Baseball: Rolling Meadows tops Buffalo Grove, moves into first in MSL East

Rolling Meadows walked its way into first place in the MSL East baseball standings on Monday.

Quinn Hextall drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the seventh to score pinch runner Nico Zimmerman for the game’s only run as the host Mustangs held off Buffalo Grove 1-0.

The victory for Rolling Meadows (18-8, 7-2), coupled with Schaumburg’s 5-2 loss to Elk Grove, moved the Mustangs into sole possession of first place in the East with one game remaining. A Meadows win on Wednesday would clinch the division title for the Mustangs.

“It’s nice be there right now with one game to go,” said Rolling Meadows coach Niko Klebosits. “We got to keep these guys even-keeled and ready to compete Wednesday.”

Meadows pulled off the win after loading the bases twice before and coming up short both times.

Anthony Nuccio walked to lead off the seventh for Meadows. Will Fiore then put down a sacrifice bunt, but an errant throw to second left Fiore and pinch runner Zimmerman safe.

After a strikeout, Luke Schneider, who threw a great game from the mound for the Mustangs, helped his team from the plate. Schneider reached on an infield error to load the bases. Hextall then drew the walk to bring in the game-winner,

“Talk bout a gritty win,” Klebosits said. “We had a whole lot of chances offensively throughout the game. I am proud of our guys’ effort.”

Both teams had scoring opportunities squashed.

Buffalo Grove had a runner in scoring position in four consecutive innings from the second through the fifth. Schneider made big pitches when needed to end the threat in each inning.

“Our defense did a great job,” said Schneider, who struck out seven and allowed just two hits. “All my pitches were working today.”

Not to be outdone, Buffalo Grove’s Andrew Carrison was able to bear down when the Bison needed him most.

Meadows loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the fourth. But Carrison induced a comebacker and turned it into a 1-2-3 double play. Carrison then struck out the next batter to end the inning.

Carrison also picked off three Meadows’ base runners.

After Carrison picked off his second runner, Meadows loaded the bases again with one out in the fifth. Carrison fought back from a 3-0 count to get a pop out to third. He then got a ground out to first to end that threat as the game remained scoreless.

In the Bison seventh, Schneider struck out two before walking Nolan Diedrich. With Schneider at 104 pitches, Klebosits went Joe Brigham to replace the sophomore.

Justin Smart singled down the right-field line for the Bison. Will Ciccone tracked the ball down and hit first baseman Tony Romanacce, who turned and saw the runner not stopping at third. Romanacce then threw a perfect strike to Jack O’Callaghan for the easy tag at the plate.

“I had no clue he was coming,” Romanacce said. “Not until I hear (O’Callaghan) yelling ‘Four! Four! Four!’ I got the throw and turned around and the runner was about halfway down the line. I was just happy to get off a good throw.

Buffalo Grove (10-18, 5-4) still has an outside chance at qualifying for the MSL playoffs. The Bison would need a win Wednesday and Schaumburg needs to lose again to Elk Grove. Then it goes to tiebreakers with Schaumburg, Elk Grove and possibly Wheeling.

“We needed to win both of these games to control our own destiny,” Buffalo Grove coach Bill Montemayor said. “I was really proud of Carrison. He always gives us a chance to win. It was just unfortunate. We just couldn’t come through offensively today.”