Meadows battles past Barrington

Owen Stiff considered taking and Rolling Meadows coach Jim Lindeman contemplated bunting in the fourth inning of a 1-run game with visiting Barrington.

Second thoughts led to Stiff's first homer of the year, a 3-run blast to left field on the first pitch from Barrington junior Sean Buchholz, as East-leading Meadows (11-9, 7-1) won the Mid-Suburban League baseball crossover 11-9.

"I asked coach if I should take until I get a strike," Stiff said of a conference during a mound visit with runners at first and second and nobody out. "He said if I felt comfortable swinging to swing."

Stiff's homer put the Mustangs up 10-6 and ended the day for Buchholz (2-2), who was fighting off the flu.

"He was throwing me inside my first two at-bats so I backed off the plate," Stiff said. "I've been struggling hitting inside pitches but coach has helped out on that."

Barrington (12-7, 5-3), which fell a half game back of idle Fremd and Conant in the West, gave Buchholz a 4-0 lead before his first pitch on Chris Holke's RBI single and a 3-run homer by Gus Handler.

"Down four against a pitcher of his caliber didn't look good for us," Lindeman said. "I was happy we responded."

Meadows answered with five two-out runs in the first as Stiff got an infield RBI single on a mental error, Will Trunk had a 2-run single and Dan Wenzel had an RBI single.

"That helped our confidence the rest of the game," Stiff said.

Handler hit a 2-run homer, his fourth, in the third. Ben Kamperschroer got a two-out, 2-run single in the bottom half for Meadows and Dan Lauria provided a big insurance run on a two-out RBI single in the sixth.

"They swung the bats," said Barrington coach Jim Hawrysko. "(Buchholz) competed and that's all you can ask him to do."

Steve Weisshappel's sixth-inning homer to get Barrington within 10-9 was the only hit and run in 3 innings off Pat Conlin, who saved it for Teddy Metzger.

"His last three outings (Conlin) has thrown the way we thought he would," Lindeman said. "He could be a big contributor down the stretch on the mound."

Schaumburg 12, Prospect 0: Schaumburg (8-9, 3-5) pounded out 16 hits and Kyle Meyer (7-1) gave up 5 hits and no walks with 7 strikeouts in 6 innings in the MSL crossover at Prospect (8-12, 2-6).

Dave Compitello (3-for-5) and Chris Kelly homered, Mike and Matt Mistrata doubled and combined for 5 RBI and Tim Massat and Vito Perrino had 2 hits apiece.

Palatine 4, Hersey 2: Kevin Becker and Alex Foley combined on a 7-hitter as Palatine (9-12, 4-4) won its fifth straight in the MSL crossover. Andy Prombo went 2-for-3 with 2 RBI and Jim Smearman was 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Pat Hyde went 2-for-3 for Hersey (9-11, 4-4).

St. Viator 14, Lakes 3: Visiting St. Viator pounded out a dozen hits en route to a 14-3 nonconference victory in five innings, which snapped Lakes' 10-game winning streak. Brett Kay (3-for-5, solo homer), Phil Bar (2 hits, 3 RBI), Julian Sipiora (2-for-3), Jake Mastrangeli (2 hits) and Cory Kay (3 RBI) led the Lions (11-9).