Wrap: Biagini, Raiders power past Geneva
Glenbard South catcher Joe Biagini is an imposing figure.
The senior clouted a mammoth first-inning home run, and the Raiders never trailed in their Western Sun Conference baseball game against host Geneva Tuesday afternoon.
With its 9-5 victory in the opener of the three-game set, Glenbard South improved to 5-1 in the league and 8-4 overall.
Geneva is 9-3, 3-3.
The Raiders had all the ingredients in place for their win on the afternoon at hitter-friendly Geneva, where the wind was gusting straight out at a considerable pace.
Senior leadoff hitter Will Hill went 4-for-5 on the day with 3 runs scored, and Biagini added a 2-run double in the sixth to give Glenbard South a commanding 8-2 lead.
Glenbard South ace Andy Manson went the distance, withstanding 2 seventh-inning home runs to improve to 2-2 on the season.
The Raiders' defense backed up Manson with error-free baseball.
It was Hill, however, who ignited the Raiders' attack, doubling high off the center-field wall to start the game.
"(Hill) has really turned the corner as a varsity player," Glenbard South coach Mike Riley. "Both offensively and defensively, he has been outstanding. He's really making us go right now."
Two batters later, Biagini hit a tape-measure bomb to left center to give Glenbard South a 2-0 lead.
"I knew his out pitch was the slider," Biagini said of his encounter with Geneva starter Chris Jordan. "The home-run (pitch) was right there in the zone."
Jordan settled down, only to have his chances for a comeback victory unravel behind defensive inconsistencies.
The Vikings committed 4 of their 5 errors in the third and fourth innings, enabling Glenbard South to take a 6-0 lead.
Franz Merkendorfer and Doug Anderson had RBI singles during the span for Glenbard South.
"That's a good hitting team, but we definitely gave them extra chances," Geneva coach Matt Hahn said. "I thought Chris pitched pretty well. When you're asking your pitcher to get more than three outs an inning, that makes it tough."
Manson surrendered lone runs in the Vikings' fourth and fifth, but Biagini put the game out of reach with his 2-run opposite-field double in the sixth.
Geneva did not go meekly in its half of the seventh; Ryan Adams' solo blast with two outs was followed by a 2-run shot from Dan Rowe.
But Manson made a cat-like leap to snare a come-backer, giving the Raiders an early edge as the series resumes this afternoon in Glen Ellyn.
"(Manson) was on his game today," Biagini said.
-- Kevin McGavin
Glenbard East 10, WW South 9:ŒA 5-run third inning and a 3 run sixth twice rallied the Rams (3-8, 1-3) in their DuPage Valley Conference win. Bobby Ryan had 2 hits and 3 RBI. Billy Buchdahl and Eric Zwintscher homered as Kevin Kohn won in relief. Casey Manheim homered for WW South (2-7, 1-2).
Montini 12, St. Francis 3:ŒSean Keeley's 4 innings of scoreless relief helped the Broncos (6-2, 2-0) to their Suburban Catholic Conference win over the Spartans (7-2, 1-1). Brian Glennon went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI.
Waubonsie Valley 9, Streamwood 4:ŒAdam LeRoy homered twice for the Warriors (4-6, 3-1) in their Upstate Eight Conference win. Pat Murphy improved to 3-0 on the mound.
Lisle 3, Westmont 2:ŒJon Surber launched his fourth home run of the season, a 3-run shot in the fourth inning as the Lions (7-3, 3-2) won their third straight Interstate Eight Conference game. Complete-game winner Jordan Jayne (2-0) struck out 11, walked one and allowed no earned runs.
Downers North 7, Lyons Twp. 6:ŒEric Jagielo's 2-run double in the bottom of the seventh rallied the host Trojans (8-2, 6-1) to their West Suburban Silver win. Reliever Marco Diaz notched the victory in relief.
Fenton 12, Elmwood Park 2:ŒMike Siemers doubled, tripled and drove in 5 runs for the Bison in their Metro Suburban Conference win. Billy Gratzl (2-0) struck out 10 in 6 innings to earn the victory.
Wheaton Academy 17, Chicago Christian 10:ŒJustin Potesta and Josh Rak homered for the Warriors (3-2, 2-0) in their Private School League win. Winning pitcher John Lace (2-0) scattered 6 hits over 4 innings.
Softball
Neuqua Valley 16, Elgin 5:ŒJenna Marsalli went 3-for-4 with 2 home runs, a double, 3 RBI and 4 runs to power the Wildcats (2-6, 2-3) to an Upstate Eight Conference triumph. Katie Wido, Haley Bork and Amanda Mener also had 3 hits apiece. Winner Colleen Hohman struck out 14.
Glenbard South 11, Geneva 0:ŒJill Trzaska threw a no-hitter with 10 strikeouts for the Raiders (7-2, 1-0) in the five-inning Western Sun Conference contest. Kristin Grossman belted a 3-run homer and Nikki Simpson was 3-for-4 with 2 doubles and 3 runs.
Benet 13, St. Joseph 1:ŒMikayla Panko and Christina Jablonski each smacked a 3-run homer for the Redwings (7-4, 2-0), who received a 2-hitter from Meghan Keating en route to winning the East Suburban Catholic Conference game in five innings.
Montini 4, Timothy Christian 1:ŒJackie Glowinski hit a 3-run homer in the top of the first inning and drove in another run in the sixth for Montini (2-3). Katy Shellstrom picked up the victory with 5 innings of work.
Fenton 3, Ridgewood 0:ŒAmber Schwarzinger tossed a 2-hit shutout and struck out six to lead the Bison (3-5, 1-0) to a Metro Suburban Conference opening victory. Samantha Rubright and Schwarzinger each tripled and knocked in a run. Deanna Vazquez knocked in the other run.
Downers South 8, Naperville North 1:ŒWinner Karissa Habel racked up 13 strikeouts and finished with a 5-hitter for the Mustangs (7-1). Ashley Dec went 2-for-4 with a double and 2 RBI, while Brooke Andresen and Ashley Vizek added 2 hits apiece in the win.
Downers North 6, Willowbrook 5:ŒDowners North's Lauren Banda hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh inning to break a 5-5 tie. Jess Honaker went 3-for-3 with a triple and 3 RBI for the Trojans (4-5).
St. Charles North 3, Waubonsie Valley 1:ŒBreanna Price knocked in the only run for the Warriors (1-7, 1-3) in their Upstate Eight Conference loss.