St. Charles E. wins wild one over Geneva
In a game that included a little bit of everything, the only things that seemed to be missing were ivy on the walls and bleachers in the outfield.
Geneva and St. Charles East did their best to make Ron Carlson Field look more like Wrigley Field Thursday afternoon, as the neighboring teams combined for 20 runs on 27 hits before the host Saints (19-7, 17-3) finally escaped with an 11-9 Upstate Eight Conference River Division triumph.
“We were real fortunate to get a win here today,” said Saints coach Len Asquini, who saw his team squander a 7-3 lead in the top of the sixth before coming back to take the lead for good with 4 runs in the bottom half of the frame. “I found a 4-leaf clover on the way here and ate it.”
Geneva (19-7, 12-7) scored 5 of its 6 sixth-inning runs on 2-out base hits from Jake Weede (2-run double), Andy Francis (RBI single), Matt Brandys (RBI single), and Matt Williams (RBI double) off of Saints starting pitcher Luke Ludke.
“It was 7-4 with 2 outs there,” said Asquini. “To their credit, they scored 5 runs with 2 outs. That was exciting for them and not so good for us.”
But the Saints refused to quit, taking advantage of some defensive miscues during their 4-run sixth.
“As soon as we came back in the dugout, we said everybody’s got to be up and that we’ve got to score some runs here,” said Saints senior second baseman Jordan Hayes, who went 3-for-4 with 2 runs scored, a pair of stolen bases and an RBI. “Everyone was up on the bench cheering us on and we got right back in the game.”
Nicholas Erickson led off with a walk before Hayes’ infield single and a throwing error put runners on the corners.
With Joe Hoscheit (2-for-3) batting, Hayes took off for second on a 1-0 pitch and wound up coming all the way around to score the tying run after a high throw from catcher and bobbled ball in the outfield.
“I saw the ball go into center and I went to third and Coach (Asquini) kept sending me,” said Hayes. “I just put my head down and kept going.”
After a fly out, Nick Huskisson reached on an infield single and Tommy Wilson’s flare through the middle loaded the bases for Jack Dellostritto.
On a 0-1 pitch, Asquini called for a suicide squeeze but the pitch from Vikings reliever Brock Chenier was far wide of the plate.
Hoscheit started toward home before putting on the brakes and heading back to third but the throw sailed over the head of the Vikings’ infielder, allowing both Hoscheit and Huskisson to score the Saints’ 10th and 11th runs.
“Our defense let us down a little bit today,” said Vikings coach Matt Hahn, whose team committed 7 errors — 4 coming in the sixth inning. “They’re in first place in the conference for a reason. When you make errors and mistakes against a team like that, they’re going to make you pay.
“It’s not just the defensive errors,” added Hahn, whose team faces St. Charles North today. “It’s not getting a bunt down along with baserunning mistakes. That game was there for ours to take. Seven errors — that’s an extra out an inning. You’re not going to win many games like that.”
The loss spoiled Francis’ 4-for-4 day at the plate that also included 2 RBI, 2 runs scored, and a stolen base.
“He’s been great in the leadoff spot all year,” said Hahn. “He’s a big reason why we’re 19-7.”
The sixth inning ended on a feisty note, as Ludke was ejected from the game after running over Chenier during a rundown play near third base.
“Their kid came in and it looked like he was a fullback,” said Hahn. “He clearly raised his arms and our kid went down pretty hard. I liked the fact that our guys came to his (Chenier) defense. Their kid was trying to make something happen and keep their inning going. I don’t think anything was done on purpose.”
Johnny Hondlik (4-2) got the win for the Saints, who will face Geneva in a doubleheader Saturday.