Stevenson starts with win
Coming off its first state berth in program history, Stevenson’s baseball team started its 2011 season on a winning note.
Harvard-bound Michael Martin went 4-for-4 with a double and 4 runs scored, as the Patriots outslugged visiting Palatine 14-7 on Wednesday.
Stevenson’s Barry Saks and Adam Walton both went 2-for-4 with 3 RBI. Stetson-recruit Isaac Greenspon earned the win, striking out six and allowing 3 hits in 4 innings of work.
Palatine fell to 1-3.
Mundelein wins twice: The Mustangs won a pair of games downstate, 16-1 over Cobden and 4-0 over Harrisburg to improve to 6-0 on the season.
Against Cobden, Isaac Aleman belted a grand slam, and Jared Mandel struck out eight to earn his first win. The Mustangs got doubles from Nate Avis, Ryan Borucki, Ben Mahar and Torr Randau.
Senior lefty Dante Martinez had 10 strikeouts against Harrisburg in improving his record to 2-0.
The Mustangs’ 9 hits included triples by Charlie Gandolfi (1-for-1, 3 walks) and John DeVito (2-for-2).
Antioch wins twice: The Sequoits won a pair of games on their home diamond, edging McHenry 3-2 on Paul DeJong’s game-winning RBI in the ninth and topping Milwaukee Hamilton 12-2.
Ryan Dragoon threw all 9 innings against McHenry, striking out nine and scattering just 3 hits. Alex Grimm had a double for Antioch (3-1).
Dragoon delivered with his bat against Milwaukee Hamilton, going 2-for-3 with a triple and 4 RBI. Dave Meade (2-0) pitched 4 innings for the win.
Grayslake Central 7, Kettering Fairmont 2: Trailing 1-0 heading into the top of the fifth inning, the Rams scored twice to take the lead.
They added two more runs in the sixth and finished off their third win in Florida with three more runs in the seventh.
Grayslake Central (3-0) was held without a hit heading into the fifth, when Jon Gurchak got things started with a double. Following a walk to pinch hitter Nick Passarella and a sacrifice bunt by Nick Hosford, Cam Neely (2 hits, 2 RBI) tied the game with a single.
Ryan Hamrick then hit a sacrifice fly, giving the Rams a lead they would never relinquish. Austin Leggett and Austin Miller each had a pair of singles.
Mark Gawinski tossed 4 solid innings in picking up the win to go along with 7 strikeouts. Andrew Formica and Derek Idstein closed out the final 3 innings for the Rams.
“Mark really battled against a well-hitting and very disciplined team,” Rams coach Troy Whalen said. “They worked a lot of deep counts and fouled off tough pitches. The first inning was the key with their first four hitters reaching base, but Mark held them to 1 run. After that, he settled in and our bats came alive late in the game.”
Grayslake Central will close out its Orlando trip today against Haverford, N.C. The Rams have their home opener Saturday against Burlington Central at 10 a.m.
Vernon Hills 11, Grayslake North 6: The Cougars and Knights traveled six hours to play in nicer weather and at the great venue of Abe Martin field at SIU Carbondale.
Vernon Hills pitcher M.J. Crowley produced another quality start and earned his third win of the year. Ryan Lane once again came in and threw 1 innings of scoreless relief.
Vernon Hills had 10 hits, led by Chris Marras, who went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI. Other offensive standouts included Chris Argianas (2-for-2, 2 runs, 2 RBI), Anthony Mazza (2 runs), Eric Lang (1-for-2, 2 runs, 3 RBI) and Steve Nelson (1-for-2, run).
Lakes 9, Highland 3: On Tuesday in downstate Highland, Jake Brown homered and went 3-for-4 with 4 RBI, Jake Wisniewski pitched 4 innings, striking out six and walking six for the win.
Chris Hoffman also homered for Lakes (2-1), going 2-for-2 with 2 RBI, 2 runs scored and a walk. Nick Traska was 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI.
On Monday, the Eagles dropped a 6-5 decision in 11 innings to host Bloomington. Kyle Noon (3-for-4, RBI) and A.J. Metzger (2-for-5, 2 RBI) led Lakes offensively. Paul Kukulka started on the mound for the Eagles, pitched well and got a no-decision.