Mundelein's Mahar a major relief in win over Lakes

Embarrassed by his baseball team's error-prone defense after it stole a victory Friday, Mundelein coach Todd Parola joked that the Mustangs should have been wearing ski masks as they walked off Lakes' diamond.

While there was no disguising the fielding miscues, Mundelein did unveil something in its 6-3 win, and that was, for now, a new ace.

Ben Mahar bailed out the Mustangs by pitching 31/3 innings of shutout ball in relief, allowing only 2 singles while striking out five in earning the win.

With senior Colin Franklin still working on regaining his pitching form following off-season knee surgery, the 6-foot-3 Mahar has given the Mustangs a huge lift on the mound.

"He's established himself as our ace up to this point," Parola said. "We're hoping (Franklin) can work into that ace role, but he's not there yet. He's getting there gradually."

Lefty Dante Martinez drew the pitching start for Mundelein (6-2), but he walked five, and the Mustangs committed 5 errors in the second inning. He left with two out in the second, despite having not allowing a hit and his team leading 4-3.

Blair Metzger tossed 2-plus innings of 1-hit ball, but left after issuing his second walk.

Enter Mahar, who with two outs in the fourth was greeted by a sharp single off the bat of Travis Vanderwall. Mahar then hit Wills Massie, but he fanned cleanup-hitter Paul Kukulka, who had roped a double in his previous at-bat.

Mahar struck out the side in order in the fifth.

"I stayed with my two-seamer a lot today," Mahar said. "But I threw a couple of four-seams and some sinkers, too."

Parola was impressed with Mahar's aggressiveness.

"He came in and he went right at them," the coach said.

Mahar allowed singles to Jake Brown and Nick Traska (1-for-1, 3 walks) in the sixth but struck out the dangerous Massie to get out of the jam.

"I felt like I was in a zone," Mahar said. "I was throwing strikes, keeping the ball down for the most part, and when I wanted to elevate on the ball, I did. 'Riz' (catcher Matt Risdon) called a good game back there and coach called a good game."

Mundelein committed its sixth error to start the seventh. The Mustangs then dropped an infield popup, which resulted, luckily for them, in a force at second.

Mahar induced a comebacker to end a wild game that had both coaches rolling their eyes when it was finally over.

"For the most part, we've been pretty good defensively," Parola said. "But what the heck happened today, I don't know."

Lakes (6-3) committed 4 errors and had at least two other seemingly routine flyballs elude fielders, possibly because of the sun or wind.

Sophomore Chris Hoffman pitched 31/3 innings in suffering the loss.

"I thought he did well," said Eagles coach Bill Rosencrans, who coached Mundelein's seniors two years ago as the school's sophomore coach. "We just couldn't catch a flyball."

Mundelein's offense produced 12 hits. The Mustangs were led by Charlie Gandolfi (2-for-2, sacrifice fly, sacrifice bunt), Risdon (2-for-4, RBI double), Luis Carrasco (2-for-4, RBI single), Mike O'Donoghue (2-for-4, double, RBI), Franklin (2-for-3, 2 RBI) and D.J. Lewis (double).