Westminster Christian 8,Wheaton Academy 1

For the first time in program history, Westminster Christian (19-4-1, 11-0) picked up a sweep against Wheaton Academy in Private School League baseball action, winning 8-1 Wednesday.

Brandon Siewert (6-0) remains unbeaten on the mound, allowing just 1 run on 2 hits with 3 strikeouts in a complete-game effort.

At the dish, Carter Ward (2-run home run) continues to swing a hot bat. Cory Hodge (2b), Zach Holmer (2b), Siewert (2 RBI) and Ben Palmer (2 RBI) contributed.

Streamwood 11, Elgin 1: Behind solid at-bats from Gabe Roman (3-for-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI), Brian Brauer (2-for-4, 2b, 2 runs, 2 RBI) and Jason Overton (2-for-2, 2 RBI), Streamwood (6-12, 5-8) earned this Upstate Eight Conference win. Mike Diebold was on the hill for the win, allowing 1 earned run on 6 hits while fanning six.

Tom Roth (1½ IP, 7 hits, 6 runs) took the loss for Elgin (4-12, 4-11), and knocked in the Maroons only run with a double.

Dundee-Crown 8, CL South 3: Behind an outstanding effort on the mound from Ben Rodriguez, who allowed 3 runs (1 earned) on 2 hits while striking out five in the complete-game effort, Dundee-Crown (10-6, 3-2) earned this Fox Valley Conference Valley Division win. Rodriguez helped himself at the plate, going 2-for-4 with 2 RBI with help from Eric Barber (2-for-4).

Ian Gardeck took the loss. He fanned seven while allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 3 hits for the Gators (8-6, 2-3).

Lake Park 4, South Elgin 1: South Elgin (7-8, 7-8) dropped its second straight as the output of Chris Ciccone (2-for-3, 2 sb), Jon Meuser (2b, run) and Kyle Kinyon (1-for-2, sacrifice) wasn't quite enough. Ryan Kellner (8 hits, 4 strikeouts, 3 earned runs) pitched the complete game, taking the loss.

Larkin 4, Bartlett 3: Knotted at 3-3 after seven innings, Larkin (7-10, 6-8) posted a run in the eighth to win this Upstate Eight Conference meeting. Tyler Shore (8 IP, 1 earned run, 4 hits, 2 strikeouts) got the win with offensive help from Justin Kalusa (2-for-4, 2b) and Joe Stace (2b).

For Bartlett (12-6, 11-5), Erik Lira suffered the loss.

Marian Central 13, St. Edward 1: Jordan Torres drove in the lone St. Edward run as the Green Wave (5-10, 3-7) fell in Suburban Catholic Conference action. Riley Coleman endured the loss allowing 9 earned runs while striking out six.

Prairie Ridge 5, Huntley 3: With home runs from both Nick Martini and Will Mack, Prairie Ridge (15-6, 6-0) edged out Huntley (14-8, 3-3) for this Fox Valley Conference Fox Division win. T.J. Swank (4-1) was on the mound for the Wolves victory. Craig Lipp hit a home run for the Red Raiders.

Burlington Central 6, Richmond-Burton 5: It was a Big Northern East Conference nail-biter for Burlington Central (9-7, 3-2), which walked away with the 6-5 win in 10 innings when all was said and done. Zack Romando put the Rockets on top 5-4 in the eighth inning, but it was George Heller who singled and scored in the 10th to help Burlington Central pull ahead and stay ahead. Heller (3-1) pitched 3 innings allowing one run on 2 hits for the win.

Bryan Bell (2-for-5, 2b), Ryan Mattes (hit, 3 walks) and Bill Rodriguez (2b) added timely hitting to the Rocket attack.

Jacobs 7, Woodstock 6: Jacobs (8-6, 3-2) hung on for this Fox Valley Conference Valley Division win despite a 6-run seventh inning from Woodstock. Rick Ames recorded his first win of the season, while Kyle Magnuson led offensive efforts going 2-for-3.

Cary-Grove 5, McHenry 4: With 4-runs late, Cary-Grove (14-7, 2-3) battled back from a 3-1 deficit in the fifth inning to win this Fox Valley Conference Valley Division meeting. Leading the Trojan hitting were Kyle Williams (2b), Matt Nelsen (2b) and Eric Aguilera (2b). Nelsen was on the hill for the victory allowing 4 runs on 8 hits while fanning two.

Hampshire sweeps Rockford Christian Life: With strong pitching from both Kent Larson (3-2) and Brandon Gehringer (1-4), Hampshire took both games of this nonconference doubleheader by scores of 4-1 and 15-1. Plate efforts were led by Ryan Burke (hit, 2 RBI), James Goebbert (2-for-4), Tyler Bentley (2-for-3, RBI), Zach Crinigan (2-for-3, 3 RBI), Diego Bolanos (2-for-3, 3 RBI) and Alex Franzen (2-for-4, RBI).

St. Charles North 7, St. Charles East 2: After dropping the opener of its 3-game series with St. Charles East Tuesday, St. Charles North's baseball team didn't exactly get off to the start it envisioned Wednesday afternoon.

Spotting the Saints a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, the North Stars (12-5, 8-3) showed no signs of panic.

It also helps when you have junior pitcher Zach Hirsch on your side.

The left-hander tossed shutout ball the rest of the way, allowing just 3 more hits, and received some additional support from his offense during the North Stars' 7-2 Upstate Eight Conference triumph over the Saints (8-10-1, 7-5-1) at St. Charles North.

"After the first inning, we were confident coming into the dugout," said Hirsch, who improved his record to 3-2. "We knew we had a chance to get some runs and we did. After that, I think it just gave us confidence the rest of the game."

With the score tied at 2, the North Stars took the lead for good with a 2-run third.

Back-to-back singles by Colin O'Carroll (2-for-4) and Ryan Richardson (2-for-4) kick-started the rally before a costly throwing error on a potential inning-ending double play allowed the go-ahead run to come across.

"We made a few mistakes today and they capitalized," said Saints coach Mark Foulkes. "Even if we just get one out in that situation…"

St. Charles East left runners in scoring position in both the fourth and fifth innings before the North Stars added 3 huge insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth.

The key hit came off the bat of senior pinch-hitter Brandon Nothnagel, who laced a 3-2 pitch between short and third into left field, driving in Brian De la Torriente and Danny Jimenez to make it 6-2.

"At 3-2, you've got to be expecting anything," said Nothnagel of his first pinch-hit appearance this spring. "You've got to choke up, you've got to protect, and the groundball got through."

"It was a big hit by Brandon Nothnagel to kind of open it up there," said North Stars coach Todd Genke. "He hasn't been hitting the ball very well so that was a big hit."

Hirsch did the rest in a workmanlike effort, fanning seven while going the distance.

"I was just able to bear down," said Hirsch, who admittedly was disappointed with his curveball. "I had troubles getting it over, but I was able to put my fastball wherever I wanted."

"You've got to tip your hat to him," Foulkes said of Hirsch. "He changed speeds well and threw three pitches for strikes."

Kyle Wiebe (3-3) suffered the loss for the Saints.

The two teams will meet in the rubber game of the series at 7 p.m. tonight at Elfstrom Stadium in Geneva.

"Even though we lost today, we still consider ourselves to be in a good position," said Foulkes. "We still have a chance to win the series -- something we haven't done since 2004."

"Each team has thrown a punch," said Genke. "Now we're going to see who gets the knockout."

-- Craig Brueske