Baseball: Larkin downs Elgin to win city series

One big inning was enough for Larkin.

The Royals scored 5 times in the third, leading to a 9-3 win against Elgin.

Gunnar Boley scattered 7 hits over 6 innings to earn the win in Upstate Eight baseball action Thursday at Larkin.

Larkin didn't have an extra-base hit in the game. But the Royals pecked away with 10 singles and took advantage of 5 walks and some shaky Elgin defense.

The third inning was a prime example of the Royals' opportunism. After an error, a single, and a walk loaded the bases, the Royals got run-scoring hits from Boley and Kobe Mounivong and an RBI groundout from Jeff Althamar. Boley and Mounivong pulled off a double steal, with Boley scoring when the throw sailed past third base.

"We had a much better approach today, kind of stayed through the middle after the first inning or two, and barreled the ball, which is what we're looking to do," said Larkin coach Matt Esterino. "We're getting better each game offensively, and we're starting to get in a little bit more of a rhythm."

Larkin led 6-1 after the big inning. The Royals (9-16, 7-11) added a run in the fourth and two more in the fifth. Elgin (7-24, 2-16) scored in the fifth, on Kyle Coates's double to score John Fortmann, and added a run in the sixth after consecutive singles by Cameron Kendall, Kejuan Harvey, and Payton Reynolds.

Coates' had 2 of Elgin's 8 hits.

"They did a good job of putting the ball in play, and we couldn't stop the bleeding," said Elgin coach David Foerster. "We've had some issues with big innings this year, whether it was errors or big hits in spots."

Max Anderson, Boley, and Mounivong each had 2 hits for Larkin. Boley and Andy Bonnot scored twice, and Boley and Althamar drove in 2.

The Royals close out the regular season with Bartlett today, then face defending state Class 4A champion Crystal Lake South in Monday's regional opener.

"We need to get a good practice in on Saturday and play well tomorrow, but we have a pretty veteran group for the most part," Esterino said. "We know we'll have our hands full, but if we come out and play like we're capable of, throw strikes, put the ball in play and play defense, we know we can beat anyone."