Baseball: Libby, Grant get a grip on Grayslake Central

The postgame cheers that erupted from a huddled group of soaking-wet Grant baseball players were, one, for their performance and, two, for trusty right-hander Bryan Libby.

Consider that it took three hours to complete just six innings at Grayslake Central on Saturday and, in a nonconference game that was played in sub-50-degree temperatures and cold rain, 12 pitchers were used. Libby, the third of four Grant hurlers, was the only guy who took the mound who did not allow a base runner.

Someone fetch Libby a warm towel.

"They were just excited," Grant coach Dave Behm said of his players after their 15-8 win.

"The conditions weren't the greatest to pitch in, but they weren't too bad," Libby said.

As he did Friday in earning the save at Zion-Benton, Libby entered the game in a tight situation. With a 1-0 count on Grayslake Central's batter, two out and the go-ahead run at third base, Behm called on his 6-foot-2 senior. Libby got a strikeout to keep the score tied at 7-7 after four innings.

"I thought that's what Bryan would do if he went out there, and (a strikeout) is what I thought we needed," Behm said. "He did it. ... I thought that set the tone for the rest of the game."

After Grant (14-8) scored three times in the top of the fifth thanks in part to 5 walks, Libby retired Grayslake Central (10-10) in order in the bottom of the inning, striking out two more.

Sean Lane pitched the sixth for Grant. Libby - who got Friday's final two outs, stranding a pair of runners - picked up the win to improve to 5-1 to go along with 2 saves.

"He's been big," Behm said.

And Libby was ready to throw for a second day in a row, even though the Bulldogs were playing a nonconference opponent and in dreary weather.

"Behm talked to me before (the game) and asked me if my arm was good," said Libby, who plans to pitch for the College of Lake County next year. "I said, 'Yeah, if I'm needed.' "

Grayslake Central coach Troy Whalen used eight pitchers, with only starter Ryan Casper (2⅓ IP, no-decision) throwing more than an inning.

"You're playing five games in six days," Whalen said. "Once I knew we weren't going to get the JV game in because of the rain, you want to get these guys' (bullpen sessions) in. Our guys just need to do a better job with their composure on the mound. They got rattled, and then they started trying to aim the ball."

Down 6-0 heading into the bottom of the third, Grayslake Central scored 4 runs, highlighted by Ben Fitzgerald's 2-run single. Grant tacked on another run in the fourth, but Sam Nozicka hit a 2-run double in the Rams' fourth, and Fitzgerald's RBI triple followed to even the score at 7-7.

The tie was short-lived, however. Grant put the game away with a 5-run sixth that included Matt Mason's 2-run double.

"I was proud of the way we came back and answered on them," Whalen said. "To overcome one crooked-number inning like we did, OK. But then to give up another crooked number, it's deflating. Then it was like, 'Keep raining.' "

Leadoff hitter Kyle Allen was 2-for-3 for Grayslake Central, while Fitzgerald and freshman Coby Moe (2 RBI) both finished 2-for-4.

Grant was led offensively by Mason (2-for-4, 2 doubles, 3 RBI), Ricky Allen (2-for-3, 2 RBI) and Ray Guardado (2-for-3, double, RBI). Michael Bengston and Ben Kusiak (2 RBI) each contributed run-scoring doubles. James Pendley, Brendan Dreschler (1-for-3), Jake Mitchell (1-for-3) and Ben Marshall also had RBI.

"We lost our way there a little bit, made a few mistakes," said Behm, whose Bulldogs outhit the Rams 11-9. "But we got it back on track."