Baseball: Rolling Meadows strikes early, stays ahead of Hoffman Estates
Rolling Meadows' baseball team outlasted a pair of lightning detector delays along with wind, rain and Hoffman Estates on Friday to win 9-7 in a Mid-Suburban League crossover game in Rolling Meadows.
The victory enabled Rolling Meadows (6-9-1) to equal the number of wins the Mustangs had all of last season.
"It was a tough day to play for both teams," Rolling Meadows coach Jim Lindeman said. "We did a nice job of putting the ball in play early and take advantage of some of their mistakes and we were able to hang on."
The game was delayed for the first time just as Rolling Meadows took the field when the lightning detector sounded. When the game restarted about 15 minutes later after no more lightning, it was the Mustangs who struck loudly in the bottom of the first.
Jacob Johnson-Wright and Nate Pardini each singled and Joe Marcucci walked to load the bases, Matt Lothery doubled to drive in a pair of runs. Javonte Jones-Warrener then singled home Marcucci, and it was quickly 3-0.
"It was tough out there today," said Pardini, who had a pair of hits. "I was just trying to do anything I could to help the team. We have been playing well and it has been fun."
Lothery, who also had a pair of hits and drove in 3 runs, said the Mustangs scoring early was key.
"We fought through the whole game," Lothery said. "We started out well and then added on, and that was helpful."
That lead almost did not hold up as again the lightning detector went off, stopping the game for 20 minutes.
The all-clear signaled, but the weather was far from ideal as the wind picked up and so did a steady drizzle. The game played on with both teams battling the elements.
Hoffman Estates (4-11, 0-7) tallied in the top of the third when Dylan Bloom drove in Tom Curcio on a fielder's choice to make it 3-1.
Jack Kane made it 5-1 Rolling Meadows in the bottom of the frame. Kane's single drove in Pardini, who had doubled, and Marcucci, who had walked.
Hoffman Estates pushed across a pair of runs in the fourth to close the gap and make it 5-3. Dakota Slingerland singled home Kyle Krogstad, who had reached on a single. Curcio then scored when Josh Magers reached on an error.
Rolling Meadows stretched out the lead in its half. The Mustangs batted around and scored 4 runs thanks to 4 walks, an error and couple of wild pitches.
With that lead and sophomore Brandon Zuniga, who was making his second career start on the mound, the Mustangs appeared to be in command. But the lightening delays and rain began to take a toll on Zuniga, and Hoffman took advantage.
"It was kind of rough, but I got through it," said Zuniga, who has two quality starts for the Mustangs. "It was a bit difficult to start and stop a couple of times in the game. We got some runs early and that helped."
The Hawks scored 3 times in the fifth, with Zuniga giving way to Joe Coen. After Krogstad had an RBI fielder's choice, Hoffman Estates' Logan Willis and Adam Burks each had an RBI single, and the Hawks closed within 9-6.
Bloom doubled in the sixth and Krogstad had a RBI single to make it 9-7. But Coen was able to pitch his way out of the threat. After Hoffman warmed up in the bottom half of the inning, the umpires called the game due to darkness.
"It was a tough way for the game to end," said Hoffman Estates assistant coach Bill Allen, who was stepping in for head coach Chuck Abbott.
"It was difficult conditions when there were breaks likes that," Allen said. "I thought we battled and stayed in the game. I just didn't like the way it ended."
Lindeman says his team's hitting has been the key to their success this year.
"We have done a surprisingly good job of swinging that bats this year," Lindeman said. "We have been competitive at the plate and have scored some runs. We just walk too many guys and make too many errors. When we play a clean game, I think we can score enough runs and compete."