Huntley offense breaks loose vs. Hampshire

Huntley made sure to jump on Hampshire as quickly as possible Wednesday.

The Red Raiders' leadoff batter reached base in the first four innings, all leading to run, as Huntley downed Hampshire 13-3 in a nonconference game that ended after five innings at Hampshire.

After scoring a run in each of the first three innings, Huntley (4-1) exploded for 4 runs in the fourth and a 6-run fifth inning in the spring break matinee.

"We came out of our slump," said Red Raiders' catcher Phil Pupillo, who jacked a 2-run home run to left-center field in the fourth. "We were getting basehits here and there, but nothing like this."

After stranding 4 runners in the first three innings, Huntley got to Hampshire starter Ryan Burke (2-2) with singles from Jake Perkins and Matt Szytz to open the fourth. Carlos Alvarez doubled in both runners and then scored himself on Pupillo's first home run of the season putting Huntley up 7-1.

"They're a great hitting team," said Burke, who allowed 7 earned runs off 10 hits in 4 innings. "They didn't give us any outs. They picked up one run in each of the first three innings. That opened up things later."

Dylan Nihells took the mound for the Whip-Purs (2-5) in the fifth, the only inning in which Huntley's leadoff batter didn't reach base.

But third baseman Bryce Only, who had a solid defensive day, made up for things quickly by jacking a solo homer to left-center. The next four Red Raiders would reach base, with Andre Sopena and Alvarez each notching RBI singles. Tom Crohan smacked a 2-run shot to center putting Huntley up 13-1 going into the bottom of the fifth. The Red Raiders finished the game with 14 hits.

"I'm real pleased with our offensive approach," Huntley coach Andy Jakubowski said. "In four out of five innings we got our leadoff hitter on. We had to be able to produce."

Hampshire struggled to produce for the majority of Wednesday's game.

The Whips tied the game a 1-1 in the bottom of the first when Max Shaw brought Luke Wians home with a fielder's choice. Hampshire had 4 baserunners in the first inning, but stranded runners at first and second. The Whips also stranded a runner at third in the second inning and did not get another baserunner until scoring 2 runs in the fifth.

Shaw's RBI double scored Burke, but again Hampshire finished the game leaving 2 runners in scoring position.

Jeremy Ahillen (1-0) picked up the win for Huntley and Chris Klein gave up just 2 hits for the Red Raiders.

"If you don't score runs or get many hits early on it gets them down," Hampshire coach Steve Ream said. "If you hit the ball, even if you don't score runs, it helps you."