Geneva, Perry put away Glenbard South

You know it's going to be a good day for your team when...

• It takes a 4-0 lead after sending its first 6 batters to the plate.

• It belts 4 home runs in as many innings, including a pair of 2-run shots.

• The starting pitcher allows just 3 base hits, walks one and induces 9 groundball outs while striking out five.

• It takes advantage of second chances, runs the bases flawlessly, moves runners along with sacrifice bunts and throws some leather defensively.

Put it all together and it basically sums up Geneva's 11-0, 5-inning triumph over Western Sun Conference rival Glenbard South (10-6, 5-2) Tuesday afternoon in Geneva.

The Vikings (10-5, 5-2) jumped on 6-foot-8 Raiders starting pitcher Dylan Rheault (2-3) for 4 first-inning runs with 3 extra-base hits in their first 4 at-bats.

After leadoff man Jason Adams (2-for-3) reached on a bad-hop double, designated hitter Michael Monaghan drove him in with a line single to left to make it 1-0. Two pitches later, senior third baseman Alex Sroka (1-for-2, 3 RBI) sent a 1-0 offering over the fence in left-center for a 2-run home run - his fifth of the season. Junior Chris Hipchen followed with a double and came across on Eric Renner's RBI single.

"It's one of the things we've done all year," said Sroka, who made a diving defensive gem in the third and added a fourth-inning sacrifice fly. "We come out early and put up a lot of runs.

"We get the momentum early on, which is important. And with Riley (Perry) throwing, it keeps it going on the other end. He gets us back in (the dugout) quickly and it's a good flow of momentum."

Geneva coach Matt Hahn welcomes his team's fast starts.

"I think it's a key against any opponent because I think it takes some pressure off your pitcher," Hahn said. "When we can score four in the first with Riley on the mound, more times than not that's going to work."

Hipchen launched a towering home run in the third before adding a 2-run shot in his next at-bat - part of a 6-run fourth that included Jack Delabar's solo home run. Hipchen now has 9 home runs in 15 games, upping the Vikings' team total to 22.

"Everyone talks about how small the ballpark is but we've hit like this on the road, too," said Hahn, who was impressed with the opposing team's pitcher.

"I thought his (Rheault's) fastball was good and his curve broke real sharp but that's the kind of hitting team we are."

It was more than enough support for Perry, who raised his record to 5-0 with an economical 59-pitch performance.

"My curveball was working nice today," said Perry. "Throwing only 59 pitches helps out in the long run. If I threw 110 (pitches) today, I wouldn't be able to pitch until next Tuesday. Now maybe on Thursday I can get in for an inning or two if they need it."

Not a whole lot went right for the Raiders, who resume the 3-game series today in Glen Ellyn.

"They're a good hitting team and we threw too many fastballs belt-high right down the middle of the plate," said Raiders coach Bill Riley.

"Our kids will bounce back. They're good kids and they'll come back and play better tomorrow."