Sycamore continues playing spoiler against Geneva

The final Western Sun Conference baseball season will long be remembered for its series of twists and turns, some more unusual than others.

With 4 teams - Batavia, DeKalb, Geneva and Kaneland all battling for a share of the conference championship on the final day of the WSC campaign, the most bizarre game of the season may have been saved for last.

Geneva (20-12, 13-8), which 14 days ago stood atop the conference standings with a 12-2 record, found itself trailing DeKalb by a game before Thursday's contest against Sycamore (13-21, 8-13) at Kishwaukee College.

While the Vikings got the help they needed from Kaneland (22-12, 14-7), which defeated the Barbs 8-2, they were unable to take care of their own business during a sloppy, drizzle-drenched 15-14 loss to the Spartans.

The teams combined for 20 base hits, 17 walks, 2 hit batters, 5 wild pitches and 6 errors, as he Spartans won the game and swept the 3-game series on Alex Schultz' 2-out RBI double in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Or did they?

After the home-plate umpire brought both teams' coaches to the field for a brief discussion, he ruled the game was over, citing safety issues due to the soggy playing conditions even though the rain had finally come to a halt.

"All four coaches (from Geneva and Sycamore) are here and we're not quite sure what the league rule is," said Vikings varsity assistant Kevin Bell, who filled in along with sophomore coach Fred Fortman in the absence of head coach Matt Hahn (ejected from Wednesday's game).

"We're pretty sure it's not over because they haven't finished the fifth inning. That is the rule as we're aware of right now."

Whether the Vikings get an opportunity to finish the game and join Batavia, DeKalb and Kaneland as WSC co-champs remains to be seen.

And exactly what has happened to a Geneva team that finished 1-6 over its last 7 conference games?

"I think our opponents are getting better, too," said Bell. "Our kids are still battling but you have to give your opponents some credit.

"If you add up all the runs in last week's DeKalb series only one run separated us. And Sycamore - they're a good ballclub. There's no way they're the 5-13 team that started the series. They hit the ball all over the place."

Sycamore grabbed a 4-0 first-inning lead before the Vikings rallied for 7 unanswered runs over the next 3 frames to go up 7-4. Kyle Bender's 2-run single highlighted a 2-run third.

The Spartans put up a 10-spot in the fourth to go back on top 14-7, benefiting from 5 walks, a hit batsman and Adam Dobson's grand slam.

But the Vikings came right back with 7 runs of their own in the fifth to tie it at 14-all, capitalizing on 4 walks, 3 wild pitches, a hit batsman and Brad Bernhard's bases-clearing double.

"They have never given up," said Bell, "and they won't give up. It's no surprise that we came back because we started hitting the ball yesterday and we hit the ball some more today."

With postseason play fast approaching, Vikings third baseman/pitcher Alex Sroka remains confident despite his team's recent tailspin.

"This is where the season is made," said Sroka. "This is when you learn what kind of team you have.

"We've been on the short end of some close games this last week and a half but it'll prepare us for what's to come in the regional (tournament). We're just trying to stay as positive as possible."