Kaneland completes 3-game sweep of Batavia

Kaneland made the most of its last chance to play Batavia.

Steve Colombe pitched a complete game and a balanced attack produced 9 hits for a 7-2 victory Thursday, giving the Knights a 3-game sweep.

Kaneland (15-9, 8-4) passed Batavia (9-11, 7-5) in the Western Sun Conference standings, thanks to Colombe's pitching, a solid defensive effort under difficult conditions and eight of the nine starters collecting at least 1 hit.

"Coach has been preaching all week long to the seniors that this is their series, their chance to show Batavia what Kaneland ball is," Kaneland third baseman Bobby Thorson said.

Thorson found himself as one of the players with the most difficult job Thursday - trying to catch a pop-up or fly ball on an extremely windy day, even by Kaneland standards. The wind was gusting in from right field.

One of those high foul pops escaped Thorson in the fourth inning. But the previous inning he snagged one.

Batavia, meanwhile, had its share of problems judging fly balls that died in the wind and fell for hits.

"It was really hard. The wind was howling today," Thorson said. "Trying to play it you have to run all the way to the right and the sun was still in my eyes. It was just really difficult today. But I got one."

Colombe said he enjoyed pitching with the wind, especially compared to the days it blows out.

"It was kind of awkward blowing from right field, it was pushing me off the mound," Colombe said. "We played great defense with it. We made some big plays when the wind was gusting."

Colombe scattered 6 hits. He struck out five and walked just one while throwing his first complete game of the season.

"My fastball was locating well, my curve ball came through when we needed," Colombe said. "Definitely a nice turnaround (from last year's 3 losses to Batavia). It's the last time we play them so it's a nice way to go out."

Joe Camiliere's double started Kaneland's 2-run first. Dave Dudzinski continued his hot hitting with an RBI double, and he scored on one of Batavia's 3 errors. Dudzinski also stood out on defense with two scoops of low throws for putouts at first base.

Anthony Carby's home run in the top of the second inning, his fourth of the year, made it a 2-1 game. Kaneland answered with 2 more runs in its half on RBI from Jake Fiedler and Camiliere after singles by Cory Landers and Kyle Davidson ignited the rally.

Kaneland kept adding to its lead with a run in the third and two more in the fourth. Jake Tickle extended his hitting streak to 18 games with an RBI single in the fourth, and Tyler Callaghan followed with another RBI single to make it 7-1.

"I was glad to get the ball rolling in the first inning because I was kind of leery of how we would come out with the wind," Kaneland coach Brian Aversa said. "The kids really came ready to play."

Batavia senior Tim Schofield singled to lead off the fifth inning, giving him a hit in all 20 of the Bulldogs' games. Schofield scored the final run of the game on Jay Clark's RBI single.

Colombe retired Batavia's final seven hitters to even his record at 3-3. Michael Rutas also pitched the distance for Batavia and got stronger as the game went on.

"Michael didn't pitch bad but you can't miss to Duds (Dudzinski)," Batavia coach Matt Holm said. "You can't miss your spots."

Kaneland has recovered from a 2-4 start in conference play. The Knights will try to keep the momentum going next week against Yorkville before series with Sycamore and DeKalb.

"We're trying to keep building conference wise and put ourselves back in the hunt," Aversa said. "I think we accomplished that this week. We have to keep pounding away."

Besides Carby's home run, highlights for the Bulldogs included throwing out a runner at the plate, a runner trying to steal second and turning a 1-3-6 double play in the sixth inning.

Holm, whose team opens a three-game series with conference front-runner Geneva on Tuesday at Elfstrom Stadium, had nothing but praise for Aversa and the Knights.

"I think they are a much better team than they started in the conference," Holm said. "I think they have one of the top coaches around. Brian is a fantastic guy and really knows what he's doing.

"We might have been a little inflated (coming into the series). We hit a little bit of a buzz saw."