Thursday's Lake County roundup
Back ... back ... back...
Well, just call it back-to-back-to-back home runs for Lakes' baseball team in its 14-2, five-inning, nonconference win over St. Viator in Arlington Heights on Thursday.
With one out in the first inning, the Eagles got consecutive homers from Travis Vanderwall, Paul Kukulka and Mark Ortman.
Vanderwall added another solo home run, and Wills Massie and Chris Hoffman also went yard for Lakes (12-7), making it a 6-homer day for the visitors.
Vanderwall (3 runs), Ortman (2 RBI), Hoffman (3 RBI, 2 runs) and Ryan Noon (double, RBI) all went 2-for-3.
Vanderwall (3-1) also earned the win on the mound, pitching 3 innings.
Jack Czeszewski homered for St. Viator (8-6-1).
Stevenson 4, Carmel 3: The Patriots stretched their winning streak to 10 games thanks to a run in the top of the seventh inning of the nonconference game.
Erick King tripled, and Ed Heiser and Jacob Sholl doubled for Stevenson (15-1). Kyle Ruchim (2-1) went the distance on the mound, striking out 10 and walking two.
One of the 5 hits Ruchim allowed was a home run to Derek Jordan. Alex May had a double for Carmel (10-4).
Wauconda 4, Round Lake 1: Shawn Sundquist earned the win for the visiting Bulldogs in the North Suburban Prairie Division game.
Jeff Jackson and Drew Hylen had doubles for Wauconda (11-7).
For Round Lake, Gerald Williams had a single and an RBI. Losing pitcher Matt Baum allowed only 1 earned run in a complete-game effort. Baum allowed 4 hits and 2 walks, and struck out five.
Cary-Grove 4, Grayslake Central 3: The host Trojans scored an unearned run in the sixth inning to pull out the Fox Valley Conference game.
Grayslake Central (11-5, 5-3) trailed 3-0 early but pulled even in a 3-run third, as Angelo Gargano had a 2-run single. Gargano was the only Ram with 2 hits.
Mitch Tielke suffered the loss, scattering 8 hits over 6 innings, while striking out three and walking one.
It was the Rams' third one-run loss of the season.
"Mitch deserved a better fate, as he threw the ball well against a team that hits 1-9 in the order," Grayslake Central coach Troy Whalen said. "When you lose 1-run games, the little things add up. We just are not playing complete baseball yet, but it will come."