Baseball: Engstrom, Ryan go deep for Glenbard West
It was a frigid, tough day to hit a baseball.
For most.
Glenbard West's Kyle Engstrom and Logan Ryan warmed up just enough to bash matching 3-run home runs, leading the Hilltoppers to Tuesday's 8-4 West Suburban Silver win over Hinsdale Central in Glen Ellyn.
After more than a week off due to the weather, Glenbard West (3-3, 1-1) struggled to make contact for much of the game. But of the four balls put in play between the second and fourth innings, two were the homers and a third was an RBI single by Engstrom.
The Hilltoppers scored all their runs in the third and fourth innings.
"These are definitely tough days to hit, but being in the Midwest we just have to deal with the conditions," Engstrom said. "We just can't let it get the best of us."
Ryan also relieved starting pitcher Sam Fenske with the bases loaded and nobody out in the top of the fourth. He allowed the two tying runs to score, making it 4-4, but he then held Hinsdale Central (4-3, 0-2) scoreless in the final three innings while stranding seven runners.
"The toughest part is knowing you're going in the game, but you don't know when," Ryan said. "But I like to compete on the mound, so whenever I get out there I'm ready."
Peter Mercurio doubled home a run for Hinsdale Central in the third inning, but that was pretty much the lone clutch hit for the Red Devils. Twice they stranded the bases loaded, and twice they hit into double plays.
"We had opportunities throughout the game," said Red Devils coach Jason Ziemer. "They had those timely home runs and that was the difference in the game. We couldn't get that big hit."
There were only 10 combined hits as each side took advantage of 13 walks and four hit batters. Engstrom's fourth-inning single gave the Hilltoppers the lead for good at 5-4. Ryan's homer, on the first pitch he saw, provided insurance.
"Totally unexpected," Glenbard West coach Andy Schultz said of the power surge. "We're not a home run-hitting team. Logan's swing was a huge momentum turn for us."
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