Hot bats fuel Illinois Patriots 13U Black to two wins

The Illinois Patriots 13U Black exploded for 59 runs in four games with Colin Blanchard leading the charge from the top of the lineup during a 2-2 week for the team in West Suburban Baseball League play.

Blanchard lashed out eight hits, including four triples and a homer, and drove in six runs to raise his average to .333 through 14 games this season.

IP dropped to 9-5 (4-2 in the WSBL) with a loss to Electric Baseball on Sunday after using patience at the plate and timely hits on Saturday in a 21-0 win over the Lemont Lightning. The Patriots took advantage of Lemont errors and several walks to build a 6-0 lead after two innings before blowing open the game with a seven-run third inning capped by Andrew Rossini's three-run triple to center.

An eight-run fourth inning included Blanchard's home run and an RBI single, as well as run-scoring hits by Dixon Wagner and Josh Wilder. On the mound, Rossini and Blanchard combined to allow just one hit.

The week started with a pair of wild games on the road - a 17-13 loss to Carol Stream and a 13-9 win over FCA Impact Maroon.

With limited pitching available heading into the team's fifth game in three days, the Patriots fell behind 12-1 on Monday night against Carol Stream only to storm back to tie the game at 13 in the sixth inning. Isaiah Ortiz and Wilder each drove in three runs in an 18-hit attack that included triples by Blanchard and Tyler Przespolewski and a double by Jacob Gama.

The hits kept coming on Tuesday in West Chicago as the Patriots pummeled the ball to take a 13-2 lead before holding on late for a 13-9 win. Nine different Patriots drove in runs with Wilder, Ortiz, Micah Giovenco and Ryne Campana each recording two RBI.

Giovenco earned the win by striking out two and allowing only two unearned runs in two innings on the hill.

"The bats really got going this week," Coach Mike Giovenco said. "The boys didn't give up on Monday when we got down, and our offense gave us a chance to come back."

The Patriots, who are affiliated with Palatine-based Dream Big Athletics, open the week with a trio of WSBL games against Carol Stream, Wheaton and Glen Ellyn before a weekend tournament in Carol Stream.