Baseball: Sykes swings into action as Conant rolls

Conant's Mason Sykes had a day to remember as the Cougars' baseball team topped Hoffman Estates 11-1 in 5 innings on Tuesday in a Mid-Suburban West opener.

Sykes homered twice, finishing 3-for-3 with 3 RBI to pace a 13-hit effort.

Sam Ryan finished 2-for-3 with a walk and 2 RBI, and Tim Fauth went 2-for-4 and drove in 1 run. Tim Fauth and C.J. DeShazer also had 2 hits for Conant (4-6, 1-0).

Winning pitcher Joe Kawalek allowed 2 hits while striking out five and walking four.

One of the hits for Hoffman Estates (1-5, 0-1) was a double by Nick Grybos.

Buffalo Grove 10, Hersey 0 (5 inn.): Tyler Rundquist and Chase Marsh both homered as Buffalo Grove churned out 12 hits against the Huskies in an MSL East opener.

Marsh finished 2-for-4 with 4 RBI and 2 runs scored, while Rundquist also had a double and drove in 2 runs.

Mac Camardo (2-for-3) also doubled and drove in 2 runs, and Zach Fricke had a pair of hits.

Fricke went the distance for Bison (7-0-1, 1-0), striking out 10 and walking none while limiting Hersey (3-5-1, 0-1) to a single by Tyler Haffey.

Barrington 4, Fremd 3: The visiting Vikes got to Broncos starter Ryan Loutos early, scoring 3 runs in the first inning.

Loutos didn't give up much after that though, and Barrington took the lead for good by scoring twice in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Will Yorton went 3-for-3 and Jeff Korus went 2-for-2 for Barrington (11-3, 1-0), which had Tyler Acosta drive in 2 runs.

Will McCabe drove in all the runs for Fremd (3-7, 0-1) with a bases-loaded double.

Wheeling 12, Rolling Meadows 0 (5 inn.): Brian Maloney tossed a 6-hit shutout with 3 strikeouts as the Wildcats got off to a winning start in MSL East play.

Sophomore Andy Shover finished 2-for-4 with a double, 4 RBI and 3 runs scored as Wheeling (3-4-2, 1-0) pounded out 13 hits. Other big producers for the Wildcats included Mike Wiase, Jack Splett and Drew Roberts, each with 2 hits.

Leadoff man Justin Thompson had 2 hits for Rolling Meadows (1-8, 0-1).

Palatine 7, Schaumburg 1: Jake Andersen's 3-run homer helped host Palatine make the most of 5 hits in an MSL West win against the Saxons.

Jack Grochowski pitched 6⅔ innings, striking out 11 and allowing 7 hits in earning the victory. Zach Oles got the final out for Palatine (5-6, 1-0) and also drove in 2 runs with the bat.

Logan Knox finished 3-for-3 and Jack Lancaster had 2 hits for Schaumburg (5-6, 0-1).

Niles West 6, Maine West 1: Alex Zimmerman drove in the only run for the Warriors (3-6), who were limited to 4 singles in Central Suburban League crossover action.

Willowbrook 8, Leyden 7: The visiting Eagles scored 4 runs in the fifth and 3 in the seventh but couldn't quite catch up to their West Suburban Gold foes.

Josh Cubon (2-for-4, 2 RBI) led the way for Leyden (4-2), which had 5 hits and took advantage of 7 Willwobrook errors.