Monday's Fox Valley roundup
Huntley spotted Crystal Lake South 7 runs in the first inning but stormed back to beat the visiting Gators 10-9 in eight innings to move into a three-way tie for first place with Cary-Grove and McHenry in the Valley Division of the Fox Valley Conference.
Trailing 7-1 in the third inning, Huntley (21-8, 14-6) got back into the game courtesy of a grand slam from senior Phil Pupillo. The Red Raiders scored twice in the fourth inning to tie the game only to see CL South (19-11, 13-7) regain the lead, 9-7, with a 2-run fifth.
Huntley scored twice in the bottom of the fifth to knot the game at 9-9 and won it with a run in the bottom of the eighth. Freshman Bryce Only led off with a single, took second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Colin Lyman and scored the winning run on a single to left field by Zach Staab.
"I'm proud of our guys for battling back, keeping a level head and not getting down after the first inning," Huntley coach Andy Jakubowski said.
Pupillo (1-0) earned the win in 2/3 of an inning of relief after long reliever Jeremy Ahillen kept the Red Raiders in the game. Reliever Billy Wright took the loss for the Gators, who were led by homers from Dom Winiecki, Wright and Alex Macaulay.
Neuqua Valley 8, Larkin 2: Scott Harm (2-for-3) and Miguel Villafane (2-for-3, 2B) accounted for half of Larkin's 8 hits in an Upstate Eight loss in Naperville. Villafane (1-4) allowed 7 earned runs on 8 hits in 5 innings for Larkin (9-20, 8-13).
Westminster Christian 5, Wheaton Academy 4: Sophomore Kevin Elder singled home Frank Oliver from second base with the winning run in the bottom of the seventh to lift the Warriors to victory at Elfstrom Stadium in Geneva, home of the Kane County Cougars. Elder (8-3) pitched a scoreless inning of relief to earn the win for Westminster Christian (23-9).
Sycamore 7, Hampshire 4: Senior Kent Larson (2-5) allowed only 1 earned run in 6 innings, but 4 errors undercut his 7-hit, 5-strikeout performance in a nonconference game at Kishwaukee College. Ryan DeChant homered and Marcus Quick tripled for Hampshire (14-15).