Palatine’s Becker goes long distance

Kurt Becker went a distance few big-league pitchers go these days.

The Palatine senior pitched all 9 innings Friday and was rewarded for his extra effort with a 5-4 nonconference victory over Crystal Lake Central. Becker allowed 6 hits and 2 earned runs and had 4 strikeouts and just 1 walk as he threw 76 of his 118 pitches for strikes.

Becker also helped himself by going 3-for-4 with a 2-run single in the third and an RBI double in the fifth. But the Pirates (3-5) finally went ahead to stay in the top of the ninth on Eric Scheuermann’s leadoff triple and Anthony Fortunato’s sacrifice fly.

Becker finished off the victory by leaving the tying run at second with a groundout. Scheuermann and Scott Schneberger went 2-for-5 for the Pirates.

Niles West 7, Rolling Meadows 6: Every game Rolling Meadows has played so far has been decided by 1 run.

Unfortunately for the host Mustangs (2-3) on Friday, this decision went to Niles West when Michigan-bound Kevin Ross hit a 2-run homer in the sixth to put his team up 7-6 and cap a 3-for-4 day with 4 RBI.

Niles West took a 5-1 lead in the top of the second but Meadows answered with 5 runs in the bottom of the inning. John Burkiewicz had an RBI triple, Mickey Wazorick an RBI single, Mike Dolan an RBI double and Matt Dennis a 2-run triple.

Matt Hendricks also hit a 2-run homer in the first for Meadows.