Van Volkenburg, Lisle step up

High school baseball and March execution usually don't go hand in hand.

Lisle, however, executed plenty on Friday.

The short-handed Lions played clean when it counted, holding off Montini for a 4-2 nonconference victory in Lombard.

Lisle (3-2) was led on the mound and at the plate by freshman Ryan Van Volkenburg, who pitched 6-plus strong innings and drove in 2 runs in a much-needed effort considering the circumstances. Clemson-bound Jon Surber missed the game because of an out-of-town family commitment, and junior Ty Howell is out with an arm injury.

Short-handed or not, Lisle pulled together for a solid win.

"I think everyone was contributing and making plays," Van Volkenburg said. "We looked solid. One play can make the whole game, so we needed to play well and take care of the little things."

Van Volkenburg (1-0), a lefty, picked off two runners and stranded eight more in the first six innings. The Broncos (3-1) had the bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Lisle reliever Stephen Acceturo notched a clutch strikeout to end the game.

That marked the second time Montini left the bases loaded. The Broncos also stranded runners at second and third in the fourth and fifth innings. Combined with the 5 errors they committed, it certainly wasn't the cleanest game for the Broncos.

"I've got to give credit to their pitcher, he did a great job keeping us off balance," said Montini coach Bill Leeberg, who earned his 700th career victory in Thursday's win over Lyons Twp. "We didn't hit the ball hard at all. I can't fault our pitching too much. We committed some errors, and they got the timely hits."

The teams traded runs in the first inning before Nick Thome's third-inning RBI groundout put Lisle ahead 2-1. The Lions added a pair of sixth-inning runs on a squeeze bunt by Van Volkenburg, who singled home Lisle's first run, and Curt Walker's run-scoring single.

Frank Montalto's fielder's choice drove in Kevin Hankins, who doubled twice for Montini, in the bottom of the seventh inning to narrow the gap to 4-2.

"We've been working hard on executing the little things," said Lisle coach Pete Meyer. "They can make or break a game for you, and those are the things we took care of today."