Thursday's Fox Valley roundup
The Bartlett baseball team took advantage of winds gusting straight out at 35 mph by smacking 5 home runs in an 18-7 victory over visiting East Aurora Thursday. Ryan Yore (4 RBI), Mike Mancuso, Greg Partyka, Brett Barger and Cory Motz each homered to lead a 15-hit attack for the Hawks (7-12, 3-10), who snapped a 10-game skid behind winning pitcher Mark Morse.
South Elgin 16, Elgin 2: Junior Kenny Lowden (3-1) struck out 10, walked one and allowed 2 earned runs on 6 hits in 5 innings as host South Elgin won the opener of a 3-game Upstate Eight series. Kyle DeRoo, Jake Toppel and Drew Buddle each drove in 3 runs for the Storm (13-4, 8-3). Jordan Smith doubled and Alex Doty (2-2) took the loss for Elgin (4-13, 3-8).
Crystal Lake South 9, Grayslake Central 7: CL South (12-9, 9-5) erupted for 7 runs in the sixth inning to overtake the Rams (14-6, 8-4) and forge a split of the 2-game Fox Valley Conference crossover series. Robbie Lemke hit 2 home runs, Greg Pagnotta added another round tripper and Easton Kowalski doubled twice to make a winner of pitcher Mike Benson (3-1).
Cary-Grove 26, Woodstock North 8: The Trojans powered their way to a Fox Valley Conference crossover victory by ripping 8 home runs against the Thunder in Woodstock. Senior Eric Chandler and junior Michael Vilardo each homered twice, and Steve Mihalik, Matt Panek, Danny Liesten and Alex Wians each cleared the fences for Cary-Grove (14-8, 10-4), which won for the eighth time in nine outings.
Huntley 7, Woodstock 4: Starting pitcher Matt Morin (3-2) held the Blue Streaks to 1 earned run on 3 hits, and Nick Kostalek didn't allow an earned run in 3 innings to notch his first save in a Fox Valley Conference crossover in Woodstock. Andre Sopena went 2-for-4 with a triple for Huntley (18-4, 11-3).
Crystal Lake Central 8, Dundee-Crown 5: Steve Schwartz went 2-for-4, but the Chargers couldn't overcome a 6-1 deficit after three innings in a Fox Valley Conference crossover in Crystal Lake. Mark Lodi (4-1) allowed 3 earned runs on 11 hits in 6 innings for Dundee-Crown (10-11, 7-6).
Burlington Central 22, Marengo 2: Senior catcher Austin Jarvis hit his ninth and 10th home runs of the season, doubled and drove in 5 runs to up his season total to 54. Nolan Anderson also went 3-for-4 with 2 home runs and 5 RBI, Tanner Scott homered and drove in 3 runs, and junior pitcher Nick Hahn improved to 7-0 by holding the Indians to 4 hits in a Big Northern East game. The win was the 14th in a row for Burlington Central (20-1, 5-0)
Rockford Christian Life 8, Westminster Christian 7: Brandon Weingartner upped his batting average to .552 by finishing 3-for-4 with 3 RBI, but it wasn't enough to overcome a 5-run third inning by Christian Life. Andrew Mason (3-3) absorbed the loss after allowing 6 earned runs on 7 hits in 5 innings for Westminster Christian (16-7, 8-2)
St. Edward 5, Marian Central 3: Pitcher Jack Sutherland (3-3) scattered 7 hits and went the distance in a Suburban Christian Conference crossover in Woodstock. Senior David Hoebbel hit a 2-run home run for St. Edward (11-11, 5-6).