McKeague closes it for Bartlett

How did Bartlett closer Tim McKeague feel when he was called on to preserve a 3-run lead against Streamwood in the top of the seventh with the bases loaded and nobody out?

“Nervous,” he said.

McKeague had reason to be jittery in light of recent history. He took the loss in relief Thursday at Geneva when the Hawks committed 2 errors behind him in the bottom of the seventh and dropped a 4-3 decision.

McKeague flirted with disaster against the defending sectional champion Sabres. He allowed 2 inherited runs to score and issued 2 walks, including a bases-loaded pass to Michael Smith that drew Streamwood within 10-9 with two outs.

That turned out to be the final score, however, because the senior right-hander successfully induced a high-hopper off the bat of No. 3 hitter Richie Gorski. Third baseman Giacomo Visconti fielded the ball and beat the runner to the bag for the game-ending forceout.

“It’s not how we drew it up, but it was enough to get the win,” said Bartlett coach Chris Pemberton, whose club improved to 6-5 overall, 2-1 in the Upstate Eight Conference.

“It feels good,” a relieved McKeague said after notching the save. “That makes us 2-1 in the conference, and Streamwood is right next door to us and they’re a pretty good team.”

Gorski, who on Thursday delivered a game-tying hit in the eighth inning of a win over Waubonsie Valley, went after the first pitch of the at-bat.

“I was looking first-pitch fastball and I got it,” said Gorski, who hit .405 last season. “I just got too anxious and got out in front of it.”

The win was an impressive one for the Hawks, who twice rallied from behind. Bartlett fell behind 4-0 in the first inning, roared back to take a 6-4 lead, again fell behind 7-6 in the fifth, tied the game 7-7 in its half of the fifth, then scored 3 runs in the bottom of the sixth to go ahead for good.

Bartlett’s first comeback was fueled by senior Ryan Roszkowiak. He belted a 400-foot, second-inning grand slam to left off Streamwood starting pitcher Dalton Lundeen to put the Hawks on top 5-4. Roszkowiak and Lundeen are summer travel ball teammates.

“I was just looking to put something in play,” Roszkowiak said of his second home run of the season. “It was a straight fastball. Dalton was lights out for me last year. I struck out against him three times.”

Bartlett moved to a 6-4 advantage on Colin Nowak’s leadoff home run in the third, but Streamwood rallied for a single run in the fourth and knocked Bartlett starting pitcher Robert Sadowski out of the game in the fifth when Lundeen doubled to tie it 6-6.

Jeff Weaver greeted Bartlett reliever Tyler Baseley with a single to put Streamwood (5-6, 1-2) ahead 7-6.

Bartlett tied the game in the bottom of the fifth, thanks to 3 one-out singles against Streamwood reliever Matt Harding by Kyle Garcia, Matt Wick and Ryan Karrick.

Streamwood was thwarted in the top of the sixth despite 2 hits. Gorski doubled to the left-center field fence with Smith on first, but a perfect relay play from left fielder Anthony Dyrkacz to shortstop Ben Grear to catcher Roszkowiak nailed the sliding runner at the plate.

Bartlett then scored 3 runs in the bottom of the sixth. Dan Gallanis led off with a walk, Nowak singled and Visconti’s sacrifice bunt advanced the runners. The Hawks took an 8-7 lead when Garcia’s groundball was bobbled by the Streamwood shortstop. Karrick subsequently provided important insurance with a 2-run single.

Trailing 10-7, Streamwood put its first two runners on base in the seventh inning, thanks to an error and 2 walks by Garcia. Cue McKeague, who entered the game and eventually nailed down the victory for Garcia (1-0). Harding (1-2) took the loss.

“We said as we approached the top of the seventh that we wanted to roll the order and get to our No. 3 and 4 hitters,” Streamwood coach Steve Diversey said. “And we did. We had our chances. We had every opportunity to win it early on but we have to have better (pitch) selection. We can live with solo home runs. Take away that grand slam and it’s a different ballgame.”

Bartlett collected 13 hits and five Hawks enjoyed multihit games, led by Wick’s 3-for-4 day. Karrick finished 2-for-4 with 3 RBI.

Streamwood finished with 10 hits, including 4 doubles.