Grayslake Central opens with comeback win
Grayslake Central’s baseball team spotted visiting Richmond-Burton a 2-0 lead after one inning, but went on to score 10 unanswered runs en route to a 10-2 season-opening victory Thursday.
The Rams made 3 errors in the opening inning, but starter Mark Ash pitched a solid 5 innings in picking up the win. Fellow senior Brian Karol tossed 2 scoreless innings. Ash did not walk a batter and fanned 5.
“Mark really kept us in the game early,” Rams coach Troy Whalen said. “We had a lot of first-game jitters and it showed on both sides. Once the kids settled in, things started to go our way.”
Kristian Meehan led a 15-hit attack for Grayslake Central, going 4-for-4 with a triple, double and 3 RBI. Senior Nick Hosford added 3 hits and scored 3 runs, junior Sterling Dixon added 3 singles, Ryan Hamrick had a pair of singles and Ryan Fontana stroked a double.
“We hit the ball extremely well,” Whalen said. “For an early-season game, a majority of our at-bats were solid.”
Mundelein 12, Round Lake 0: Senior left-handerJared Mandel pitched 4 innings, striking out 9, as the Mustangs won their second game in as many days in five innings.
Randy Eanos had a single and stolen base for the Panthers.
Vernon Hills 6, Waukegan 2: The visiting Cougars spotted the Bulldogs 2 unearned runs in the first inning but rallied for the victory in their season opener.
Tyler Feece threw a complete game for Vernon Hills, allowing only 1 hit while striking out 11.
The Cougars’ offense clicked in the fourth inning, as Chris Marras singled and Austin Hagen doubled. Steve Nelson’s groundball plated courtesy runner Eric Lang. After a walk, the Cougars executed a double steal to tie the game. With courtesy runner John Foley at second and one out, Pat Crowley drove in the go-ahead with a two strike line shot to center. Crowley later scored on an infield throwing error.
Vernon Hills added one run in the sixth, as Hagen reached on a single and later was forced in on a based-loaded walk to Crowley.
In the top of the seventh, Brett Peterson walked, stole second and later scored on an errant pickoff attempt.