Solid all-around game lifts BC past Huntley

Some solid defense and a little timely hitting were all Burlington Central needed.

The Rockets bunched all 6 of their hits in a pair of 2-run innings and also threw some leather while defeating Huntley, 4-3, in nonconference baseball action on Rocket Hill Friday.

George Heller doubled in the tying run and scored the winning run on Matt Maciaszek's single in the bottom of the sixth inning. Heller got an inside fastball and pulled it into left field.

"I didn't think I was going to turn on it," he said. "It surprised me. I'm not going to lie."

David Hartwell, who picked up the win in relief of Bill Rodriguez, retired the side in order for the Rockets (3-2).

"We're probably not going to hammer out 10, 12 runs a game, so we're going to need to get good pitching and we're going need to play well defensively and play smart and get runs when we have opportunities to," said Central coach Kyle Nelson.

Huntley got 2 hits apiece from its top 2 hitters, Eliot Swiatly and Ray Foote. Foote's 2-run double down the right-field line gave the Red Raiders (5-2) a 3-2 lead in the fifth. Huntley also got a solo home run from Chris Klein.

Huntley knocked out 8 hits but couldn't take full advantage because of 2 Rockets' double plays and some great throws by their sophomore catcher, Austin Jarvis. Jarvis gunned down 3 runners on the basepaths, and also delivered a 2-run single that gave Central a 2-0 lead in the third inning.

Jarvis threw out runners stealing in the first and fifth innings. He gunned down another Raider trying to advance to second after a missed cutoff on a throw to the plate.

"We run the bases aggressively, and the catcher had a great game," said Huntley coach Andy Jakubowski. "Were we over-aggressive? Yeah, maybe. But 9 times out of 10 we're probably going to make that. The catcher had a great game."

The Rockets also turned double plays in the fourth and sixth. Shortstop Mark Gorney started a nice 6-4-3 in the fourth and in the sixth Hartwell fielded a line-drive bunt attempt and doubled the runner off first.

Huntley starter Craig Lipp struck out 7 through 4 innings, allowing just 2 runs and 3 hits. He gave way to Foote starting the fifth.