Raiders freeze out Fenton

It took a whole lot of effort for Glenbard South to get its defrosted field ready for Saturday afternoon's baseball game against Fenton.

It may have cost the Raiders some early-game energy.

"We were out here real early trying to get this field ready, so we came out kind of lackadaisical," said senior outfielder Doug Anderson. "Coach got on us a little bit and we started to wake up. We really started to get into the game."

A late offensive burst pushed Glenbard South to a 12-2 six-inning victory over the Bison in a game moved from Bensenville to Glen Ellyn because of field conditions.

The Raiders (2-3) scored 5 runs in the fifth inning and 4 runs in the sixth to extend the margin to 10 runs. When starter and winning pitcher Tony Scotellaro (2-0) retired the Bison (2-3) in order in the bottom of the sixth, Glenbard South claimed the victory.

"We weren't playing with much enthusiasm," said Raiders coach Mike Riley. "Sometimes that happens when we kind of go overboard to get a game in and bring the kids out in the morning and spend a lot of time on the field. For whatever reason we come out flat after that.

"Once they started cheering for each other a little bit and showing a little more enthusiasm, that's when we woke up and started hitting the ball and playing a little better baseball," he said.

Anderson's 2-run double, followed by Sterling Smith's RBI single boosted Glenbard South's lead to 8-1 in the top of the fifth. Billy Gratzl's run-scoring single gave Fenton its second run in the bottom of the inning, but the Raiders used the long ball to break it open in the sixth.

Joe Biagini's solo homer off the left-field scoreboard started the sixth. An error scored another run before Anderson blasted a 2-run home run to left.

Scotellaro struck out four, walked two and scattered 4 hits to earn the win.

The junior lefty struggled a bit early, allowing an unearned first-inning run on a bases-loaded walk to Evan Scully that tied the game 1-1. Franz Merkendorfer's RBI fielder's choice spotted Glenbard South to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.

The Raiders' lead grew to 3-1 in the fourth inning. Smith's squeeze bunt scored Chase Donald and a wild pitch scored Anderson, who reached base four times.

"It's been a scramble today switching fields, and the guys are tired," said Fenton coach Sam Gallucci, whose team arrived home Friday night from a three-day baseball trip to southern Illinois. "It kind of took its toll."