Glenbard West's Kaske good to the last pitch
Regardless of the outcome, Sam Kaske was facing his last batter.
He made it count.
Coaxing a groundout with the bases loaded, Kaske finished off Glenbard West's 2-0 West Suburban Silver baseball victory Monday over Downers Grove North in Glen Ellyn.
On pitch No. 105 - the maximum allowed under the new pitch-count rules - Kaske capped a brilliant complete-game effort. The senior lefty helped the Hilltoppers (5-8, 2-4) snap a four-game losing streak by striking out seven and walking none while scattering 6 hits.
"The game plan was to attack, attack, attack, and the defense played great today," Kaske said. "I didn't feel like I had my best stuff today, but I felt like I pounded the zone pretty well and got the 'W.'"
Kaske allowed a hit in six innings but didn't face a serious jam until the seventh when two errors gave the Trojans (7-7, 1-3) some life. Downers North starter Nick Taviani was strong as well, allowing 5 hits, but the Hilltoppers scraped together a lone run in the third and fifth innings.
"Credit to them for making plays when they needed to be made," said Trojans coach Chad Isaacson. "And our guy did a nice job keeping us in the ballgame. We need to find a way to battle up with runners in scoring position and battle up with two outs. We need to be able to put the ball in play more and put more pressure on the defense."
A pair of third-inning errors set up Jack Campanella's sacrifice fly that put Glenbard West ahead 1-0. Campanella was hit by a pitch to lead off the fifth and, after Campanella stole second and third, Kevin Spencer singled him home for a 2-0 lead.
After suffering six losses by 3 runs or fewer, Glenbard West enjoyed being on the other side of a close one.
"I'm just happy for Sam to come out and throw the ball that well," said Hilltoppers coach Andy Schultz. "We've had a lot of wasted outings from our pitchers the last two weeks, so it was good to see."
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