Baseball: Cary-Grove tops Huntley for 10th straight win

It all began to click for the Cary-Grove baseball team on April 21 and it hasn't stopped.

Once a 9-7 team seeking an identity, the Trojans now know exactly who they are: winners of 10 straight after Monday's 11-1, six-inning home win over Fox Valley Conference Valley Division rival Huntley.

Cary-Grove (19-7, 9-2) prevailed on the strength of a 2-hitter by right-handed pitcher Matt McCumber (6-3) and a 13-hit barrage that included 5 doubles, 2 by junior catcher Tyler Pennington.

"It was the McCumber-Pennington show and they showed why they're real deals," Huntley coach Andy Jakubowski said. "They hit the ball real well, McCumber changed speeds real well and did a real nice job."

Pennington (3-for-3, walk, RBI) wasn't the only left-handed hitter to enjoy success against Huntley right-handed starting pitcher Nick Laxner (3-3) and three relievers. Leadoff hitter Quinn Celske went 2-for-3 with a double, No. 5 hitter Tom Neilson finished 2-for-4 with a double and 2 RBI and No. 6 hitter Ben Levicki went 3-for-4 with a double and 4 RBI.

"We were pretty aggressive offensively," said Levicki, whose first-inning, 2-run double gave the Trojans a 3-0 lead. "We attacked the pitchers. We didn't let them sit back like we have in the past. We attacked the fastball and if the curveball comes, we adjust and hit it."

Cary-Grove's lefty hitters combined went 10-for-14 with 5 doubles and 8 RBI.

"Our hitting is coming around, particularly those left-handed hitters today," Cary-Grove coach Don Sutherland said ."Wow."

C-G scored 3 runs in the first, 1 in the third and 4 in the fifth to take an 8-0 lead.

Huntley (15-12, 6-7), which dropped its fourth straight game, scored its only run in the top of the sixth on Joe Rizzo's two-out single. However, the Trojans answered with 3 runs in the bottom of the sixth to invoke the 10-run rule. No. 9 hitter Collin Walsh blooped a single in front of the center fielder to drive in Levicki with the 11th run to end the game.

Meanwhile, McCumber completed his third straight game, a streak that started with a perfect game against Dundee-Crown on April 29. In 21 innings over his last three starts, the Northern Illinois recruit has limited the opposition to 1 run on 4 hits.

"I just had good control of everything," said McCumber, who threw only 67 pitches and struck out 6 without issuing a walk. "I knew with the wind blowing in I just had to pitch to contact and let them hit the ball. The defense made almost every play for me and did a great job."

Leadoff man Jeff Heinrich had the only other hit for Huntley.

The teams conclude their 2-game FVC Valley series Wednesday in Huntley.