Efficient effort lifts Vernon Hills past Lakes
In a game dominated by doubles and triples, Brett Peterson’s game-winning hit traveled all of 75 feet.
Vernon Hills (24-6, 9-1) scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to edge Lakes 4-2 in a Prairie Division battle on Monday. The win at least clinched a tie for the Prairie Division crown for the Cougars.
The visiting Eagles had success leading off innings against winning pitcher Tyler Feece. There were two triples leading off frames, and one double, but Lakes had trouble stringing hits together.
“Tyler did this in his last game against Antioch,’’ said Vernon Hills coach Jay Czarnecki. “They were getting hits to open every inning.”
The Cougars were having less success against Lakes starter Chris Hoffman. But when they did reach the right-hander for extra base hits, they at least scored those runners.
This game was knotted at 2-2 when it was time for Peterson to do his thing.
Feece singled to open the frame against Hoffman. Pinch runner Dylan McNamara swiped second base and moved to third on an error.
“I was looking for a hit,’’ Peterson said. “I thought it was very unexpected. I just bunted and ran as hard as I could.”
Czarnecki noted that his team regularly practices the bunt.
“Brett has very good speed,’’ he said. “We wanted to force Hoffman to field it. But the bunt was good enough that the third baseman had to field it.”
Clearly, losing pitcher Hoffman deserved a better fate. At the plate, he singled on the first pitch of the game and added another hit that knocked in a run. He also lined out twice. On the mound, he allowed just 5 hits.
“He pitched really well,’’ said Lakes coach Ray Gialo. “We didn’t put enough balls in play to win.”
Czarnecki knew his club was in trouble with Hoffman on the mound.
“He’s a heck of a pitcher,’’ he said. “We knew this might be a 2-1 or 1-0 game.”
Lakes (17-15, 6-5) loaded the bases in the opening inning but failed to score.
Feece doubled and scored in the second to give Vernon Hills a 1-0 lead.
MJ Crowley opened the third inning with a booming triple to center. He scored on Eric Lang’s infield bounce out.
After wasting Mike Bartlett’s leadoff triple in the third, Lakes finally tallied in the fourth. Danny Jackson led off the inning with a double to center. Hoffman’s hit to left field scored him.
It was all tied up after Lakes batted in the sixth. Drake Larriuz’s triple opened the inning. And this time, the bunt helped the Eagles. John O’Connor’s perfect bunt to the mound squared things at 2-2.
Feece allowed 6 hits in 6 innings. Five of the seven innings began with Eagles hits.
“He didn’t let it get to him,” Peterson said.
The rematch is Tuesday in Lake Villa.