Streamwood’s Harris shuts down Batavia

Some would say that Josh Harris is a perfectionist.

Streamwood’s left-handed pitching ace wasn’t totally enamored with his performance against Batavia Wednesday afternoon.

While he may have struggled to find the strike zone at times, the Villanova-bound Harris also displayed a dominant side during the Sabres’ 4-0 Upstate Eight Conference triumph in Batavia.

Harris, who raised his record to 4-0, recorded 12 strikeouts while holding the Bulldogs (3-7, 1-5) to just 4 hits.

“I didn’t have my best control today,” said Harris. “I walked way too many guys. It was a little tough for me but getting the win was the big thing, and that’s what we did.”

Getting the win is exactly what the Sabres have been doing throughout the young season, as they extended their winning streak to 13 while improving to 7-0 in UEC play.

“A 13-0 record and 7-0 in this conference is something to hang your hat on,” said Sabres assistant coach Jeff Szukala, who was in filling in for head coach Steve Diversey.

Streamwood touched Batavia starting pitcher Michael Rutas (2-1) for a second-inning run as a hit batsman and walk was followed by a 2-out, RBI single off the bat of leadoff man Nate Pearson (2-for-4).

Getting an early lead proved beneficial once again for the red-hot Sabres.

“Nate comes up with the big two-out hit and we’re able to roll downhill with Josh on the mound,” said Szukala. “The team has a lot of confidence playing behind him.”

Other than that, the starting pitchers were in command throughout the first 6 innings, as the teams managed just 2 base hits apiece.

“I definitely had to have total focus today,” said Harris. “I had to stay in control and not let anything affect me. When I was getting behind (in the count), I was walking them and giving them too many opportunities.”

Batavia did have its share of scoring chances, getting a runner in scoring position during 5 of the 7 innings. Jay Clark’s 1-out double in the second was wasted when Harris fanned the next 2 hitters.

With runners on first and second and 2 out in the fourth, Harris worked his way out of the jam when catcher Pryor fielded a bunt a few steps in front of the plate and threw to first baseman Bobby Post for the third out.

“We had a couple of cookies that we didn’t deliver on,” said Batavia coach Matt Holm. “He made a couple mistakes. We had a 3-0 pitch that I gave a green light on. I thought he’d come back with a fastball — which he got and popped it up.

“We’re not seasoned enough to turn that into something.”

Richie Gorski’s RBI double and run-producing singles from Patrick Manning and Brandon Larkin-Guilfoyle helped Streamwood add 3 insurance tallies in the seventh.

Batavia threatened in the bottom half of the frame, putting runners on first and third and 1 out before Harris preserved the shutout with a strikeout and retiring the final out on a foul pop to Pryor.

“I wasn’t worried about the shutout,” said Harris. “I was still just concerned with getting the win because it wasn’t secured yet.”

Rutas fanned 9 while working 6 1/3 innings of 5-hit ball.

“It was unfortunate for Rutas again to go out and not get the run support in a tough game like that,” said Holm.