVC conference matchup. Tyler Koss and Joe Rizzo each had 1 RBI while Jeff Heinrich doubled. Adam Smylie suffered the loss on the mound for the Red Raiders (9-5, 3-2).

CL Central 6, Cary-Grove 5: The Trojans (9-6, 3-2) jumped on the Tigers early with a 3 runs across the first 2 innings but a 3-run third and a 2-run fifth gave the Tigers just enough for the FVC win. Tyler Pennington (2-for-4, 3B, RBI) and Dallas McDonough (2 RBI) carried the C-G offense.

Glenbard East 9, Elgin 1: The Maroons (4-9, 4-1) surrendered 6 doubles and runs in every frame except the first and seventh innings of a Upstate Eight crossover loss. Eddy Ramos was 1-for-2 with a run scored.