Kaneland wins behind Komel’s gem
If you are going to get to Kaneland senior Sam Komel, you better do it early.
Dixon did touch Komel for a pair of first-inning runs in a Northern Illinois Big 12 crossover Saturday in Maple Park, but the big righty didn’t let the Dukes get him again.
Komel faced the minimum 15 batters in the second through sixth innings while holding Dixon scoreless over the final 6 innings. That gave his offense plenty of time to come back, which the Knights did behind their opposite-field approach for an 8-2 victory.
Komel walked the leadoff hitter to start the game, then gave up three straight 2-out hits that plated 2 runs. He only gave up 2 hits the rest of the game for the complete game win, finishing with 5 strikeouts and 1 walk. He only threw 90 pitches.
“Just finding your rhythm, getting in a groove,” Komel said. “I never felt that comfortable in the first but then I kind of found it and went the whole game with it.”
Komel liked how he was locating his curve ball. His favorite pitch Saturday, as it is most starts, was his changeup.
“We have to get that inning out of him in the bullpen,” Knights coach Brian Aversa said of the first. “Sam did a great job on the mound and at the plate.”
Komel helped himself going 2-for-3 with 2 RBI. He drew a walk in his first at-bat, which followed an infield single by Joe Camiliere and walk to Bobby Thorson that loaded the bases.
That brought up Drew French, who fell behind 0-2 and then flipped a pitch into right field to score both runs and tie the game 2-2.
Of Kaneland’s 10 hits, the Knights only pulled two of them.
“That’s something we have been working on,” Aversa said. “We have been trying to go with the pitch and I was really happy with how the boys performed with that today.”
Kaneland (4-4) took the lead for good in the third. A walk to Camiliere followed by the first of Dixon’s (0-4) 3 errors put two runners in scoring position for Komel, who took a 2-strike pitch back up the middle for a 2-run single and 4-2 lead.
“That’s kind of our approach,” Komel said. “We haven’t got pitched inside much, especially with two strikes you have to protect. Most of our hits go to the right side.”
Jake Razo, in a battle for the right field job, stroked an RBI single down the left field line for a 5-2 lead in the fifth.
The Knights scored 3 insurance runs in the sixth, a rally started by No. 9 hitter Brian Dixon’s double. After Dixon stole third and scored on a wild throw, leadoff hitter Kyle Davidson singled and Camiliere walked again.
Bobby Thorson showed Kaneland also can pull the ball when he lined a 2-run double that just missed going out for an 8-2 lead.
Davidson committed Kaneland’s only error in the seventh, then quickly made up for it by gunning down a runner at the plate with a perfect relay throw to catcher Jordan Jones.
Corey Landers, who started that 7-6-2 out with a strike from left field, also made a fine catch earlier. A couple nifty plays by Dixon at second base and Thorson’s scoops on low throws at first highlighted a strong defensive outing that made Komel’s life easier.
“It was a really good defensive game,” Komel said. “It’s nice when you are pitching because you feel more confident and don’t have to strike everyone out.”
Kaneland begins conference play Monday at Rochelle. The Knights tied for last year’s Western Sun Conference championship.
“We’re excited to get back in conference play,” Aversa said. “You can’t take Rochelle lightly at all. We’ve been clipped before by them and it’s not a good feeling at all. You have to take every conference game seriously. Every game is worth something and means something to us.”