Burlington C. holds off Hinsdale South

Burlington Central pitcher Sam Klein set the tone early with his bat and the Rockets held off Hinsdale South’s late rally to win Thursday’s nonconference baseball game, 9-7, in Hinsdale.

Klein blasted a 2-run home run in the top of the first inning to give the Rockets a 2-0 lead. They’d add another run in the inning as Nick Hahn hit a sacrifice fly.

Klein surrendered a run in the bottom of the first inning but fired 4 shutout innings after that before running out of gas in the bottom of the sixth inning.

“I’m trying to build off last year and was just trying to find my zone and make good pitches,” Klein said.

Burlington Central (3-2) had expanded its lead thanks to a 2-run homer run to center field from catcher Tanner Scott in the top of the fifth inning, and then a big 4-run frame in the top of the sixth inning, which the Rockets would end up needing.

Bryan Leist and Tomas Chiarugi singled to open the top of the sixth inning. Zach Ranney drove in one run with a groundout, leadoff man Ray Hunnicutt sent another one home with an RBI single to left field, Scott drove in his third run of the game with a double and the Rockets took advantage of an error to jump ahead 9-1.

Hinsdale South (1-1) loaded the bases with nobody out to begin the bottom of the sixth inning and that ended Klein’s day. The Hornets ended up scoring 6 runs in the inning, on just 3 hits, to pull within 9-7.

Joey Lange picked up the save for the Rockets. He surrendered a double in the bottom of the sixth inning but escaped further damage. In the bottom of the seventh, he put two runners on with two outs, but got Tyler Langosch to pop out to Scott in foul territory to end the game.

Scott finished with 3 hits to lead the Rockets. He also threw out two potential base stealers.

“He’s had a great year so far at the plate and he’s coming around defensively as well,” Burlington Central coach Kyle Nelson said of Scott. “He’s doing a fantastic job and is an imposing guy to have in the middle of the lineup. I’m glad he’s on our side.”

Hunnicutt, BC’s leadoff man had 2 singles, scored twice and reached base three times to get the offense going.

“I’m trying to get on base every time,” he said. “We got off to a nice start in the first inning today.”