Baseball: Kocen's 2 HRs, 9 RBI pace Warren

Baseball

Warren 17, Palatine 8: Mikey Kocen had a career game for the Blue Devils in their nonconference win, going 4-for-5 with a double, 3-run homer, grand slam and 9 RBI.

Kyle Duenas pitched the final 3⅓ innings, allowing no runs, to get the win.

Warren improved to 2-0.

Vernon Hills 5, Wheeling 4: Caleb Thomson's walk-off single capped a two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh, as the Cougars improved to 2-0 with the nonconference win.

Wheeling jumped out to a lead on a first-inning home run by Cade Zalewski off Thomson, and the Wildcats added one in the third and one more in the fourth.

With one out in the sixth, the Vernon Hills offense showed some life. Brendan Holloway (2 walks, stolen base) walked and stole second. He was driven in by a single from Ethan Bowers (1-for-3, walk, 2 RBI, 2 stolen bases) Bowers then stole second. After a walk by Thomson, pinch hitter Jake Morris singled down the left-field line to drive in Bowers. However, Wheeling's left fielder made a perfect throw to get Thomson at third base.

The Cougars continued the momentum in the seventh. Jack Barsczc (1-for-3) doubled. He moved to third on a groundout by Logan Coty. Derek Jarrell's sharply hit grounder drove in Barsczc. With two out and no one on base, Quinn Geren (2-for-3) singled. Holloway, Josh Liu and Bowers all drew walks to plate Geren and tie the game at 3.

That put Thomson in a position for his game-ending hit.