Bartlett overcomes 6 errors to nip Larkin

The defense the Bartlett baseball team played Friday usually results in a loss.

But the Hawks were able to overcome 6 errors and 5 unearned runs to leave Elgin with a 7-6 Upstate Eight Conference victory over Larkin.

"(Defense) is the thing we have to get better at," Hawks coach Chris Pemberton said. "If you don't play defense well, any hope of finishing well in the conference or any hope of doing OK in the playoffs aren't going to be very realistic."

Larkin (13-12, 8-6) scored 3 unearned runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Royals had runners on second and third with two outs. Joe Stace grounded a ball to shortstop, but a fielding error allowed one run to score and a throwing error allowed a second run to cross the plate. Stace then scored on an RBI single from Luc Geier.

The Hawks (15-9, 10-6) got back-to-back home runs from David Palma and Alex VanNess to cut the deficit to 3-2. They took a 4-3 lead in the fourth on a 2-run single from Devin Rowland. Both of those runs were unearned of Larkin starter Jon Meidel (1-3).

A home run by Carlos Rojo, who also had double, to center field to led of the bottom of the fourth tied the game for Larkin. That was the only earned run VanNess (1-1) allowed in 6 1/3 innings.

Bartlett opened a 2-run lead, 6-4, in the fifth on an RBI groundout from Greg Partyka and a run-scoring single from Tucker Erickson. The Royals got a run back in the bottom half of the inning after Lucas Wandell struck out, but reached base on a throwing error after the ball hit the dirt on strike three. Justin Kulasa drove in Wandell with a single.

"Eventually, we'll make plays," VanNess said. "We just had to stay in the game. Our hitting as been good all year and it came through again today."

Mike Mancuso's RBI single gave the Hawks an insurance run in the top of the seventh to increase the lead to 7-6. They needed it as they committed two more errors in the bottom of the seventh, allowing another run to score.

Kyle King replaced VanNess and got a flyout and a strikeout to end the game, leaving the tying run on second base.

"Our demeanor wasn't what it should have been," Larkin coach Matt Esterino said. "We were right there. Just not as positive as we can be. We were too down on ourselves."

VanNess earned the victory. He gave up 8 hits, walked two and struck out six.

Meidel suffered the loss, going 42/3 innings. He allowed 6 runs, 4 earned, and struck out four.