Geneva’s ERA close to record low
Flying high at 11-3, Geneva has the best record of the area baseball teams through the first month-plus of the baseball season.
The Vikings boast the area’s top hitter in Matt Brandys who is off to a sizzling .527 start. They have pop with Matt Williams and Andy Francis already both hitting a couple home runs and ranking with the best in RBI.
But just as important to the team’s success — if not more so — is Geneva’s arms on the mound. The Vikings have a deep pitching staff led by Andy Honiotes, Jordan Touro and Drew White.
Through last week Geneva had a team ERA of just 2.05. Considering their small home park and such a low ERA, you would think that could be the best in school history.
But the 2007 Geneva team finished with an even lower ERA at 1.84. That staff was led by Brad Allen, Louis Trimble and Chris Jordan all with ERAs under 2.00 including Trimble under 1.00.
Geneva’s only problem that year was a .269 team batting average. Not surprisingly, that 2007 team played in a lot of tight games, no fewer than 14 one-run games.
A rare off-day: The two errors Batavia made in a 7-2 win over Streamwood Thursday didn’t kill the Bulldogs — starter Austin Shanahan was tagged for 1 unearned run — but it was rare to see Batavia make those mistakes.
Other than an 8-error game that led to an 8-2 loss to Lake Park, defense has been a strength for Matt Holm’s team.
“I thought we played pretty good defense,” Holm said. “We don’t make errors. Today making two was an anomaly.”
That good defense is just one reason Batavia has won 7 of its first 10 Upstate Eight games.
“We’ve got quality sophomores, good juniors and the senior power is amazing,” Shanahan said. “You couldn’t ask for a better team.”
Catcher Steve Durham echoed those thoughts and likes Batavia’s position as a team some might overlook.
“We all know we have a really strong team,” Durham said. “If we’re going to be the dark horse we’re fine with that. We’re ready to show people what we’ve got.”
Good intel: Playing three-game series like the Upstate Eight teams do has its advantages for a catcher like Durham in learning how to pitch the opponents’ hitters. Durham said seeing the same batter again and again makes a difference in how Batavia pitchers approach them.
“You definitely can find the weaknesses in the series you can’t find in the crossovers,” said Durham after catching Shanahan’s 12-strikeout game Thursday.
“He had a strong fastball like usual, curve ball, we had a lot to work with.”
Hot Saints: Like Batavia sweeping three from Streamwood this week, St. Charles East took care of business winning three from Elgin.
Something will have to give when the Bulldogs and Saints play each other twice Saturday. The teams both present a problem for opponents at the top of their lineup.
Batavia’s Laren Eustace (.476 batting average) and St. Charles East’s Nick Erickson (.438) rank among the top area hitters, both getting on base at a high rate. Erickson trails Troy DeFilippis on his team — DeFilippis is batting .462.
“I’m trying to be aggressive,” Erickson said earlier this season. “Coach wants me to lead off this year. We’re going to take advantage early in the counts. Being aggressive, getting on base is my job.”
“He’s hit the ball well,” Saints coach Len Asquini said. “We’re real happy with what he’s been doing at shortstop. As a leadoff hitter he is setting the table for us.”
St. Charles North also went undefeated against Larkin this week as the Upstate Eight Conference River Division race looks to be a pretty wide-open battle between the four Tri-Cities schools.