Tomsovic, Bartlett overcome shaky start, top Elgin

Any half inning of a baseball game can be viewed in retrospect as the turning point, even the top of the first.

In Bartlett's 9-2 victory against visiting Elgin in the Upstate Eight Conference opener for both teams on Thursday, the Maroons jumped ahead 1-0 in the top of the first against Hawks junior pitcher Mike Tomsovic, via Tom Roth's RBI single.

Elgin (0-4, 0-1) loaded the bases with a single from senior Dan Schmerber, but the prospects of a big inning faded when Tomsovic induced a 1-2-3 doubleplay from Elgin's No. 5 hitter and a subsequent flyball ended the threat.

"It was a tough situation for me, and getting out of that really boosted my confidence for the rest of the game," said Tomsovic, who overcame arm soreness and the shaky start to improve to 3-0.

The missed opportunity took some of the punch out of the Maroons.

"It seemed like we dropped a level of intensity after that, like we were almost defeated after only getting 1 run out of that," Elgin coach David Foerster said. "That played a factor for the rest of the game, too."

Bartlett (6-3, 1-0) struck back immediately with 3 runs in its half of the first to take the lead for good. Elgin starting pitcher Casey Knaak loaded the bases with walks to the first three Hawks he faced, then struck out the next two. However, Kyle King singled home Alex Van Ness to tie the game, and senior Erik Lira followed with a single to left field that sent George Tintera and Mike Mancuso plateward for a 3-1 lead.

"I was a little behind in the count, so I just wanted to make sure to make some solid contact," said Lira, who singled on a 2-2 pitch after fouling off 3 pitches.

Bartlett added a run in the third inning against Elgin reliever Tyler Loiseau when King singled home cleanup hitter Greg Partyka, who doubled.

The Hawks took full command in the fourth with 3 more runs to bulge the lead to 7-1. Van Ness led off with the first of his 2 solo home runs, King notched his third RBI of the day with a sacrifice fly and Devin Rowland singled to score Mancuso.

"Alex is a strong kid and a great athlete," first-year Bartlett coach Chris Pemberton said. "Whenever you have a leadoff guy who can hit for power it's going to be a plus for your lineup."

Said Van Ness, who now has 3 home runs this season: "I think our whole team is seeing the ball, so we're starting to hit again."

Lira hit a solo home run in the sixth, his second of the season, against Roth to cap his 2-for-3, 3 RBI afternoon.