Lake Park pounds away in win over Glenbard North
On a great day for hitting, Lake Park's baseball team actually didn't need much against Glenbard North.
The Lancers still reached what's turning into their standard double-digit run production, but much of it came about through patience at the plate.
Taking advantage of six walks, two hit batters and some timely hits in the first two innings, Lake Park burst to a huge early lead en route to an 11-1 five-inning win over the Panthers with the wind blowing out Friday in Roselle.
Through just this week the Lancers (4-0) already boast nearly half the wins they compiled all of last season. One of the main reasons they're on pace to demolish last year's total of nine wins is an offense averaging 12 runs a game.
"Everyone seems to be swinging the bats real well," said Lancers third baseman Zach Tsiodras, who singled, homered and drove in 5 runs. "It feels good to be beating up on some teams. We knew we were going to be good, we just need to keep it going."
Lake Park exploded for 6 runs in the first inning. Sending 10 men to the plate - two walked and two were hit by pitches - the Lancers surged behind RBI singles by Anthony Valldeperas, Tsiodras and Ryan Rapshus.
A second-inning run scored on four straight walks, and Jake McNamara's RBI triple scored the Lancers' eighth run in the third inning. Tsiodras blasted an opposite-field 2-run homer to right field to boost the lead to 10-1 in the fourth inning. Peter Spear ended the game in the bottom of the fifth inning, singling home the Lancers' 11th run.
"The things we've been preaching are patience and to be aggressive when you get your pitch," said Lake Park coach Dan Colucci. "We're taking our walks, we're getting hit by a pitch. These guys are buying into it."
Lost in the offensive shuffle was a solid effort from Lake Park starting pitcher Kevin Steger (1-0), who allowed 3 hits, walked three and struck out one in 4 innings. Marc Ostrowski pitched a scoreless top of the fifth inning to set the stage for the winning run in the bottom of the fifth.
Glenbard North (4-2) scored its lone run in the third inning when a one-out walk to Tyler Schwichtenberg led to Ryan Broviak's run-scoring single. The Panthers put at least one runner on base in every inning except the second but couldn't break through aside from Broviak's hit.
"We dug ourselves a huge hole in the first inning and got behind early," said Panthers coach Rich Smelko. "We still had some opportunities to chip away and get back in it, but it was too big of a hole."