Eye-opening victory for Wheaton Warrenville South
With one eye looking ahead toward next week's playoffs, Wheaton Warrenville South's baseball team aims to leave a lasting impression on DuPage Valley Conference play.
The Tigers took the opening game of their three-game cross-town baseball series against host Wheaton North, claiming a 3-2 come-from-behind victory on Monday.
Combined with Naperville Central's 4-3 nine-inning win over Naperville North, Wheaton North (22-4, 15-4) holds a 1-game lead over both Naperville schools with two DVC games to play.
"Our goal was to play the spoiler role," said WW South second baseman Taylor Rhoades. "This is what playoff baseball is going to be like so we're just getting ready for next week. This is probably the best team in the area. We wanted to battle hard and prove we can play with them."
Wheaton North jumped to a 2-0 first-inning lead on Trey Martin's seventh homer of the year, a 2-run shot. Tigers starter Robert Grabek (6-2) settled down after that, scattering 5 hits and walking none over the next 52/3 innings.
WW South (17-11, 11-8) rallied despite managing only 2 hits against Falcons starter Aric Dama (7-1). It started with a run in the fourth inning on Rhoades' RBI single - the first hit off Dama.
A pair of fifth-inning errors opened the door for the Tigers to take the lead. Rhoades' sacrifice fly drove in the tying run on a close play at the plate, and then a wild pitch scored Neil Johnston with the go-ahead run.
Wheaton North put runners on first and second in the seventh inning but Tigers reliever Steve Smith coaxed the final out to notch his third save and preserve the win.
"It's tough to overcome 2 errors in one inning, and (Dama) just about did it," said Falcons coach Dan Schoessling. "That was a pretty good high-school baseball game. We just didn't get it done on defense in the sixth inning."
Dama struck out eight and allowed 1 earned run in a complete game. Jack DeAno went 3-for-3 for the Falcons.
"That one inning we put the ball in play and capitalized on some mistakes," said Tigers coach Tim Brylka. "It wasn't a pretty game, but I thought Robert pitched well and we pulled it out. Our guys played with a little fight and a little emotion, and that's how we've been all year."