Larkin's 'Shore' bet tops Streamwood

A win was a Shore bet for the Larkin baseball team Friday

The Royals beat visiting Upstate Eight Conference foe Streamwood 5-0 on the strength of a complete-game 2-hitter tossed by senior Tyler Shore, who earned his first victory of the season in his second start.

The 6-foot-2, 225-pound right-hander used a fastball with good movement, changeup, curveball -- even a couple of knucklers --to keep the Sabres from mounting a threat.

Streamwood leadoff hitter Ryan Kiesel managed the only 2 hits for the Sabres (1-3, 1-1).

"We've been in the gym since November at six in the morning working hard," Shore said. " This was a conference game, so I knew it would be tough. I just tried to stay up. I just kept throwing strikes, so that really helps, too."

The win was a confidence-booster for Shore, who was beaten in the season-opener by Oswego East two weeks ago.

Larkin coach Doug Ellett told Shore in the parking lot after that game in Oswego that he deserved success after working hard all winter, but that he needed to pitch with more confidence on the mound.

Shore demonstrated precisely that against Streamwood, striking out six without a walk. He hit a batter in the sixth, the only other baserunner he allowed.

"Today he pitched with confidence," Ellett said. "He was pounding the strike zone. I don't know how many guys he went strike one on, but he was ahead in the count all the time.

"And he works quickly. Our guys on defense know they've got to be on their toes. They're going to hit the ball, and it's going to be a snappy game when he's pitching. He did a really, really nice job. I think most of it was a confidence thing. He can be effective. He doesn't throw gas, but he can be effective."

Larkin (2-3, 1-1) scored single runs in the first and second innings against Streamwood junior Zach Klein, who was making his first varsity start. In both cases the Larkin players who eventually scored reached base when hit by pitches.

With one out in the first inning, Ryan Shriver was grazed in the helmet, took second on a passed ball and scored when left-handed hitter John Banks singled the opposite way on an outside fastball.

"With 2 strikes on me, I was just trying to fight off everything and get it in play," Banks said. "Ryan's quick. I just wanted to give him a chance to run."

Leading 2-0, Larkin scored 3 runs in the fifth to take control against a tiring Klein, who walked in 2 runs in the inning before being lifted.

"He couldn't throw inside to save his life," Sabres coach Steve Diversey said. "But, you know, it's his first varsity start. That's still not excusable because if he wants to pitch, he has to step up if he wants to be our No. 2 (pitcher). He did some good things, but there's always room to improve."