Borst's blast highlights N. Stars' offensive fireworks
On a day when the wind was blowing out straight to left field, St. Charles North hitters put plenty of crooked numbers on the scoreboard.
Kevin Borst highlighted a 5-run first inning with a 3-run home run, while teammate Jordan Huxtable went 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI - part of a multifaceted offensive attack that produced 14 base hits - during the North Stars' 13-2, 5-inning triumph over Bartlett (9-6, 4-3) Friday afternoon in St. Charles.
After the Hawks' Alex VanNess singled and scored the game's first run on a wild pitch in the top of the first inning, the North Stars wasted little time taking control in the bottom half of the frame.
The first 7 North Stars batters reached base, including back-to-back singles from leadoff man Colin O'Carroll (2-for-3, double) and No. 2 hitter KC Wright. Wright eventually scored on an infield error before Borst launched a 2-2 offering from VanNess (0-1) over the left-field fence to put the North Stars (9-4, 5-1) on top 4-1.
"It was a fastball, high and inside," said Borst, who added an RBI single during the North Stars' 3-run third.
"Kevin has been struggling so that was a huge hit for him - personally and for the team," North Stars coach Todd Genke said of Borst's first home run of the season. "(Being) up 4-1 in the first changed the whole complexion of the game."
St. Charles North added 5 more runs in the second, highlighted by Ryan Richardson's 2-run single, an RBI double off the bat of Matt Stevens and Mike Becker's bases-loaded walk.
Chase Williams (2-for-2, walk) capped the North Stars' scoring with his third-inning RBI double.
"We've been hitting the ball well all of a sudden and guys are starting to get hot," said Genke. "Maybe it's the hot weather, I don't know.
"Scoring early obviously is a momentum-shifter for us, a confidence builder."
St. Charles North sent 27 batters to the plate during the first 3 innings.
"That's the first time it's happened in a while," said Genke. "I might have to ice my arm down from waving guys in (as third-base coach) but that's not a problem at all."
It was more than enough offensive support for southpaw Ryan Hudspeth (3-0), who allowed just 2 hits in 4 innings of work before giving way to reliever Jared Shurtleff.
"Ryan has thrown the ball well pretty much all year," said Genke. "He had a lot of confidence after he got those runs.
"He's not overpowering but he comes right at the hitters."
St. Charles North swept the 2-game series from Bartlett, outscoring the Hawks 18-3.
"We played very relaxed today coming off a big win yesterday," said Genke. "To beat them twice, I'm happy because I know they're a good club."
David Palma drove in the Hawks' final run with a fifth-inning RBI single.
"If we continue to approach the game of baseball in this way, we're not going to find ourselves in the win column very often," said Bartlett coach Chris Pemberton. "We need to go to back to square one - do the little things correctly and look to make obvious improvements."