Jordan's blast boosts Carmel to 9-7 victory over Marian Catholic
Jordan rules.
Derek Jordan hit a walk-off 2-run homer in the bottom of the seventh to give Carmel's baseball team a 9-7 win over visiting Marian Catholic in Game 1 of the teams' East Suburban Catholic Conference doubleheader in Mundelein on Saturday.
In Game 2, the junior Jordan homered again, as Carmel won 11-4 to complete a sweep.
Kevin Hendricks homered twice in the opener for Carmel (13-2, 2-0). He hit a 2-run shot in the fifth to pull the Corsairs within 7-5.
Then in the seventh, after Paul Poirier singled, Hendricks went deep again to tie the score. With Connor Fitzgerald (pinch-hit single) on second with two out, Jordan slammed a pitch over the fence to win it.
Nick Battalini got the win and it was well-earned.
Battalini entered the game in the top of the seventh with the bases loaded and none out. He got back-to-back strikeouts and then a groundball out to keep the Corsairs within striking distance.
Poirier and Eric Stevenson had doubles for Carmel, while Hendricks finished 3-for-4.
In addition to Jordan, Carmel also got a homer in the second game from Fitzgerald, who hit a 3-run shot.
Stevenson went 3-for-4, while Carmel got 2 hits apiece from Donald Stopka, Chris DeVarco (3 RBI), Hendricks (double) and Tyler Lindberg (double). Jeff Moree pitched 5 innings for the win.
Libertyville 14, Evanston 7: Joe Eichmann earned the win, allowing 3 earned runs and striking out five over 7 innings.
Libertyville (9-3) was led offensively by Mike Styler (2-for-2, triple, 3 runs scored) and Chad Uhler (2-for-3, double, 2 runs). The Wildcats also got doubles from Adam Quinn, Tyler Schweigert and Kevin Johns.
Mundelen 13, Rolling Meadows 11: Heading into the fifth inning, Mundelein seemed to have a comfortable lead, up 8-0. But Rolling Meadows strung together an 11-run top of the fifth to steal away the momentum.
The Mustangs didn't blink, though, scoring 5 runs in the bottom of the fifth to regain the lead and the momentum. For good.
Kevin Barber led the way offensively for the Mustangs, going 4-for-5 at the plate with 2 doubles and a home run. Anthony Cancelli added 3 hits, including a double.
On the mound, Donte Martinez got the win for Mundelein, which moves to 11-2.
Stevenson 10, Deerfield 3: A 5-run fourth inning keyed the win for Stevenson, which moves to 11-1 on the season.
Michael Donovan went 2-for-3 at the plate, hitting a home run and driving in 2 runs for the Patriots. Teammate Joe McWeeney also went 2-for-3 with 2 RBI.
Meanwhile, Matt Robin got the win on the mound, moving his record to 3-0 on the season.
Grant 16, Hersey 5: It was a family affair for Grant as the Cokefair brothers - Justin and Jimi - came up big.
Justin started on the mound and struck out 10 batters in 5 2/3 innings of service. Meanwhile, Jimi led the Bulldogs' offense by going 3-for-3 with a home run and 5 RBI.
Thomas Gier picked up the save when he helped Grant dodge a bullet. He pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth with Grant up 9-5 and the tying run at the plate.
The Bulldogs picked up some insurance runs in the sixth when Jeremy Wiker nailed a 2-run homer. Grant's A.J. Spohr also provided some offense. He went 4-for-4 on the day with a triple and 2 RBI.
Grayslake Central 5, Cary-Grove 4: The Rams pounded out a season-high 13 hits en route to the victory.
Kurt Schmidt had 3 hits, as well as 3 RBI, to lead the attack while Aaron Snyder added a pair of doubles and Andrew Hosford had a double as well.
Pitcher Mitch Tielke moved his record to 2-0 on the mound by rolling up 5 strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings, while Nick Richter earned the save.
Vernon Hills goes 2-1: Vernon Hills went 2-1 in the Niles North Invite, defeating Niles North (7-6) and Northside (8-6). The Cougars lost to Elk Grove, 3-1.
Against Niles North, Vernon Hills scored 4 runs in its last at-bat to pull out the win. Matt Peterson drove in the winning run.
The Cougars also got a home run and a double from Scott Kempel and Zack Kisley added a double.
Against Northside, Cesar Gallegos earned the save as he entered with no outs and the bases loaded. He retired the three batters he faced.
Zack Kisley drilled a homer for the Cougars and Zack Freibrun added a double.
Prospect 10, Lake Zurich 9: Lake Zurich tied up the game at 9-9 in the top of the seventh, but Prospect was clutch and scored the decisive run in the bottom of the inning.
The Bears (10-6-1) were hot offensively, pounding out 11 hits, but struggled on the mound, using five pitchers.
Sam Aslan, Kyle Sanders and Mike Miller led the way at the plate, each rolling up 2 hits. Sanders and Miller also had a home run.
Crystal Lake South 7, Grayslake North 3: Grayslake North out-hit South, 7-6, but also beat out South in the errors department. North had 3 errors while South stayed error-free.
Joe Bowes lead the way for the Knights (3-9) with a home run while teammate Kevin Staszczak added 2 hits.