Feece, Vernon Hills stop Mundelein
A team effort helped Vernon Hills’ baseball team hand Mundelein just its third loss this season.
The Cougars won 7-3 in a North Suburban Conference crossover Saturday.
It started and ended on the mound for Vernon Hills, said coach Jay Czarnecki, whose Cougars improved to 16-4.
Tyler Feece made the start for the Cougars and pitched 3 innings, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits, while striking out five. Feece handed the ball to Pat Crowley for the next three innings.
Crowley allowed only 1 earned run on 2 hits while striking out three. MJ Crowley relieved his younger brother and pitched a scoreless seventh inning to close it out.
Offensively, eight Vernon Hills hitters reached safely, while four hitters drove in runs.
The Cougars got things rolling in the top of the first inning, as MJ Crowley (1-for-2, 2 runs) drew a walk and Dylan McNamara (1-for-2) singled. With one out, Austin Hagen (2-for-4, run, RBI) hit a line shot in the gap to score Crowley. McNamara was thrown out at the plate on a groundball off the bat of Feece (1-for-4, double, run, 2 RBI). But a Mundelein error plated the Cougars’ second run.
After Mundelein scored, Chris Marras (2-for-3, 2 runs) reached on an infield hit and moved to second on an errant throw. Marras scored when Hagen’s single went under the glove of the center fielder, making the score 3-1.
Up 3-2, Vernon Hills added on in the top of the fifth. It was MJ Crowley again who led things off with a walk. Pinch hitter Ethan McGrew singled, followed by a single by Marras. With one out, Feece delivered the eventual game-winning RBI, as he drove in both Crowley and McGrew with a double.
Vernon Hills wasn’t finished, as Steve Nelson knocked in a run. Pat Crowley (2-for-4, RBI) put the Cougars up 7-2 with a two-out single to end the scoring.
Mundelein (18-3) added a run in the sixth, as pinch hitter Zach Osisek singled to right field. Chris Maranto had a double for the Mustangs.
Stevenson 7, Rolling Meadows 3: Steve Galanopoulos and Jon Savarise each had 2 hits, as the Patriots won their nonconference road game.
Galanapoulos (RBI) and Zach Novoselsky each doubled, helping make a winner of junior right-hander Jordan Sheinkop, who struck out eight in 41⁄3 scoreless innings. Sheinkop allowed only 1 hit, as Stevenson improved to 12-6.
Wauconda 10, Harvard 4: Jake Ziolkowski homered, singled and drove in 3 runs, and Brandon Gibis and John Kamakis were each 3-for-4 with a double in the Bulldogs’ nonconference win at home.
Wauconda (11-6) also got a double from Shawn Sundquist, while junior Luke Kenny threw 6 innings for the win.
Grant 5, Wilmot (Wis.) 3: Zach Niedrich earned his first varsity win, pitching 4 innings, allowing no earned run and not walking a batter.
Jake Ring had a pair of hits, including his third triple of the season, and Jared Helmich (RBI) also tripled for Grant. Brent Spohr was 2-for-4.
Grayslake Central 4, Hampshire 0: After winning the opener 10-6 in Game 1 of a Fox Valley Conference doubleheader, the host Rams completed the sweep, hiking their winning streak to seven.
Nick Hosford and Christian Edwards combined on a 4-hit shutout.
Ryan Hamrick and Matt Loeffl had 3 hits each, with Hamrick scoring twice, as Grayslake Central improved to 13-5 and 7-1 in the FVC. Kristian Meehan also had a pair of hits and 2 RBI. Hosford chipped in a double.
“Ryan and Matt gave us some great AB’s today along with Meehan,” Rams coach Troy Whalen said. “On the mound, Nick and Christian did a great job of pitching to contact and we made the plays behind them.”