Baseball: Prospect protects lead against Elk Grove; Hoffman rallies for win

Prospect powered up early in the game, then held on down the stretch despite a 3-run rally by Elk Grove in the sixth inning as the Knights prevailed 4-3 in Mid-Suburban East baseball on Tuesday.

Senior Ryan Howe had a 2-run homer in the bottom of the first, and Ed Brancato had a solo shot in the second inning for Prospect (12-8, 4-4).

Nick Ergastolo also drove in a run in the third inning as the Knights made good use of their 6 hits against Xander Rojahn (6 IP, 9 strikeouts, 1 walk).

Ryne Singsank and Zach Schwartz had RBI singles in the sixth-inning surge for Elk Grove (5-12-1, 2-7).

Winning pitcher John Czeslawski went 5⅔ innings and allowed 3 hits with 7 strikeouts and 4 walks, and Tyler Priessing earned a save by throwing the final 1⅓ innings.

Hoffman Estates 10, Conant 9: Kyle Krogstad's RBI single capped a 6-run rally and plated the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Hawks roared back for an MSL West victory.

Krogstad finished 3-for-4 with 3 RBI and had plenty of productive company in the lineup for Hoffman Estates (6-11, 2-7). Jim Kliver finished 3-for-4 with a double and 2 RBI, Dylan Bloom was 2-for-4 with 2 RBI and Richie Banas doubled twice and scored twice.

Jordan Acosta earned a victory in relief.

Colin Broeker went 2-for-4 with a double and 3 RBI for Conant (10-10-1, 5-5), while Matt Majer had a triple and Jack Reiger finished 3-for-4.

St. Viator 10, Notre Dame 0 (5 inn.): The host Lions got a dominant effort from sophomore starter Jack Mahoney in snapping a three-game skid with an East Suburban Catholic Conference win.

Mahoney allowed 3 hits and 3 walks and struck out six in his 5-inning win.

Hunter Johnson went 3-for-3 with a double and 3 RBI, and Bryce Hellgeth finished up 3-for-4 with a double and 1 RBI for St. Viator (12-11, 3-7). Nick Surdo drove in a pair of runs, and Casey Kmet went 2-for-4 with a double.

Maine West 11, Vernon Hills 7: Matt Johnston doubled three times on his way to finishing 4-for-4 with 2 RBI to propel the visiting Warriors to a Central Suburban North victory.

Emmett Olson doubled twice and drove in 3 runs, and Matt Fairhead hit a 2-run homer and drove in 4 runs for Maine West (7-10).

Top producers for Vernon Hills (7-13-1) included Jake Morris (2-for-2, triple, 2 RBI), Tony Brown (2-for-2, 2 walks, 2 runs) and Ethan Bowers (double, 1 RBI).