Baseball: Elgin Academy claims Class 1A regional title

Elgin Academy scored 5 runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and went on to a 9-4 win over Westminster Christian Saturday in the championship game of the Class 1A Walther Christian baseball regional in a game that was moved to the turf field at Judson University in Elgin.

The Hilltoppers (22-5), who won their second-straight regional title, will play in the Harvest Christian sectional at Judson on Wednesday at 7 p.m. against the winner of the Chicago Hope Academy regional. That game, between Somonauk and Serena, was postponed Saturday and will be played Monday. Somonauk eliminated Elgin Academy in last year's sectional semifinals.

In Saturday's win, Ethan Hill had 2 hits for EA while Kevin Kuykendall doubled and had 2 RBI, Jordan Hare drove in 3 runs and Ethan Plantz added 2 RBI. Starting pitcher Jonathan Cruz, who allowed 7 hits and had 9 strikeouts in 5⅓ innings, added a double.

Ian Wilson earned the win on the mound with 1⅔ innings of relief in which he allowed 1 hit and had 2 strikeouts.

Nathen Martinez (RBI) and Mason Runkel each had 2 hits for Westminster (16-8) and JT Stoll drove in 2 runs.

Harvest Christian, Aurora Christian ppd.: The other two Class 1A regional title games in the Fox Valley area were postponed Saturday. Harvest Christian vs. Luther North at Luther North and Aurora Christian vs. Newark at Aurora Christian are now scheduled to be played Monday.