Dramatic finish to Meadows' MSL East title

Rolling Meadows showed what championship teams are made of Thursday.

Ace left-hander Jon Carlson got knocked out after a 6-run fourth at Prospect. The Mustangs were a strike away and then an extra-base hit away from losing a chance to clinch the Mid-Suburban East Division baseball title.

But they rallied for 4 two-out runs in the top of the seventh, and winner Pat Conlin left two runners on base in the bottom half as Meadows (15-11, 11-2) sealed its second straight East title with a stunning 9-8 win.

"We really wanted to get Prospect because we lost twice to them last year," said Meadows designated hitter Dan Lynch, who was 3-for-4 with a 2-run single in a 5-run third and a two-out RBI single to cut the deficit to 7-6 in the seventh. "There's no better way to win the East outright than against your rivals. It was a battle."

One that looked good for Meadows with Carlson up 5-0 into the fourth. Then not so good with Prospect (12-14, 5-8) lefty reliever Miles Osei in command with one out and no one on in the seventh.

"A lot of guys did good things and we don't quit," said Meadows coach Jim Lindeman. "We keep coming back and I'm proud of the guys for that."

Meadows tied it on a throwing error on Conlin's grounder. Senior Will Trunk, who hadn't played in nearly two weeks after suffering a mild concussion on a bad-hop grounder, looped a 2-run pinch-hit single to left-center for a 9-7 lead.

"I wasn't really expecting to get up there," Trunk said. "I wanted to keep it simple, look for a fastball, get the bat on it and see what happens.

"I thought it was right at 'Leb' (Prospect shortstop Jason Leblebijian) - but I turned around and saw it fall."

Carlson, who was 2-for-4 with a 2-run single, had 5 strikeouts, 6 walks and 2 hit batters and threw 109 pitches in 4 innings. Joey Siers (2-for-2), Osei (2-for-4) and Brian Bauer had RBI singles and Thomas Kelly had a bases-clearing double as Prospect took a 6-5 lead.

Osei had a two-out RBI single in the seventh, but Conlin struck out Leblebijian with runners at first and second.

"It was a game of mixed emotions," said Prospect coach Ross Giusti after his team gave up 6 unearned runs. "I'm proud the kids came back and hit Carlson like they did and Miles was pitching great."

Maine West 2, Highland Park 0: Nate Andersen threw a 6-hitter with 7 strikeouts and no walks as Maine West (19-6, 9-4) moved into a tie for first in the Central Suburban North with the two-game sweep of Highland Park (21-6, 9-4).

The Warriors got the only run Andersen needed in the first on Connor Skoczynski's leadoff triple and Tommy Ross' sacrifice fly. Alex Kopf (2-for-3) had a two-out RBI double in the third off the Giants' Anthony Kopp (8-1).

Right fielder Lucas Udischas preserved the shutout when he made a diving catch with two outs and runners at second and third in the fifth.

BG 11, Elk Grove 4: Winner James Hurley hit a 3-run homer and had 4 RBI, Jeremy Salzman was 4-for-4 with 2 doubles and 3 RBI and J.P. Kulick was 3-for-3 with 2 RBI for Buffalo Grove (10-16, 5-8) in the MSL East victory.

Hersey 12, Wheeling 2: Jake Knauss homered, Joe Koziol drove in 2 runs and Steve Danielak (6-2) had 6 strikeouts in 5 innings for Hersey (15-14, 7-6) in the 6-inning MSL East win.