Patiently, Wheaton North picks up key victory
The Wheaton North baseball team had to work overtime Monday afternoon. But the Falcons didn’t mind — the reward was well worth it.
Ryan Jordan, with a full count, smashed a double to the right field corner that scored John Peltz in the top of the eighth inning. Starting pitcher Justin Harrington held off the Tigers in the bottom of the frame to secure a 3-2 win for the Falcons.
Wheaton North (22-10, 15-4 DuPage Valley Conference) remains in first place with a 1-game lead over Naperville Central and a 2-game lead over Naperville North with both of those teams also winning Monday.
“Against a rival, there’s a little more pressure. I got to the plate and the key is to be confident, concentrate and wait for my pitch,” Jordan said.
Winning pitcher Harrington looked as fresh in the eighth inning as he did the first. He needed that energy as the Tigers did not go quietly in the final inning.
The Tigers’ Kevin Giltz, who finished with 3 hits, started things off with an infield hit. With one out, Rich O’Neil singled and Giltz and Ben Bach, running for O’Neil, moved up a base on a wild pitch.
Harrington struck out the next the batter and got the one after that to fly out. He allowed 9 hits and struck out three, and he said going extra innings didn’t faze him.
“I felt good. Early in the game, I didn’t throw many pitches,” he said. “These games (against WW South) are always pretty close and you always have to fight hard.”
Harrington sent the Tigers (16-15, 8-11) down in order in the third, fourth and fifth innings.
“He was throwing well and hitting his spots. He was throwing his three pitches for strikes,” said Falcons coach Dan Schoessling. It’s the type of performance we needed in a big game like this.”
WW South scored in its half of the first. Leadoff hitter Giltz doubled to right. A fielding error moved him over and Mitch Krafcheck’s sacrifice fly plated him.
The Falcons went ahead 2-1 in the third. River Williams led off with a double to the right field corner. With one out, Ed Norris put down a bunt for an infield hit. Ryan Kent walked to load the bases, and that brought Kevin Fahy to the plate. He came through a single to right that scored Williams and Norris.
The Tigers tied the game in the sixth when Giltz led off with a single and later scored on a fielding error. The Falcons’ rally began with two outs in the eighth when Peltz walked.
WW South was also the recipient of strong pitching as sophomore Baylor Holmes went 7 innings, allowing 6 hits and striking out eight.
“He had a good outing. We were curious how he would respond (after going five innings in a 12-1 loss against Glenbard East on May 8). We just didn’t get enough hits,” said WW South coach Tim Brylka.
Monday was the annual ALS Day at DuPage Valley Conference baseball games. The day was a culmination of the teams’ efforts this season to raise money to help those with ALS and find a cure. Special T-shirts were sold to raise funds and both teams wore the T-shirts during pregame warmups.
WW South volunteered Saturday at the Walk to Defeat ALS held at Cantigny Park.