Wrap: Hawks knock off WV in UEC

Baseball teams can go days between those elusive, run-scoring, two-out basehits.

Bartlett managed a week's worth of them Tuesday in its 8-5 victory over visiting Waubonsie Valley to take two out of three games in the Upstate Eight Conference series.

Bartlett (15-7, 14-6) scored 4 runs on 5 straight hits after two were away in the fourth inning, and they reclaimed the lead for good in the sixth inning with another 4-run rally keyed by two more two-out knocks.

"It's been pretty commonplace for us this year. We've been getting good two-out rallies," Bartlett coach Rocco Marinucci said. "Thank God. We've put ourselves in some holes with some questionable swings at times, but we seem to get good at bats when we need them."

Bartlett needed them in the bottom of the sixth inning, trailing 5-4.

Waubonsie Valley starting pitcher Russell Schofield gave up a single to Bartlett No. 8 hitter Kyle Burden and was lifted two outs later after he beaned Ryan Schrader, which put Bartlett runners at first and third.

Warriors coach Dan Fezzuglio tabbed right-handed reliever Matt Brancheau to face Mike Derby. The lefty hitter dribbled a ball toward shortstop, but the wide throw pulled the first baseman off the bag, allowing courtesy runner Devin Rowland to score the tying run for the Hawks.

"I was just trying to make contact," Derby said. "I didn't want to strike out."

Bartlett then grabbed a 6-5 lead when cleanup man Mike Selvaggi jerked a Brancheau outside slider to left center, scoring Schrader.

Alex VanNess followed with a deep flyball to left field that fooled the left fielder and eventually bounced beyond his reach for a 2-run double and an 8-5 Bartlett advantage.

"We had two real bad innings and the two-out hits were huge for them," Waubonsie Valley coach Dan Fezzuoglio said. "They stung the ball a lot better."

Kevin Carmody (2-1) tossed 2 scoreless innings in relief to earn the victory.

Waubonsie Valley starting pitcher Russell Schofield struggled through Bartlett's 4-run second inning, but he subsequently settled in and threw 3 scoreless innings.

However, Schofield was given new life when the Warriors answered right back to tie the game with 4 runs in the third against Derby, Bartlett's ace, who struggled with control.

Derby walked the bases loaded, gave up a run-scoring infield chop to Chris Galovic, a RBI basehit to Dan Walker, hit Bryan Fekety with a pitch that forced in a run and bounced a wild pitch that allowed the tying run to score.

"It was tough right off the bat when they got those 4 runs, but after that we got just as many runs back and I knew we were still in this," Schofield said. "I just needed to shut them down from then on."

Schofield did exactly that and his teammates staked him to a 1-run lead in the fifth inning, when 2 infield errors by the Hawks allowed an unearned run to cross the plate.

Neuqua Valley 14, Prairie Ridge 6: Prairie Ridge saw its 11-game winning streak snapped in Naperville by the defending state champions in a nonconference matchup. Prairie Ridge (17-7) scored 6 runs in the second inning to take a 6-3 lead, but the Wildcats tied it with 3 runs in the third, took the lead with 2 in the fourth and put the game away with a 6-run fifth. Mike Butler doubled and junior Kevin Pfaller (1-1) took the loss for the Wolves.

McHenry 4, Huntley 3: The Red Raiders committed 3 errors and fell in a 1-run home game in this Fox Valley Conference crossover. Huntley (14-11) was led offensively by Zach Liebman (2-for-3, 2b), Tyler Funke (1-for-3, RBI) and Nate Prokuski (2-for-3, run). Huntley pitcher Craig Lipp gave up just 1 earned run in 7 innings with 2 strike outs.

Larkin 7, East Aurora 2: Larkin picked up a win against East Aurora in Upstate Eight Conference play. Tyler Shore and Reid Ellis each doubled for the Royals (10-11, 9-9). Shore (5-2) collected another win on the mound, striking out 11 and walking none. The Royals banged out 11 hits and scored 3 in the fifth inning to salt away the victory.

St. Charles East 15, Elgin 1: Elgin fell in an Upstate Eight matchup against visiting St. Charles East. Sergio Fuentes doubled and Tom Roth drove in the lone run the Maroons (5-15, 5-14). Josh Smith (2-4) took the loss, allowing 5 earned runs in 6 innings with 4 strikeouts and 3 walks.

Marengo 8, Hampshire 7: Marengo rallied for 5 runs in the bottom of the seventh to upend Hampshire in Big Northern East play. James Gobbert and Tyler Bentley each homered for the Whip-Purs, who fell to 11-10, 4-4. Zach Crinigan added a double, while losing pitcher Ryan Burke went 3-for-4 with an RBI.

Aurora Christian 5, Westminster Christian 3: Westminster Christian lost to a Private School League opponent for the first time this season despite the offensive efforts of Chad Schroy (home run, 2 RBI), Ben Palmer (3b) and Casey Schuring (2-for-4, 2b). Palmer took his second loss of the season, striking out 5 in 5 innings. The Warriors committed 4 costly errors.

Streamwood 7, South Elgin 4: Streamwood salvaged the final game of this three-game Upstate Eight conference series by scoring 3 runs in the sixth. Kyle Fitzpatrick went 2-for-3 with a home run and Kyle Daker homered and doubled for South Elgin. Dan Kogut took the lose for the Storm.

Harvard 4, Burlington Central 3: Locked in a 1-1 tie in extra innings, Central scored twice in the top of the eighth only to see the host Hornets rally for 3 runs to win it in the bottom of the inning. Harvard won despite committing 7 errors. Drew Perly (2-4) took the loss for Burlington Central (11-10, 4-4).