Crystal Lake Central 10, Dundee-Crown 6
Dundee-Crown's baseball players would be better off grabbing screwdrivers instead of bats for the next few days. The Chargers have some tightening up to do, according to their coach.
After a sloppy 10-6 loss at Crystal Lake Central on Tuesday that dropped D-C to 4-4 this season, 18-year veteran Fred Bencriscutto said things have to change.
"At some point you've got to stop making mistakes, and the last three or four games we've played we've done nothing but make mistakes," Bencriscutto said.
"We can't field a ball that's just tapped back to us, we can't seem to swing at strikes and when we do swing at strikes, we miss them.
"We're just in freefall right now, and until somebody decides to toughen up and decides to compete more than we have been we're going to be in trouble."
Dundee-Crown, the home team on the scoreboard because the game was switched to Crystal Lake due to transportation issues, rallied from 2 runs down to take a 4-2 lead through five innings.
However, the Tigers (5-4) tied the game in the sixth and exploded for 6 runs in the seventh to take a 10-4 lead.
In the sixth, Dundee-Crown starting pitcher Jeff Bober gave up a leadoff double to Kyle Robins before walking Connor Buxton.
Robins stole third and later scored when Robert Bellish's tapper toward first base was bobbled. The ensuing toss to Bober covering the bag was dropped as Bellish arrived safely, allowing Robins to score and Buxton to move to third base. A passed ball then allowed Buxton to score the tying run.
D-C senior reliever Dan Kilchenman then pulled a Houdini.
After walking the first two batters he faced to load the bases, he struck out Central's leadoff man looking at a curveball for the first out. He then induced a groundball to Rodriguez at third base. He stepped on the bag and threw to first to strand three, leaving the game tied 4-4.
"The first batter I threw all curveballs to, and I basically stuck with that the whole inning," Kilchenman said.
He wouldn't escape another jam in the seventh, however.
Jake Heckman led off with a solid basehit and Kilchenman bobbled the ensuing sacrifice bunt by reserve catcher Steve Ladner. A wild pitch allowed Heckman to move to third and he scored on a subsequent passed ball that gave CL Central a 5-4 lead.
After a strikeout, the Tigers simply struck the baseball with authority to put the game out of reach. Buxton and Chad Staudt each tripled home runs to highlight a 6-run, 6-hit rally.
The Tigers tagged D-C pitching for 10 runs, 9 of them earned. Their 14 hits included 3 triples and 3 doubles. This came a day after the Tigers rallied from 6 runs down to nip Woodstock 10-9.
"We finished the game (Monday) hitting it well, and I think we just picked it up where we left off," Crystal Lake Central coach Jeff Aldridge said. "I thought early we hit some balls well and just didn't get much out of it. I thought the kids had good approaches and they executed."
Dundee-Crown, on the other hand, is talking about a shakeup to find a better approach.
"I think we're going to crack down on making these mistakes and I think there are going to be some switches, who's in and who's out," said D-C senior shortstop Ryan Horcher, who went 1-for-3, walked, was hit by a pitch, scored once and drove in a run.
"Frankly, I think we need a reality check, which we'd get by switching up the lineup and the guys who are playing. It's time for a gut check to see who wants to play and who doesn't. If you're going to be out there not giving it your all, you can't help."
Baseball
Hampshire 8, Harvard 0: Firing a no-hitter for 7 ¿ innings, Ryan Burke (1-1) led Hampshire (3-6, 1-0) to its first Big Northern East Conference victory of the 2008 campaign behind a 1-hit complete-game effort. Burke struck out six, and helped himself at the plate by going 2-for-4 with an RBI.
James Goebbert (2-for-4, RBI), Zach Crinigan (3-for-4, 2b, RBI), Matt Kuefner (2-for-4, 2b), Tyler Bentley (2-for-4, 2 RBI) and Alex Franzen (2-for-4, 2b, RBI) contributed more than enough offense to back Burke.
