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Baseball: Larkin turns the tables on Elgin in regional opener

The Larkin baseball team's 9-3 playoff win at rival Elgin on Monday exemplified the direction each team was trending going into the postseason.

No. 10 Larkin (10-23) struggled through the season's first half, its record slipping to 2-17 on April 29 with a 12-3 loss to St. Charles East.

From that point forward the Royals forged a steady, late-season turnaround, winning 7 of their final 13 regular-season games.

Their momentum was undeniable when they faced No. 9 Elgin for the first time since the Maroons swept the 3-game crosstown series during a cold week in April.

Larkin took its revenge by collecting 9 hits, including doubles by Kordell Thomas, Cy Kerber and Jackson Reuter, and right-hander Zach Edgar (5-5) scattered 5 hits in a complete-game victory.

Larkin advances to a Class 4A Barrington regional semifinal on Wednesday at 4 p.m. against Prairie Ridge (29-6), the No. 1 seed in sub-sectional A.

"Credit to our guys for grinding through this season," Larkin coach Matt Esterino said. "They beat us fair and square early in the year, but our guys didn't give in. We kept getting better; We've been playing better lately. Just fundamentals, getting bunts down, moving runners and guys just doing what we preach."

For Elgin (6-29), the loss represented the season in microcosm. Since completing the sweep of Larkin on April 11, the Maroons dropped 22 of 25 games and 13 straight leading up to the playoffs. Nothing improved in the regional play-in game as they committed more errors (8) than they managed hits (5).

"There's no magic switch where we can say, 'Now, it's regionals. Now, we're going to play better,' " Elgin coach David Foerster said. "Unfortunately, this has been our month, how this game unfolded."

Despite its issues, Elgin led 2-1 through three innings, thanks to a first-inning, 2-run single by Matthew Turner and the solid pitching of Brandon Stork (3-8), who went the distance and allowed only 1 earned run.

However, Thomas scored to tie the game 2-2 in the top of the fourth inning on a basehit by Joey Rahn coupled with an outfield error.

The Royals then took the lead for good on an odd play. No. 6 hitter Keonne Mebane laid down a sacrifice bunt. When Mebane arrived at the bag, he collided with Elgin's first baseman, who had drifted into Mebane's route, according to the umpire.

Mebane was called out, but in the wake of the collision Rahn was able to score all the way from second base to stake the Royals to a 3-2 lead.

Foerster argued in vain with the field umpire for an interference call. Instead, he was ejected.

Larkin scored 4 more runs in the sixth to break it open, but it was more run support than Edgar needed. The senior held the Maroons to 3 runs (2 earned) in a 101-pitch outing with 1 walk and 5 strikeouts.

Thomas and Reuter each went 2-for-4 for Larkin while Mebane and Kerber each drove in 2 runs.

Eddy Ramos and Rigoberto Sanchez each had a hit and scored a run for Elgin. Stork went 1-for-3 with a run-scoring double.

  Larkin's Zach Edgar safely slides face first into the dust at third base against Elgin on a base hit by teammate Kordell Thomas in the first inning Monday in Elgin. He then scored on a throwing error. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Larkin right fielder Andy Bonnot makes a catch in foul ball territory to put out Elgin's Brandon Stork Monday in Elgin. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.comElgin's Brandon Stork throws against Larkin Monday in Elgin.
  Larkin's Zach Edgar throws against Elgin Monday in Elgin. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Larkin's Seth Morford legs out a single on a bunt against Elgin Monday in Elgin. He later scored in the third inning. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Elgin's Edmundo Ramos leaps over a sliding Jackson Reuter, of Larkin as he turns a double play on Zach Edgar Monday in Elgin. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Larkin second baseman Michael Rodriguez slides in the dirt as he makes a stop to throw out Elgin's Edmundo Ramos Monday in Elgin. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Larkin's Andy Bonnot safely steals second against Elgin Monday in Elgin. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
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