Jarvis, Burlington Central cruise by Kaneland

Burlington Central senior Nick Hahn didn't expect the Rockets' offense to be running so smoothly this early in the season.

But after the Rockets put up 11 runs in the fourth inning of Thursday's nonconference game against Kaneland, there wasn't much more Central could have done right.

Capped off by a grand slam home run from Austin Jarvis, the Rockets reached base in every way imaginable. The offensive output led to a 14-3 Central victory on a frigid afternoon on Rocket Hill.

"It usually takes a while for our offense to come around," said Hahn, who went 2-for-4 and scored twice.

It took the Rockets (3-0) all of three innings against Kaneland (0-2).

Nolen Anderson, Drew Stover and Sam Klein loaded the bases without an out to open the inning. Sophomore Tanner Scott singled in Anderson putting the Rockets ahead 4-2 with Jarvis coming to the plate. Jarvis took a 1-2 pitch and drove the ball, with some assistance from the strong wind blowing out, over the center field wall for a grand slam.

"I was looking for a fastball to drive," said Jarvis, who went 2-for-4 with 5 RBI. "We wanted to jump on (Kaneland pitcher Ty Hamer) in the first inning. We wanted to win every pitch when we were up to bat."

The Knights pulled Hamer but the Rockets' offense showed no sign of slowing down.

Hahn doubled off new pitcher Sam Komel's first pitch and scored a batter later on a single from Jeff Ehlers. Stover, Klein (2) and Jarvis would all drive in additional runs off both Komel and Jake Tickle.

Central finished the fourth inning sending 16 batters to the plate. The Rockets had 8 hits and 3 extra-base hits.

"We were having a hard time with our spots," Kaneland coach Brian Aversa said. "That grand slam was a great low pitch. This place is a wind tunnel. It's a home-field advantage for them."

Kaneland came within 3-2 after Jake Fielder scored on a wild pitch from Klein (2-0) in the top of the third. But Klein responded by retiring the next 3 batters and ending the inning. The junior went 5 inning giving up 3 runs on 7 hits while striking out 8.

Hahn gave the Rockets a 3-0 lead in the home half of the first after smacking a first-pitch home run to dead center field. Central forced Hamer (0-1) to throw 39 pitches in the first inning. Hamer did respond by not allowing a hit in the next two innings but ended up allowing 8 earned runs on 5 hits for the game.

"We took real good at bats in the first inning," Central coach Kyle Nelson said. "Our plate approach is a big part of what we do offensively."