Geneva's 6 homers too much for Kaneland

Baseball may be a game of inches but there were plenty of feet - and even miles involved - during Tuesday's Western Sun Conference-opening game between Geneva and Kaneland.

Slamming a season-high 20 base hits, including a team-record 6 home runs, the Vikings (5-2, 1-0) scored early and often during their 23-9 victory over the Knights (4-5, 0-1) in Geneva.

Junior right fielder Chris Hipchen enjoyed a career day at the plate, tying a team record (set by former Viking Chris Sepanski) with 3 home runs while finishing 4-for-4 with 4 RBI and 5 runs scored.

It was a marked improvement for Hipchen, who struck out 6 times in 8 at-bats during last Thursday's games against West Chicago and Larkin.

"I had a tough game Thursday and just wasn't myself," said Hipchen. "I kind of went up there today and told myself that I wasn't going to let good pitches go by. I just took advantage of the pitches I could."

Ironically, Hipchen was asked to lay down a bunt with runners on first and second and nobody out in his first plate appearance. The sacrifice attempt wound up as a base hit when the ball skipped past hard-charging Knights pitcher Ty Hamer (1-2).

"I try to do whatever I can do to help the team," said Hipchen, who now has 4 home runs in his team's first 7 games. "Keep fighting for my spot in the lineup and never take anything for granted."

Hipchen's solo home run in the third extended the Vikings' lead to 6-1. His 2-run bomb made it 9-6 and helped ignite a 6-run fifth, and he added a solo round-tripper in the sixth.

"I know he took (last) Thursday very personally," said Vikings coach Matt Hahn. "It's one of those games you laugh off but he said, 'Coach, I can't laugh at this.' I wouldn't doubt if he went home that night and found some place to hit."

Michael Monaghan (3-for-6, 6 RBI) began the long ball barrage for the Vikings with a 2-run home run as part of a 5-run first that included Eric Renner's 2-run single and a sacrifice fly from Brian Cornick (3-for-4, 4 RBI).

Geneva, which batted around in 3 of the 7 innings, put the game out of reach by scoring 16 runs over the final 3 frames - capped by 2-run home runs from Monaghan and Cornick.

"Yah, we set the home run record for our team but both teams are playing on the same field," said Hipchen. "So you can't say too much about the short fence."

Kaneland, which tied the game briefly at 6-6 after 3 innings, had 3 extra-base hits of its own, including Tyler Callaghan's 2-run home run in the second off Vikings ace Riley Perry (3-0).

"We had some guys hitting the ball tonight," said Kaneland coach Brian Aversa. "To score 9 runs, and we only had one home run, against Perry - it's a good, productive day at the plate.

"But we couldn't stop them."

While Perry tossed his 13th consecutive varsity complete game in a workmanlike effort, Hipchen didn't get an opportunity to hit his fourth home run during his final at-bat in the seventh inning as Aversa elected to intentionally walk the Vikings' slugger.

"We were sick of seeing him hit the ball out," said Aversa.