Fremd's Johnson finds his groove

Matt Johnsen knew he had to adjust quickly Wednesday.

The Fremd left-hander didn't in his last start and was knocked out early against Palatine. This time Johnsen did and stuck around to finish off a 5-3 Mid-Suburban West baseball victory over visiting Conant and ace Walt Wijas.

"I really had to be on top of my game going against a pitcher like that," Johnsen said after the Vikings (8-4, 3-0) seventh straight victory.

After giving up a run on 3 hits in the first inning, Johnsen shut down Conant (9-5, 2-1) on 3 hits for the next 5 innings. He scattered 8 hits and had 5 strikeouts and 1 walk as he used a fastball, curveball and changeup to throw 69 of his 102 pitches for strikes.

"Matt made a real good adjustment and started getting the ball down," said Fremd coach Chris Piggott.

"It seemed like everything was going well and working well," Johnsen said as he retired 11 straight hitters after Nate Rahn's one-out double in the second.

Johnsen was down 1-0 after two hitters as Mitch Comstock singled, stole second and scored on Jeff Vercillo's single. But a perfect relay from Zenon Kolakowski to first baseman Clint Terry to Tyler Gregory on Otto Linderman's double into the right-field corner cut down Joe Belmonte at the plate.

Fremd came right back with the first earned run of the year off the Kentucky-bound Wijas. Leadoff man Todd Dunham used his speed to turn a routine single into a double, took third on Kolakowski's grounder and scored on a two-out RBI single up the middle by Terry (3-for-3).

"We knew coming into the game he threw pretty hard," Terry said. "We knew we had to get runs across in the early innings to get the momentum like we have the last couple of games."

Wijas (3-2) allowed 5 hits with 7 strikeouts and 2 walks in 6 innings.

"He felt fine but he didn't have that 'oomph' to go with it," said Conant coach Jerry Song.

An error, a Terry single and a Gregory sacrifice led to Mike Tauchman scoring the go-ahead run in the fourth on a two-out passed ball. Johnsen got out of a first-and-third jam with one out in the sixth when he nailed Comstock in a rundown on a comebacker and second baseman Eric Paulson made diving grab of Linderman's liner.

Terry had an RBI single, Gregory squeeze bunted in Tauchman and Paulson had an RBI double for Fremd in the sixth. Kevin Chua hit a pinch-hit homer in Conant's 2-run seventh.

"I felt like I got stronger as the game went on," Johnsen said. "The last two innings I felt I was throwing a little harder."

Hersey 4, Elk Grove 3: Six doubles helped host Hersey (6-8, 1-2) build a 4-0 lead and it survived a seventh-inning rally to edge Elk Grove (14-5, 2-1) in the MSL East.

Winning pitcher Chris James had a 2-run double in the third, Mike Toljanic had an RBI double in the fifth and Alex Lee capped a 3-for-3 day with his second double to drive in a run in the sixth.

James allowed 1 earned run with 5 strikeouts in 61/3 innings. In the seventh, Elk Grove got an RBI single by Justin Kaczynski and a 2-run double from Tony Logli and had first and second with one out when Joe Koziol came in and saved it with 2 strikeouts.

Maine West 2, Glenbrook South 1: Winning pitcher John Perez capped a 2-run rally in the bottom of the seventh with a two-out bases-loaded walk for Maine West (10-4, 1-2) in the Central Suburban League crossover.

Perez threw a 4-hitter with 5 strikeouts and 2 walks and allowed his run in the sixth inning. Ryan Tuntland's leadoff single to left was the Warriors' only hit of the seventh and an error on Paul Solka's sacrifice put runners at second and third.

Lucas Udischas walked and the tying run scored on a wild pitch. After an intentional walk and 2 strikeouts Perez drew his game-winning walk.

Meadows 9, BG 3: Dan Lauria hit a 3-run homer in a tiebreaking 6-run third as Rolling Meadows (7-7, 3-0) moved into first place in the MSL East. Ben Kamperschroer was 3-for-4 with 3 RBI and winner Teddy Metzger (2-1) allowed 5 hits with 6 strikeouts in 61/3 innings.

Tommy Ricciardi was 2-for-3 for BG (5-8, 1-2).

Barrington 6, Palatine 2: Anthony Brignola (2-for-3) had a tiebreaking 2-run single in the fourth and Tom Unak had 7 strikeouts and no walks in 6 innings for Barrington (8-5, 1-2) in the MSL West win over visiting Palatine (4-11, 0-3). Tim Oakley went 2-for-4 and Derek Foderaro drove in a run for the Broncos.

Schaumburg 6, Hoffman 1: Joe Dombek had 3 hits and Dave Compitello, Mike Mistrata and Vito Perrino had 2 hits apiece as Schaumburg (7-6, 1-2) broke a five-game losing streak and ended a four-game winning streak by Hoffman (5-11, 2-1).

Kevin Grudzinski and Erik Smoy had 2 hits for the Hawks.

Prospect 13, Wheeling 3: Prospect (6-8, 1-2) erupted for 11 runs in the second and cruised to the 5-inning MSL East home win. Miles Osei (2-for-3, 3 RBI), Alex Zavacki (2-for-3) and Matt Molini (2 RBI) led the way for winner Jack Mullinex.

Matt Hart hit a 2-run homer for Wheeling (2-13, 1-2).

Leyden 15, Addison Trail 3: Junior Dan Savas (2-0) had his second straight strong start and Leyden (9-5, 5-1) scored 12 two-out runs in the third inning of the West Suburban Gold win at Addison Trail.

Savas threw a 2-hitter with 9 strikeouts and went 3-for-3 with 3 doubles. Mike Otte (2-for-3) started the third-inning outburst with a 2-run double, Ricky Zapata went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI and Justin Stawychny doubled, tripled and had 3 RBI.