Burlington Central comes back to beat Larkin

Down 6-1 after two innings, lesser teams would have quit and settled for a loss.

Not the powerful Burlington Central Rockets.

Central, which scored 8 runs in the final four innings, rallied for a 9-6 nonconference baseball win over Larkin in Elgin Saturday.

"After we got down, we took the approach we have to win every inning," said Central coach Kyle Nelson. "The kids didn't panic. Nick (Hahn) was overthrowing his fastball early in the game and Larkin was hitting him hard. Once he settled down, Nick pitched a solid game and we swung the bats. Larkin is a good ballclub. This was a good win."

Larkin (4-10-1) looked like the powerhouse early on. The Royals pounced on Hahn for 5 runs on 6 hits in the first inning.

The key hits for the Royals were 2-run singles by Victor Saldana and Drew Shore.

Larkin scored an unearned run in the second, but Hahn got tough and blanked the Royals on 2 hits over the last five innings.

"We really came out swinging, but needed to keep hitting and putting pressure on them the entire game," said Larkin coach Matt Esterino. "We got a little too relaxed at the plate. But this was a good game for us. (The Rockets) are a very good ballclub."

After allowing 6 runs on 7 hits during the first two innings, Hahn shutout the Royals in the last 5 innings. He ended the game with 7 strikeouts and 2 walks in 7 innings of work.

"I didn't have control of my off speed pitches early in the game," said Hahn. "My location wasn't good at all. I knew if I could settle down we would score some runs."

Hahn also excelled at the plate for the Rockets (16-1) with a solo homer, an RBI triple and 3 runs scored.

Austin Jarvis was 2-for-3 with a double and triple and 3 runs scored for the winners.

"I have felt real comfortable at the plate this season," said Jarvis. "I knew we could come back and score some runs. It is good to play good teams like Larkin. They really came at us early."

Nolan Anderson (3 RBI) and Zach Romando also had 2 hits for Central.

Scott Harm, Shore and Reid Ellis had 2 hits apiece for Larkin.