Baseball: Bartlett takes 1-game lead in UEC West by beating rival South Elgin

Bartlett senior Josh Colaizzi has been thinking about playing South Elgin again for some time.

“South Elgin is always marked on our calendars every year,” said Colaizzi. “Obviously, they’re our rivals. The last few years, they’ve crushed our hearts. My sophomore year, they beat us in the playoffs. Last year, they swept us and beat us again in the playoffs.”

Colaizzi pitched 3 1/3 innings of 1-run relief during the Hawks’ 7-5 Upstate Eight West victory over South Elgin (23-9, 15-3) Tuesday afternoon in Bartlett.

“I was really looking forward to this game to kind of get our revenge and get back in that win column,” said Colaizzi.

South Elgin grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first off Hawks starter Vince Yario (8 strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings) before the home team scratched across single runs in the first and second to pull even — the latter on Nathan Langendorf’s RBI single.

The Storm went back on top with a 2-run third that included consecutive singles from Alex Muro (3 for 3, walk), Zach Barkho (2 for 4), and Evan Gomez (2 for 3), plus a run-scoring single from Kyle Iott (2 for 4).

Bartlett (22-10, 16-2) seized control of the game during a 5-run third.

After Mason Leiterman walked, Yario reached on an infield error, and Brandon Pelz’ infield single loaded the bases for designated hitter Ryan Smith, who delivered a 2-run, ground-rule double that 1-hopper over the center field fence to tie the game at 4-4.

“It was a great baptism into the rivalry game for Ryan Smith,” said Hawks coach Alex Coan.

Sam Robles drove in the go-ahead run a few moments later with a fielder’s choice grounder that nearly resulted in an inning-ending double play — but the relay throw pulled first baseman Max Aziaka off the bag.

After a balk upped the lead to 6-4, Langendorf (2 for 3) drove in another run with a single, making it 7-4.

“I can’t say enough about Nate Langendorf,” said Coan. “He has been grinding it out and competing all year.”

South Elgin added a run in the sixth but could draw no closer, thanks in part to a double play turned by shortstop Leiterman in the sixth, and a diving catch by center fielder Dillon Frost with runners on first and second and 1 out in the seventh.

“Dillon made an amazing play,” Colaizzi said of Frost’s web gem. “I was more pitching to contact today because I knew my boys had my back.”

“That’s Bartlett baseball,” said Coan, whose team has now won 9 straight UEC West games heading into Wednesday’s rematch at South Elgin. “We’re founded on pitching and defense.

“I couldn’t be prouder of how our guys competed all game even when we got punched in the mouth early. We expect more of the same tomorrow.”

Defending conference champion South Elgin will look to earn a share of the title with a win on Wednesday.

“The good news is that this doesn’t end our season,” said Storm coach David Palmer. “We’ll be back tomorrow looking to get a little redemption.”