Baseball: Huntley rallies past Jacobs in 8 innings
There wasn't the least bit of panic.
Spotting Jacobs four runs in the top of the first inning, Huntley battled all the way back.
Aided by a passed ball, the Red Raiders scored a run in the bottom of the eighth in completing a 6-5 come-from-behind win over the Golden Eagles in Fox Valley Conference action in Huntley Tuesday afternoon.
"It certainly wasn't the way I would draw it up or was the prettiest win, but we found a way," said Huntley coach Andy Jakubowski. "Our kids knew there was a lot of game left and we have a veteran group. "
Kyle Maurer was the offensive standout for the Red Raiders (16-4, 10-2). Maurer crushed a 2-run homer in the bottom of the first to slice Jacobs' (8-11, 3-6) advantage in half, 4-2.
"That homer by Kyle was huge," said Jakubowski. "We really settled in after Kyle's homer and got some momentum."
Maurer smashed his second homer of the contest, a 2-run blast in the third, to tie the score at 4.
"The first homer I got a cutter in a good location to hit and got all of it," said Maurer. "I knew it was gone. The second homer was a mistake fastball up and I had enough to get it out. We have a veteran team and we always think we can come back and win."
In relief of starter Hunter Rumachik, Eli Papalaunas, usually a starter, was outstanding.
The hard throwing right-hander, 5-3 on the season, blanked the Golden Eagles in 3 innings of work. Papalaunas struck out three with a walk and a hit batsmen in earning the win.
"I have had some soreness in my arm so coach used me out of the bullpen today," said Papalaunas.
"Pitching in relief is a whole different mentality from starting. You have to prepare different and pitch different. You have no margin for error. You have to throw strikes. I felt my fastball and curve ball both had good movement. When we get behind we almost get more energy. We never feel we are out of a game."
Mike Talesky added 2 hits with a run scored for the winners.
Jacobs' four runs in the first inning came courtesy of a 2-run single by Tim Slavich and a run-scoring single by Kyle Washington. Washington added an RBI single in the fifth.
Christian Scianna, Brian Belo, Slavich and Washington added 2 hits each for the Eagles.
"Andrew (Balkcom) missed his location on his pitches to Maurer and he hit them both a long ways," said Jacobs coach Jamie Murray. "You can't make a mistake to a hitter the caliber of Maurer. I am proud of the kids. They got off to a great start and we battled. This is a lesson we can learn from. Huntley is an outstanding team and give them credit."