Unpredictability reigns when these rivals meet

Now that rivalry week is complete, it's time to analyze the developments while looking at the future as area high school baseball teams head into the home stretch of the regular season.

But wait a minute.

Rivalry week isn't over just yet. That's just the kind of week it was.

The results included an 18-3, 5-inning rout that featured a 12-run inning; a clutch, 2-out game-tying home run in the bottom of the seventh inning; a come-from-behind, extra-inning triumph; and a 9-inning contest that saw the two teams combine for 24 runs and 36 hits…and the game has yet to be concluded.

It was business as usual as the games pitted Batavia vs. Geneva, and St. Charles East vs. St. Charles North.

The week's two big winners: Geneva and St. Charles North.

After the Vikings began their 3-game series with a 6-4 victory last Tuesday in Batavia, they rallied from an early 7-0 deficit to force extra innings last Wednesday.

The score was still tied at 12 when umpires suspended play. Weather permitting -- always a question mark it seems this spring -- action will resume Monday in Geneva with the Vikings looking for their second consecutive series sweep over the Bulldogs.

After Batavia junior Jordan Coffey's seventh-inning solo home run tied Thursday's game at 6, the Vikings regrouped to pull out a 7-6, 8-inning victory thanks to a distance pitching performance from Rodney Nelson, who also drove in the game-winning run with a double.

"It seems like every year we've had some great games with Batavia," said Geneva coach Matt Hahn. "The year they went to the Elite Eight, we beat them two out of three. And maybe they're down one year and we're up, and they beat us two out of three."

There always seems to be a little extra hanging in the balance when it's Batavia vs. Geneva week.

"It's Alabama-Auburn, it's Michigan-Ohio State," said Hahn. "Throw the records out. It doesn't matter who's playing, who's pitching -- throw all that stuff out because you know that both teams are going to come to play."

While Batavia has a pair of aces on its pitching staff in Brian Krolikowski and Coffey, Geneva's unheralded Chris Jordan and Nelson were just a little bit better last week.

"I don't think we've got any superstars on this team but we find ways to win," said Hahn. "We've got guys that understand their strengths.

"And I think the fact that we have nine seniors -- we've got guys who have been a part of conference championship, and a lot of these guys played key roles in doing that last year."

For the fourth straight year, St. Charles North took the season series from cross-town rival St. Charles East -- and the North Stars did it the hard way.

After Chris Burgess pitched the Saints to a 5-2 victory in Game 1 of the series, junior southpaw Zach Hirsch responded with a complete-game effort as the North Stars evened things with a 7-2 win.

"Each team has thrown a punch," said St. Charles North coach Todd Genke after the series equalizer. "Now we're going to see who gets the knockout."

Based on the North Stars' 18-3 series finale rout and 12-run fifth inning Thursday at Elfstrom Stadium, it's safe to say that they definitely delivered the TKO.

All nine batters reached base during the marathon inning, with Sam Weinberg, K.C. Wright, Ryan Richardson, Jake Thornton and Matt Stevens driving in runs.

St. Charles North and Geneva also were the big winners when last week's Class 4A tournament pairings were announced, securing the third and fourth spots behind top-seeded Schaumburg and No. 2 Wheaton North in the Larkin sectional.

Since Schaumburg, Wheaton North and Geneva had previously been selected as regional hosts, St. Charles North will head to the Elk Grove regional as the team to beat.

"It's nice to know that you'll be the home team," said Hahn, who admittedly almost missed last Wednesday's seeding meeting due to the fact that his team's game with Batavia lasted nearly 3 ½ hours.

"When you're relying on 16-, 17- and 18-year-old kids, maybe the slightest little thing like you're the away team on your home field or what uniform do you wear -- that might be the thing that throws them off."

Come tournament time, it will seem strange without a regional being played at St. Charles East or St. Charles North.

But there's an outside chance the Tri-Cities could emerge as the biggest winners -- with Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles East and St. Charles North advancing to the Larkin sectional.

It would be rivalry week -- part two.