Wheeling likes brand new look
Breaking out new uniforms wasn't the only different look the Wheeling baseball team had Friday.
The Wildcats (2-11, 1-1) also rebounded from a stretch of double-figure defeats for a stunning 3-2 Mid-Suburban East victory over visiting Hersey (5-7, 0-2).
"The coaches kept saying, 'Who are these guys,'" Wheeling coach Mike Tice laughed of the players in new uniforms. "They kept making all the plays, they were hitting and executing and they were pitching and throwing strikes. I'm so happy for the kids."
Wheeling committed only 1 error after it made 9 in Wednesday's 14-3 loss to Elk Grove. Steve Yfantis had 5 strikeouts and allowed 4 hits in 52/3 innings and overcame 4 walks and 3 hit batters.
"He was getting his curveball over for strikes," Tice said. "He just did a nice job of limiting the number of pitches he had to throw."
Sophomore third baseman Matt Hart made a big play in the second inning with runners at second and third. Hart made a diving backhand stop of Kevin Polinski's shot down the line and tagged the runner trying for third for the third out.
"That probably set the tone for the game," said Wheeling assistant coach Pete Ogilvie. "Matt got up and had the presence of mind to see he could tag the kid."
Shortstop Dave Scanlon had an RBI single in the second. An RBI single by sophomore Josh Mathys and a two-out RBI single by Yfantis made it 3-0 in the fourth.
Polinski's RBI single got Hersey within 3-2 in the sixth but Matt Holmes, who made a great running catch in right field, came on and got a strikeout.
Hersey got the first two runners on in the seventh but Holmes got a flyout and two popouts for the save.
Meadows 8, Prospect 7: Rolling Meadows (6-6, 2-0) got a solid start from Teddy Metzger, a big finish from Jon Carlson and 16 hits to hold on for the MSL East win.
Ben Kamperschroer (3-for-5, RBI), Carlson (2 RBI), Dan Lynch (2-for-3, 3 RBI), Owen Stiff (RBI) and Dan Wenzel (2-for-4, RBI) led Metzger to an 8-1 lead after 5 innings.
Prospect (4-8, 0-2) scored 6 runs in the sixth as Jason Leblebijian had a 2-run single and Brian Bauer had an RBI single. Carlson came in and left the bases loaded with a strikeout and got the save with 3 strikeouts in the seventh, with one reaching on a wild pitch.
Fremd 14, Schaumburg 10: Schaumburg (6-5, 0-2) led from the first inning and was ahead 10-5 lead going into the seventh when visiting Fremd (6-4, 2-0) erupted for 9 runs in the MSL West win.
Walks and errors opened the door in the seventh and Fremd's first hit in the inning was a tying 2-run triple by Zenon Kolakowski (2-for-5). Mike Tauchman (4-for-4) followed with an RBI single, Clint Terry (4-for-5) had a single and Tyler Gregory and Eric Paulson had RBI singles.
Jake Llanas got the win as he allowed only 1 run in 31/3 innings. Schaumburg took a 9-3 lead as Matt Mistrata (3-for-4) capped a 5-run fourth with a 3-run double.
Anthony Solmo, Mike Mistrata and Joe Dombek had 2 hits for the Saxons.
Hoffman 4, Palatine 2: Junior Erik Smoy threw a 4-hitter with 3 strikeouts and 2 walks and Hoffman (3-10, 2-0) didn't commit an error in the MSL West win at Palatine (3-10, 0-2).
Hoffman had 10 hits and manufactured the winning 2-run rally in the sixth with bunts and solid baserunning. Chris Fett had an RBI single and played a solid game at second base and freshman shortstop Kevin Grudzinski had an infield RBI single.
Meadows 8, Prospect 7: Rolling Meadows (6-6, 2-0) got a solid start from Teddy Metzger, a big finish from Jon Carlson and 16 hits to hold on for the MSL East win.
Ben Kamperschroer (3-for-5, RBI), Carlson (2 RBI), Dan Lynch (2-for-3, 3 RBI), Owen Stiff (RBI) and Dan Wenzel (2-for-4, RBI) led Metzger to an 8-1 lead after 5 innings.
Prospect (4-8, 0-2) erupted for 6 runs in the sixth as Jason Leblebijian had a 2-run single and Brian Bauer had an RBI single. Carlson came in and left the bases loaded with a strikeout and got the save with 3 strikeouts in the seventh, with one reaching on a wild pitch.
Elk Grove 7, Buffalo Grove 6: Colin Semler's 3-run homer in the fourth gave host Elk Grove (11-4, 2-0) a 7-1 lead as it held on for the MSL East win.
Carl Sugihara went 3-for-3 and winner Donny Duschinsky went 2-for-3 for the Grens. Ryan Nisbet had a pinch 2-run single in a 4-run sixth for BG (4-6, 1-1).
Kyle Pfister left the tying run at third and went 12/3 innings for the save.
Conant 5, Barrington 4: Conant (9-4, 2-0) was out-hit 9-4 but rallied for the MSL West win over Barrington (6-5, 0-2) and ace Sean Buchholz.
Derek Wojcik had a go-ahead 2-run single in a 4-run fifth and John DiMatteo got the win in relief. Anthony Brignola hit his fourth homer for Barrington.
Leyden 8, Hinsdale South 3: Carlos Olavarria homered and doubled for Leyden (6-4, 2-1) in the West Suburban Gold win.