Big starts spark Hersey sweep

Hersey continued its trend of getting off to big starts in Saturday's nonconference baseball doubleheader with visiting Zion-Benton.

But the two wins for the Huskies (17-5) ended differently as they took the first one 11-1 in 5 innings but hung on 6-5 in the second game.

In the opener, Ryan Busse (4-2) threw a 3-hitter as Hersey had a 5-run first and 4-run second. Alex Lee homered and doubled and Sean Thompson had 2 doubles.

Hersey came out in the second game with a 6-run first but didn't score again. Steve Sgrignoli was the winner and Joe Perricone got the save.

Viator, Joliet Catholic split: St. Viator (13-8, 5-3) responded to a heartbreaking 7-6 loss in the opener of its East Suburban Catholic Conference double-header by coming back with an 11-2 win at Joliet Catholic (10-11, 4-4).

Julian Sipiora (3-1) was the second-game winner as he scattered 5 hits in 6 innings and had 3 strikeouts and 1 walk. Cory Kay went 3-for-4 with 2 triples and 4 RBI, Brendan King was 2-for-4 with a triple and 2 RBI and Lou Cairo went 2-for-4.

Sipiora also homered and doubled as he went 3-for-4 in the opener where the Lions tied it with 2 runs in the top of the seventh. All three of their ESCC losses have been in the game's final at-bat.

Kay also went 2-for-4 and Jake Mastrangeli and Kevin Gannon each had 2 RBI.

Hoffman 11, Dundee-Crown 7: Hoffman (10-11) senior Lance Vesper allowed his only run in his fifth and final inning of relief for his first varsity victory. Zach Demmon had 2 doubles and Chris Fett, Kevin Tednes, Erik Smoy, Trent Rehusch, Mark Roberts and Jordan Habel had 2 hits apiece.

The Hawks scored 6 runs in the top of the first and went ahead to stay at 8-6 with a 2-run fourth.

Barrington 7, Harlem 6: John O'Connell went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI and 2 steals and Derek Foderaro had a 2-run double for Barrington (13-11). Greg Gerrard got the win and Chris Rogers the save.

Lane Tech 11, Meadows 8: Kevin Cwynar doubled and had 3 RBI and Matt Hendricks doubled and tripled and had 2 RBI for Meadows (6-16) as Lane Tech broke an 8-8 tie with a 3-run sixth.

Maine West 9, Glenbrook South 6: The Warriors (14-6, 7-1) won their ninth straight overall in the Central Suburban League crossover.