"Ryan's effectiveness jumpstarted our guys at the plate," said coach Steve Ream. "His outstanding effort gave us the confidence to go up there swinging."
Larkin 6, St. Charles East 5: Bouncing back from a tough loss Monday night, Larkin (5-5, 4-3) earned this Upstate Eight Conference win with timely hitting by Justin Kalusa (3-for-4, HR), Tyler Shore (2-run home run), John Banks (2-for-4, 2b) and pitcher Luc Geier (2 RBI). Geier earned his first win, allowing 5 runs on 7 hits with 5 strikeouts in a complete-game effort.
Burlington Central 10, North Boone 0: Bill Rodriguez (1-0) faced just 16 batters, one above the minimum, to complete a 5-inning no hitter in this Big Northern East Conference contest.
Rodriguez struck out two and walked two en route to the no-no, and helped himself at the plate by going 1-for-2 with a double and a walk. "It was good for him, a good confidence builder," Central coach Kyle Nelson said of Rodriguez. "He started against Huntley last week and had a good outing (no decision). This definitely shows what he's capable of."
Waubonsie Valley 9, Streamwood 4: Streamwood was outhit in this Upstate Eight Conference game with Waubonsie Valley. Mike Diebold endured the loss, while Brian Brauer led the Sabres offensively with a triple.
Elgin 7, East Aurora 3: The Maroons (3-3) defeated East Aurora for an Upstate Eight Conference victory. Josh Smith (1-1) grabbed the win pitching all 7 innings with 7 strikeouts and only 2 walks. Tom Roth led the way for Elgin going 2-for-4 with his third home run in as many games. Isaac Serna went 2-for-4 and drove in a run.
South Elgin 8, Bartlett 7: The Storm (3-3) battled to an Upstate Eight Conference victory over Bartlett (4-4) to sweep the two-game series. Ryan Keller picked up his first win pitching 5 innings with 4 strikeouts and 3 walks. Kellner, Matt Wright and Dane Lundeen each doubled for the Storm. Bartlett's Ryan Walker went 3-for-5 with a double, Nick Quagliano went 2-for-3 with 2 homeruns. Mike Selvaggi (2-for-4) homered and Mike Derby went 3-for-4 with 2 doubles. Ryan Schrader also homered. Mike Selvaggi took the loss for Bartlett, pitching 2 innings with 3 strikeouts and 3 walks.
Fremd 10, Prairie Ridge 8: In nonconference action, the Wolves (6-4) fell to Fremd in a 7 innings. Nick Martini went 2-for-4 with a grand slam. Teammate Bobby Martin also added a double and went 2-for-4 as the Wolves combined for 10 hits. Mike Heesch took the loss, pitching 4 innings with 4 strikeouts and 2 walks.
Westminster Christian 13, Timothy Christian 0: The Warriors' (8-3-1) offense was unstoppable as the team posted 14 hits and 13 runs. Casey Schuring(2 RBI), Tyler Beachler (1 RBI), Cory Hodge (2-for-2), Ben Palmer, Ryan Donahue, and Ted Grossman each added doubles. Carter Ward (2 RBI) and Palmer (5 RBI) each homered. Ben Palmer earned the win with a 1-hitter, tossing 4 innings with 8 strikeouts and 1 walk.
Huntley 3, Woodstock 2: Huntley (9-4) held on to defeat the Blue Streaks in nonconference action. Eliot Swiatly and Nate Prokuski each went 2-for-3. The Red Raiders' Craig Lipp went 1-for-3 with a double. Nate Prokuski, improved his record to 5-0. Prokuski pitched all 7 innings, allowing 9 hits with 2 walks and 3 strikeouts.
Grayslake Central 9, Cary-Grove 6: Despite solid hitting from Kyle Williams (3-for-4, 2b, run, RBI), Eric Aguilera (2b) and Tom Gwinn (2b), Cary-Grove (9-3) dropped this Fox Valley Conference crossover meeting with Grayslake Central. Ben Mottashed was on the mound for the loss.