Scandora pitches Wheaton North to victory

Facing one of the state’s top baseball teams with one of the best pitchers on the mound clearly didn’t faze Wheaton North starter Eric Scandora.

It didn’t seem to bother his teammates, either.

Scandora and the Falcons put together an impressive performance in all phases while topping host Downers Grove South 6-1 in Monday’s nonconference action.

The senior righty improved to 2-0 with a complete-game 5-hitter, striking out three in a 90-pitch performance. Aside from a lone run he allowed in the first inning, Scandora kept the Mustangs (4-4) at bay.

“I just settled down, spotted my pitches,” Scandora said. “It was real easy when the offense picked me up. You just go in like it’s every other game. Nothing special.”

Alabama-Birmingham recruit Jeff Schalk’s RBI single off Kansas State-bound right-hander Matt Wivinis (1-1) spotted Wheaton North (3-2) to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, a run the Mustangs got back in the bottom of the inning on Nick Tenerelli’s run-scoring single.

From then on the game belonged to Scandora and the Falcons, who took the lead for good on Ryan Kent’s second-inning RBI double. Jake Schieber piled on to the lead when he smashed a 2-run home run in the third inning.

Scandora took care of the rest with the 5-1 early lead. He sent down the last seven hitters in order and stranded five runners on base including four in scoring position.

Downers South, which opened strong with three straight wins, has lost four of its last five games.

“Our at-bats with runners in scoring position were just terrible today,” said Mustangs coach Darren Orel. “That’s two games in a row where we were just real flat. We’re just not really playing real well.”

An RBI triple by John Peltz in the sixth inning accounted for Wheaton North’s final run as eight of the Falcons’ nine starters got a hit.

Kyle Engel and Tenerelli each had a pair of hits for Downers South. Aside from those top two hitters in the lineup, though, the rest of the order went a combined 1-for-21 against Scandora.

“He pitched very well against one of the better hitting teams we’ll probably see all year,” said Wheaton North coach Dan Schoessling. “If we can play good defense behind him we’re going to be in good shape. For the most part we did that today.”