Saints, Warriors still tied after 9 innings

After so many lead changes, surely one of them had to stick.

Or maybe not.

Nine innings of effort couldn't finish Friday's Upstate Eight Conference baseball game between Waubonsie Valley and St. Charles East in Aurora.

Suspended due to darkness with the score tied 8-8, the teams will conclude the game on a date to be determined in Aurora with St. Charles East batting in the top of the 10th inning.

"It's definitely tough to see them come back, but today we didn't give up," said Waubonsie Valley's Adam LeRoy. "Even though we didn't pull out a win, it's still all right."

Both sides had sources of frustration and pride.

St. Charles East (2-3, 1-0) trailed three times before taking a 6-5 lead in the top of the sixth on Dan White's bases-loaded walk. White also singled home the tying run in the third and doubled home the go-ahead run in the fifth inning.

"It was an exciting game," White said. "We played hard, they played hard. It was a good team game."

The Saints' lead grew to 8-5 in the seventh when Steve Schenck singled home 2 runs.

Then it was Waubonsie Valley's turn to rally. Three errors opened the door for the Warriors (1-5, 0-1). LeRoy ultimately tied the game 8-8 with an RBI double, but the Warriors had the winning run picked off at third base on a busted squeeze play.

"To the credit of both teams, they really battled today," said Saints coach Mark Foulkes. "And when you felt a little safe, it was a tie game or you were down a run again."

Waubonsie Valley built leads of 2-0 and 3-2, and faced its first deficit of 4-3 after White's RBI double in the fifth inning. LeRoy singled home 2 runs in the bottom of the fifth to put the Warriors back on top 5-4.

Four walks led to 2 runs and a 6-5 lead for St. Charles East in the sixth inning. Mike Hoscheit and Tom Lollino, who drove in 2 runs, each had 2 hits for the Saints.

Johnny Strauss had a pair of hits for the Warriors while Galovic and LeRoy each had 2 hits and 3 RBI.

After starter Russell Schofield and three relievers took the mound for the Warriors, Andrew Pasztor stands as the pitcher of record. Chris Burgess, who relieved Saints starter Andy Grunewald, pitched 4 innings of relief and is also a pitcher of record.

"It's been a real tough start for us," said Warriors coach Dan Fezzuoglio. "But after battling back we feel pretty good coming out of here with a tie and a chance to win it."