Baseball: Libby helps Grant past Warren

Bryan Libby allowed only 1 runs over 4 innings, and Grant's baseball team edged Warren 5-4 in its season opener at Rent One Park in downstate Marion on Monday.

After each team scored twice in the first inning, Grant put two more runs on the board in the second and never relinquished the lead.

Libby, who earned the win, struck out four. Sean Lane picked up the save.

James Pendley (1-for-4, 2 RBI) and Matt Mason (1-for-2, HBP, walk) both doubled for Grant.

Warren 6, Marion 5: The Blue Devils bounced back, avoiding their second loss of the day by scoring twice in the bottom of the seventh.

Robert Archbold (3-for-4), Cal Poremba (3-for-3) and Michael Rosen berg all doubled for Warren.

Stevenson 2, Glenbrook South 0: The host Patriots won in Stevenson alumnus Pat Block's head-coaching debut.

Justin Stark held Glenbrook South hitless over 2 innings, striking out three and walking none, and four relievers finished off the win. Daniel Lubelfeld faced three batters in relief, while Mike Kingerey recorded six outs.

Robert McGaha's RBI groundout in the first inning was the only run Stevenson needed. McGaha, Dylan Molek and Christian Dutler had the Patriots' only hits. Brandon Grant also had an RBI.

Vernon Hills 8, East Limestone 4: At the Orange Beach Sportsplex in Alabama, the Cougars scored 6 runs in the bottom of the sixth to beat their opponent out of Athens, Ala.

Joe Rangel pitched 3 no-hit innings in relief to earn the win. He did not allow a run, struck out a batter and walked two. Brennan Reback paced Vernon Hills' 9-hit attack, as he went 3-for-4 with 2 runs scored and an RBI.

Tommy Earhart was 2-for-3 and scored twice, while Steven Tow went 1-for-2 with 2 RBI. Matt Gramins and Kyle Fasbinder had doubles for Vernon Hills.

Mundelein 11, Carbondale 1: Wil Michalski pitched 2 innings for the win, striking out four, and the Mustangs got doubles from Reid Rubio and Reese Dolan.

Wauconda 12, Frankfort 2: Collin Shrader went 3-for-3 with 2 doubles, 2 walks, 2 runs scored and 2 RBI for the Bulldogs.

Jake Grobelny was 2-for-4 with 3 RBI, and Trevor Sefcik was 2-for-4 with a double and 3 RBI for Wauconda. Korey Soetaert pitched 4 innings, allowing 1 run and striking out six for the win. Shrader had 4 strikeouts in his 2 innings of work.

Prairie Ridge 7, Lake Zurich 1: Nick Sanders was 2-for-4 and scored a run for the Bears in their nonconference loss.

Sophomore Ben Cornelius and freshman Tyler Snep each had his first varsity hit for Lake Zurich.

Maine South 4, Lakes 1: The visiting Eagles spotted the Hawks a 4-0 lead through five innings.

Jack Christensen went 1-for-3 with an RBI for Lakes (1-2), and Matt Milewski was 1-for-3 with a double.

McHenry 10, Antioch 0: Bobby Miller pitched 5 no-hit innings for the Warriors, striking out nine in the nonconference game, which lasted six frames.

John Petty had the only hit for Antioch.

Grayslake North 10, Sidwell Friends 0: At the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Ortlando, Fla., Tyler Elias pitched a five-inning shutout against the opponent from Washington, D.C.

Elias allowed 3 hits, struck out three and didn't walk a batter. Charlie Burr led Grayslake North offensively, going 3-for-4 with a double and 3 RBI. Bobby Krebs was 2-for-3, and Devin Gaines knocked in a pair of runs.

Grayslake Central 3, Buffalo Grove 2 (8 inn.): At the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla., sophomore Benton Troehler singled home the go-ahead run in the eighth inning.

Grayslake Central's Kyle Allen singled to lead off the bottom of the eighth, and Ben Fitzgerald sacrificed Allen to second. Sam Ruhlman was intentionally walked, setting the stage for Troehler.

"Benton put a great swing on and drove the ball to the right side," said Rams coach Troy Whalen. "We had a hit and run on and it was nice execution."

The game between the two Illinois schools was a pitchers duel. Justin Shepley, making his first career varsity start, tossed 4 scoreless innings, allowing 1 hit and striking out six. Fitzgerald and Griff Edwards also saw mound duty for GC with Ruhlman tossing a scoreless eighth inning to pick up the win, as the Rams improved to 3-0 on the season.

GC jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Freshman Coby Moe singled home Troehler, and fellow freshman Kevin O'Brien, who had singled, scored the second run on a throwing error.

The Rams will conclude their varsity trip in Disney on Tuesday when they play St. Luke's out of the New Jersey.

Grayslake Central sweeps: At the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla., on Sunday, the Rams opened the season with a pair of shutout wins over Sidwell (D.C.), 8-0 and 12-0.

In the opener, Sam Ruhlman (3 strikeouts), Griff Edwards, Brett Whalen (3 Ks) and Bryce Gniadek (1 K) combined to toss a 1-hitter.

The Rams managed only 5 hits but broke open a close game by scoring 2 runs in the sixth inning and two more in the seventh. Ruhlman had an RBI triple, while junior Kyle Allen had a pair of hits and scored 2 runs.

The Rams started quickly in the nightcap, scoring 5 runs in the first and six in the second en route to the five-inning victory. Freshman Coby Moe and sophomore Ray Bradley combined to strike out four and toss a 1-hitter.

Grayslake Central pounded out 14 hits, with Ruhlman and Ben Fitzgerald having a double and single and 2 RBIs each. Junior Justin Shepley added a pair of singles, and junior Jake Dooley had a double. Sophomore Benton Trohler added 2 hits and 2 RBI.