Split decisions for Lakes, Kukulka, Antioch
Lakes senior Paul Kukulka had one of those bad news/good news days as the host Eagles split a doubleheader against Antioch in North Suburban Prairie play Saturday.
The teams started the day tied for the division lead. With Wauconda beating Vernon Hills, Wauconda, Antioch (13-6, 6-2) and Lakes (13-10, 6-2) are tied atop the standings.
In the first game, Kukulka lost in relief. But he started the second game and picked up the win.
Both teams showed great pitching in Game 1 as Antioch squeaked out a 2-1 victory in 11 innings.
In the top of the 11th, Antioch’s Ryan Dragoon single and reached second on an error. Joe Gregory then slammed a groundball toward first base that skipped past the first baseman’s glove, scoring Dragoon.
Lakes threatened to tie the game in the bottom of the 11th as Kyle Noon doubled and Kukulka walked, but Sequoits winning pitcher Dave Meade was able to get the next two batters out.
Antioch starter Dragoon and Lakes starter Nick Hibbing both were dominant. Hibbing pitched 8 innings and struck out 12 with 3 walks. Dragoon pitched 7 innings and allowed only 1 run on 3 hits with 7 strikeouts.
“We had great defense out there today,” said Dragoon. “Today I felt real great and Nick gave me another great match-up.”
Lakes scored 1 run in the first and Antioch tied it in the fourth.
“It was a great game, and a very well pitched game,” Lakes coach Ray Gialo said. “Both teams battled, and any time you are on the wrong side of the game like that, you are going to be down a little bit, and we had to bounce back quick.
“Nick threw great out there today,” Gialo added. “It’s unfortunate that he took a no-decision. He battled. We jumped on his back and he kept us in the game for 7 innings.”
“We played real well for the first 9 innings,” Hibbing said. “We battled all through the game and never gave up. We played a pretty good team over there.”
Lakes may have lost the services of Nick Traska, who sprained his wrist while fouling off a pitch in the sixth inning.
Kukulka’s day turned around in Game 2 as Lakes came out swinging to win 12-4. He pitched the first four innings and gave up 2 runs on 3 hits.
Jacob Brown and Noon led the Lakes offense with 3 hits each. Brown also scored 3 runs and drove in 1.
The Eagles scored two runs in the top of the second as Max Dexheimer and Brown drove in a run apiece.
Antioch’s Mitch Everett limited the damage with a fine play on a long drive from Noon to left field. Everett made a running catch before crashing into the fence.
Lakes broke the game open with 3 runs in the fourth inning.
Antioch scored 2 runs in the second inning and 2 in the seventh.
“First game was great,” Antioch coach Paul Petty said. “The cross-town rivalry, 1-1 tie, 11th inning — that’s just great baseball.
“The pitching for both sides was pretty tough, and there was a couple of times when our kids either got on base and didn’t take the next base or tag up and try to score”
Gialo was happier after the second game.
“I really commend our guys,” Gialo said. “After losing an emotional game like that and to be able to come back and shake that off and attack and hit the ball the way we did showed a lot of character.”
“I don’t get it sometimes with this game or with kids,” Petty said, referring to the second game. “But you think that after a great win you would want to come right back out — but we just didn’t hit.”