St. Charles N. dumps Burlington Central

The St. Charles North baseball team is hitting its stride.

Erik Nelson had 3 hits Saturday as the North Stars won their sixth consecutive game with a 4-2 nonconference victory over Burlington Central in St. Charles.

“As a team, we feel a lot more confident,” Nelson said. “A lot better composure. We’re a lot more relaxed. We definitely feel better as a team.”

The North Stars (10-7) committed 3 errors, which led to 2 unearned runs, and left 10 runners on base, but got enough clutch hits. They took a 1-0 lead in the first inning without hitting the ball out of the infield. Jake Smiley had an one-out infield single and reached second on a groundout. He would score on a throwing error on the Central shortstop.

Central (13-6) tied the game in the top of the third on a run-scoring double from Bryan Cynova. The North Stars regained the lead in the fouth. After Nelson led off with a single, a throwing error allowed runners to reach first and third with no outs. Two line drives to infielders got Central within on out of getting out of trouble. Then Smiley drove in Nelson with a single to center on a 1-2 pitch.

“We can’t have those errors. That kind of opened the door for them early,” Rockets coach Kyle Nelson said.

Tanner Scott doubled to right to drive in a run in the fifth as the Rockets tied the game at 2-2.

The North Stars took the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth. Erik Nelson drove in Kevin Delisi with his third single of the game and Adam Delisi brought in Ryan Thomas with a groundout for a 4-2 lead.

Max Pedre (2-1) earned the victory, going 6 innings and allowing just 3 hits and 2 unearned runs. The left-hander walked 3 and struck out 4. John Brodner earned the save, getting two popouts and a strikeout in the seventh.

“I thought Max did a great job,” North coach Todd Genke said. “They are a good hitting club. He was able to handcuff them with his breaking ball, both his curveball and his changeup.”

Riley Jensen (5-1) came out of the bullpen for the first time this season and suffered the loss. The right-hander went 2 innings, gave up 3 hits and 2 runs. Michael Scott started for the Rockets, threw 4 innings and gave up 2 runs, but neither were earned.