Huntley notches big Fox victory over PR
The Huntley baseball team proved it can beat the best.
The host Red Raiders defeated defending Class 4A state champion Prairie Ridge 3-1 on Friday in the first game of a 3-game series, courtesy of a complete-game, 1-hitter from right hander Zach Liebman and a 2-run home run by senior Craig Lipp.
The victory snapped the Wolves' 20-game winning streak in the Fox Division of the Fox Valley Conference and lifted Huntley (20-3-1, 6-0) into sole possession of first place ahead of Prairie Ridge (20-6, 6-1).
"It means a lot," Lipp said of the win. "This was probably one of our biggest games of the year, especially with them being in our conference and how good they've been. It's huge for us and such a momentum boost. Knowing that we can beat PR is a great feeling."
Liebman, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound senior slated to pitch at Judson University next year, dominated in improving to 7-0. His curveball was biting early and his fastball picked up steam as the game progressed.
"That was the best it's been all year," Liebman said of a curveball that helped him notch 8 strikeouts against 1 walk. "I think we were all pretty excited to play this game."
Wolves coach David Haskins felt his hitters helped Liebman out a bit too often.
"I thought we struggled in our hitting approaches," Haskins said. "We took too many fastballs, and we were swinging at breaking balls and changeups. I told them if we're going to have that kind of hitting approach, we're going to struggle."
Huntley jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first inning against Prairie Ridge senior Joe Zwierzynski (6-3) with the help of 3 Prairie Ridge errors. Lipp reached base on a high hopper that went off the top of the PR first baseman's glove, and he subsequently stole second base.
Huntley cleanup hitter Chris Klein hit a groundball that was booted by the Wolves' shortstop, and Lipp never hesitated as he rounded third. A good throw might have nailed him, but the throw from shortstop bounced and catcher Nolan Jacoby couldn't pick it cleanly as Lipp slid home safely for a 1-0 lead.
Lipp powered the Red Raiders to a 3-0 lead in the third inning. The left-handed hitting center fielder hit a curveball for a towering 2-run home run just inside the foul pole in right field, scoring Phil Pupillo, who led off the inning with a single.
"It was looking like it might hook foul," Lipp said. "I'm glad it didn't."
Prairie Ridge scored its only run in the fifth inning. Logan Olson led off with the lone hit of the game for the Wolves, stole second, moved to third on a groundout and scored on a squeeze bunt by No. 8 hitter Jesse Shukas.
The Wolves' had a scoring opportunity negated in the third inning on a controversial call. After two men reached on a walk and an error, Liebman recovered with a strikeout for the first out. At that point Haskins called for a safety squeeze from Dan Rowe.
Rowe's bunt went straight down, bounced back up and hit his bat a second time. Though it appeared Rowe hadn't stepped out of the batter's box, which would have made it a foul ball, he was called out by the home-plate umpire. The next PR hitter grounded out, stranding runners at second and third.
"He didn't actually know the rule," Haskins said of the official. "It's the wrong call. It's a double hit in the box, and that was a squeeze situation. But it is what it is."
The teams will rematch today at 10 a.m. in Crystal Lake, where the Wolves have yet to lose. Tanner Funke will pitch for Huntley, Olson for Prairie Ridge. The teams will meet for a third time on May 22.