Feece pitches VH past Wauconda
A win for Wauconda’s baseball team Wednesday would have been big for the defending North Suburban Prairie Division champions.
Instead, Vernon Hills avenged Tuesday’s loss with a 10-1 victory at Wauconda.
Both teams entered the game with 1 loss in the division.
Vernon Hills turned to Tyler Feece, who threw a complete game gem. He kept Wauconda’s potent offense off-balance and off the scoreboard until the bottom of the seventh.
Feece allowed only 4 hits, while striking out 10 in improving to 6-1.
The Cougars (17-5) received more offense than they needed in the first inning.
With one out, Eric Lang reached on an error and stole second. He then moved to third on another infield error. After a walk loaded the bases, Feece helped his own cause, as he doubled to drive in 2 runs.
It looked like Wauconda might cut into its deficit in the bottom of the inning. With two out, Jake Ziolkowski walked and was doubled to third by Shawn Sundquist. But Feece got a groundout to end the threat.
Vernon Hills added a run in the second. Austin Hagen reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Pat Crowley’s two-out infield single.
In the Vernon Hills fifth, Chris Marras drew a walk. Hagen then homered over the fence in left-center. Feece followed with a walk and moved to second on Crowley’s single. With two out, John Foley delivered a pinch-hit double that scored courtesy runner Ethan McGrew and Crowley.
Up 7-0, Vernon Hills added three runs in the seventh. After three consecutive infield errors, pinch-hitter McGrew knocked a run in with a groundout. MJ Crowley did the same, and Connor Dickman capped the rally with an RBI single.
Kyle Bock doubled twice for Wauconda (13-7). The Bulldogs’ only run scored on David Diol’s sacrifice fly.
Mundelein 5, Prairie Ridge 1: Ryan Borucki belted a 3-run homer in the second to stake the visiting Mustangs to an early lead in the nonconference game.
Jared Mandel threw 6 innings, striking out five in earning the win. Chris Maranto had a double for Mundelein (19-3).
Lake Zurich 11, Zion-Benton 0: Lefty Wyatt Spector (4-0) allowed only 1 hit in a five-inning complete game, striking out six, as the Bears won the North Suburban Lake contest.
The game was played at Lake Zurich because Zion-Benton’s field was unplayable due to Wednesday’s rain.
Spector did not walk a batter.
“Wyatt was hitting his spots,” Bears coach Gary Simon said. “He had great control.”
Lake Zurich (14-7, 5-3) got 3 hits from Sean Eder and two from Jacob LaRue. Each player scored twice.