Baseball: Fox Valley roundup Wednesday, April 1
South Elgin 10, Rolling Meadows 2: The South Elgin offense erupted for 11 hits, and starting pitcher Ryan Weiss pitched 5 innings of 4-hit ball as the Storm handled Rolling Meadows in nonconference action. Kyle Hays finished 2-for-4 with a home run and 4 RBI, Dane Toppel (RBI) was 2-for-4 with 2 steals, Jared Kramer finished 2-for-3 and drove in a pair and Antonio Danesi and Kevin Barry each doubled for the Storm. Weiss struck out 10 and issued 2 walks for South Elgin (2-0). He was relieved by Kyle Alvarado, who allowed 2 hits in 2 scoreless innings, struck out 3 and walked a pair.
Prairie Ridge 9, Crystal Lake South 6: The Wolves snapped a 6-6 tie with a run in the sixth and 2 more in the seventh to win the Fox Valley Conference crossover. With two outs in the top of the sixth, Christopher Slack singled for Prairie Ridge, stole second and scored the go-ahead run on Hunter Martin's RBI double. Ryan Wilkening took the loss for CL South (4-2, 0-1). A defense that committed 4 errors behind him led to 7 runs, only 1 earned. He allowed 9 hits and struck out 2 without a walk in 5⅔ innings. Hitting leaders for the Gators were Garrett Bright (2-for-4, RBI) and Mike Avella, who doubled twice in 4 at-bats and drove in a pair.
Huntley 7, Crystal Lake Central 2: Bobby Hecker went 2-for-3 with a double and 3 RBI to lead an 11-hit attack as the Red Raiders picked up their first win in this Fox Valley Conference crossover. Other key hitters included Noah Konie (2-2, 2B, RBI) and Joe Rizzo (2-for-4, 2B). Cameron Reed scattered 7 hits over 5⅓ innings. He allowed 2 earned runs, struck out 1 and walked 1 for Huntley (1-3).
Dundee-Crown 13, Grayslake Central 3 (6 inn.): The Chargers won for the fifth time in their first 6 games by pounding 12 hits and drawing 5 walks in this Fox Valley Conference crossover. Brett Johnson had a solo homer among his 2 hits, Danny Denz went 3-for-3 with a double and 3 RBI and Michael Cruise doubled, walked and drove in 2 runs for Dundee-Crown (5-1, 1-0). Denz earned the win on the mound. He struck out 8, walked 3 and allowed 3 earned runs on 4 hits in a 99-pitch, 6-inning outing.
Jacobs 3, Woodstock 1: Pitcher Ryan George (1-0) limited the Blue Streaks to an earned run on 2 hits and 3 walks while striking out 10 in a victorious, 6-inning performance. Owen Oreskovich drove in a first-inning run with a double and a third-inning run with a single and the Golden Eagles (8-2, 1-0) added an unearned insurance run in the sixth inning to secure this Fox Valley Conference crossover.
Prospect 15, Bartlett 3 (5 inn.): Bartlett pitching gave up 12 hits and issued 7 walks, and the defense committed 6 errors in a one-sided, nonconference road loss. Alex Curtis took the loss for the Hawks. Austin Hilvert doubled twice in 3 at-bats and drove in a run, and Cameron Mays went 2-for-3 with a double for Bartlett (1-2).
Sycamore 12, Elgin 0: Leading 3-0, the visiting Spartans knocked Elgin starting pitcher John Nelson out of the game after 4-plus innings and went on to score 9 runs over the last three to win this nonconference matchup. Clay White and Eddy Ramos managed the only hits for Elgin (1-5) against winning pitcher Colan Treml (4 IP) and three relievers. Treml also went 4-for-4 at the plate with 2 home runs and 4 RBI. It was the third straight game Elgin has been shut out.
Francis Howell Central (Mo.) 12, Westminster Christian 4: The Warriors were held to 4 hits and struck out 7 times in their first defeat of the season. Frank Anguilo hit a solo home run for Westminster (2-1), but on the mound he took the loss, allowing 11 runs (9 earned) on 11 hits in 4 innings.