W. Chicago piles up runs early

For three innings the bases felt like a merry-go-round for West Chicago's baseball team.

Ten runs later, the damage was done.

Getting off to a great start in Thursday's nonconference game against St. Francis, the host Wildcats pounded the ball in an 11-7 victory.

Kevin Peterson started the barrage with a 3-run first-inning homer, and then he added an RBI double in a 6-run second inning.

West Chicago (1-0) had 10 of its 14 hits in the first two innings, including a pair by both Peterson and Rhett Gunderson, who smacked a 2-run single in the second.

"It was just a good day to hit," Peterson of his 4-RBI day. "It's nice and warm. The rain kind of bothered us a bit, but overall a good day to hit."

Despite notching the first two outs of the first inning and the first out of the second and third innings, St. Francis (2-1) couldn't stop the flow of 10 West Chicago runs.

Run-scoring hits by Dean Quaranta and Jack Roback spotted the Spartans to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Then a bases-loaded walk to John Giovenco and a 2-run single by Jon Wons accounted for a 3-run burst in the third.

But when Corey Freebern singled home a run for West Chicago in the bottom of the third, it secured the Wildcats' lead at 10-6.

"One of our philosophies is to stay out of the big inning, and that's what we didn't do this game," said St. Francis coach Rich Janor. "I think we're going to be fine. We generated a good bit of offense today, so that's promising."

Things settled down for both teams after the third inning thanks to West Chicago's Al Robbins, who pitched 3 innings to earn the save in relief of winning pitcher Jordan Long, and St. Francis reliever Zach Clark, who pitched solidly for 4 2/3 innings.

West Chicago's Blair Skarin extended the lead to 11-7 with an RBI single in the sixth. Wons singled home another run in the top of the seventh, but Wildcats center fielder Tyler Christ saved at least a run with a diving catch to help preserve the win.

Jason Lombardi had a pair of hits for St. Francis. Every hitter in the lineup had a hit for West Chicago, including 2 hits by Ethan Burau.

"We swung it real well today," said Wildcats coach Dan McCarthy. "Yesterday was cold and more of a pitcher's day, but the weather was fine today. Probably about a 20-degree difference. We came out and swung the bats."

BOX SCORE

St. Francis 303 000 1 -7-8-3

West Chicago 361 001 X -11-14-3

2B: SF: Quaranta 2. WC: Gunderson, Peterson

HR: WC: Peterson

WP: Long (1-0) LP: Quaranta (0-1). Save: Robbins (1).