Shurtleff pitches St. Charles North to series win

There's no truth to the rumor that hospital beds are going to replace the standard bench in the St. Charles North baseball dugout next week.

Fighting off fatigue brought on partially due to an ongoing bout with mononucleosis, senior right-handed pitcher Jared Shurtleff went the distance to lift the North Stars (21-4, 13-3) to a 3-2 triumph over St. Charles East (16-9, 10-6) Thursday evening at Elfstrom Stadium.

After the cross-town rivals had combined for 37 runs in the first 2 games of the 3-game series, the rubber match turned into a pitchers' duel between previously unbeaten aces - St. Charles East southpaw Wes Benjamin (now 7-1) and the North Stars' Shurtleff (7-0).

Shurtleff emerged victorious, allowing 7 hits while striking out 5 and walking 1. He survived a tense seventh-inning situation as the Saints loaded the bases with 2 out before right fielder Chase Williams caught Johnny Erickson's fly ball to end the game.

Ironically, Williams was also recently diagnosed with mono but received medical clearance to play prior to Tuesday's series opener.

"I don't know what it is - mono is a mysterious thing," said North Stars coach Todd Genke. "These kids, I see them in school and it looks like they're sleepwalking. But he (Shurtleff) gutted it out and that's what makes his performance even more impressive."

Shurtleff admittedly felt emotionally and physically drained after his 87-pitch effort (64 thrown for strikes).

"Yes, I feel fatigued," he said. "I got diagnosed with mono on Monday. But I was going to pitch against East, that's for sure."

Realizing he didn't have the normal pop on his fastball, Shurtleff relied on an assortment of off-speed pitches throughout the contest.

"I didn't think I was throwing very hard so I really tried to make sure I mixed speeds and tried to keep them off-balance," said Shurtleff, who only had one 3-ball sequence the entire night when he walked T.J. Travis with 1 out in the seventh.

Pinch-hitter Wes Phelps began the 2-out threat in the bottom of the seventh for the Saints with a line single to left before Travis walked and Robert Wendt reached on an infield error to load the bases for Erickson (2-for-4).

It was just the opportunity Haskins was hoping for.

"Absolutely," said the Saints' coach. "He's our 3 hitter for a reason. But the kid (Shurtleff) made a great pitch and you've got to tip your hat to their pitcher."

Benjamin was stingy in his own right, allowing just 1 earned run on 6 hits through 7 innings with a pair of walks and 7 strikeouts.

"I thought Wes was outstanding," said Haskins. "It's a shame but he's a great warrior and he'll be back pitching Tuesday or Wednesday."

The North Stars, winners of 10 of their last 11, grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third when Ryan Richardson legged out a double and scored on Mike Budka's RBI single.

But the Saints touched Shurtleff for a pair of runs in the bottom half of the frame, benefiting from a batter reaching on a dropped third strike, an outfield throwing error and Ryan O'Dell's RBI single.

St. Charles East held its slim 2-1 lead until the fifth when Richardson reached third on a throwing error and came across with the tying run on another infield miscue. Kevin Borst then followed with a double that 1-hopped the wall in left-center, sending Budka home with the eventual winning run.

It was redemption of sorts for Borst, who was the losing pitcher in the North Stars' 10-7 Game 1 setback Tuesday.

"It was a tough start (of the week) but it's great being a 2-way player and to be able to come here and redeem myself with the bat," said Borst.