Baseball: Schaumburg shakes off Elgin

After cruising with a comfortable lead most of Tuesday, the Schaumburg baseball team suddenly looked vulnerable.

But Jack Bellinger made sure that vulnerability didn't turn into a loss.

The Saxons gave up a 3-run double to Elgin's Robert Bartlett in the bottom of the sixth inning of their nonconference tilt, to cut their lead to 5-3.

But in the top of the seventh, Bellinger homered into the left-center field parking lot to set the 7-3 final score.

Truth be told, Bellinger wasn't exactly sure the ball had left the yard.

"It was just hanging up there, so I kept running it out," said Bellinger, who added a double and a run scored in the top of the sixth to give Schaumburg its 5-3 lead. "Once I saw everyone cheering and eventually saw the umpire call it, I knew it was gone."

"We talked after his first at bat to make an adjustment, move up in the box and pull the trigger early," said Schaumburg coach Cal Seely of Bellinger. "He got a little confidence with that double, and got a good pitch after working the count. He did exactly what we asked."

Starting and winning pitcher Parker Nolan (1-1) gave up just 1 hit through the first 5 innings, walking 2 and striking out 4. Meanwhile, his offense put up 5 runs, including his own 2-run single in the third.

But then came the bottom of the sixth. With 1 out, Elgin's Eddy Ramos and Rigoberto Sanchez singled. Following a foul pop out by Brandon Stork, Payton Reynolds also singled, loading the bases. Exit Nolan and enter Nick Pentz, who promptly gave up a long double just inside the left field foul line to Bartlett, plating all 3 runners. Pentz struck out Hayden Gibson to end the frame.

However, the Saxons' lead was now only 5-3, with Bartlett entering to pitch the top of the seventh. Following a fly out by Max Miller, DH Robbie Schweigert walked, which led to Bellinger.

He worked the count to 2-1 before depositing a Bartlett fastball into the parking lot to plate himself and Schweigert with all the insurance Schaumburg (2-2) would need.

Despite the tough-luck day, Elgin coach David Foerster liked what he saw at the plate from his charges.

"We gave ourselves a chance at the plate today, where we didn't Thursday," he said referring to an 11-2 season-opening loss to DeKalb. "We at least put the ball in play, using the whole field. That's kind of the next step for us, so big improvement in that regard."

Elgin starting pitcher John Fortmann took the loss after giving up 5 earned runs and 7 hits.

Schaumburg's Jacob Rintz came a homer short of the cycle, scoring a pair.