Warriors meet the challenge in CSL North

Maine West took a challenge-filled route in the race for a Central Suburban North baseball title.

The Warriors lost their first two games and were just 4-4 at the midway point before playing themselves back into the race. Then, in Wednesday's division finale with a chance to clinch at least a tie, they had a pair of 4-run deficits and trailed Deerfield by 2 runs with two outs and nobody on base in the bottom of the sixth inning in Des Plaines.

But Maine West (21-7, 11-5) responded with a 4-run outburst to pull out a wild 12-10 win. It earned a share of its 10th CSL division crown and 18th conference title as Highland Park beat Maine East.

"It was crazy - I think I aged about a year playing the last two hours," said Maine West senior Lucas Udischas, whose game-winning 2-run single capped a 3-for-3 day with 5 RBI.

"Words can't even explain it," said Maine West senior first baseman Steve Zimmerman, who hit two long homers to give him six this season and five in the last six games. "My heart was beating fast the entire time.

"We were down but we had to stay up and battle back to get some runs."

Maine West scored nine in its last two at-bats to overcome deficits of 5-1, 7-3 and 10-8 fueled by 6 errors. Winner Josh Wright gave up only 1 earned run in 42/3 relief innings.

Zimmerman hit a solo homer and a 3-run homer that traveled more than 400 feet to give Maine West an 8-7 lead in the fifth. Deerfield (8-16, 5-11) answered with a 2-run double by Mike Bolnick and an RBI single by Matt Glassman in the sixth.

Connor Skoczynski doubled, stole third and scored on a wild pitch with two out in the Maine West sixth. It appeared to get a bad break when speedy Tommy Ross walked and Ryan Tuntland's shot to deep right-center bounced over the fence for a ground-rule double.

Adam Rhum relieved Bolnick and Udischas smacked the first pitch into left field for an 11-10 lead.

"He was the second pitcher (Monday) and I felt I was on top of him," Udischas said. "Especially coming right out of the bullpen, he's going to throw a strike and I wanted to capitalize on it."

"I had a good feeling for today. I waited four years for this chance and everything lined up and worked out."

Especially after Highland Park started 8-1 in CSL play but lost both meetings to Maine West last week.

"It's definitely a long season and we had some ups and had some downs," said Maine West coach Joe Pederson.

"Once we lost that fourth (CSL) game I thought we lost it," Zimmerman said. "We just battled back and here we are winning the conference."

Fremd 14, Barrington 13: Mike Tauchman (3-for-5, 5 RBI) homered and had the game-winning RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth as Fremd (18-9, 12-4) won the MSL West outright. Chris Doloughty (4-for-5) had tying RBI singles in the seventh and ninth and Todd Dunham had 3 hits.

Anthony Brignola (4-for-5), Derek Foderaro (3-for-5) and Johnny Day (3-for-6) had 2 RBI for Barrington (16-12, 8-8).

Schaumburg 7, Palatine 6: Kyle Meyer (11-1) went the distance with 7 strikeouts and no walks and Schaumburg (15-12, 9-7) got the MSL West win on Tim Massat's RBI single in the top of the seventh. Joe Dombek hit a 3-run homer in the first for the Saxons and Dan Haze hit a 2-run homer for Palatine (16-15, 9-7).

Meadows 10, Wheeling 0: Teddy Metzger (6-3) threw a 3-hitter and drove in 2 runs for MSL East champ Rolling Meadows (17-13, 13-13) in the 5-inning win. Owen Stiff also had 2 RBI.

In Wheeling's 20-17 win over BG on Tuesday, Connor Mara picked a perfect spot to become a power hitter and hit his first varsity homer.

Mara hit a 3-run shot in the bottom of the seventh to give the Wildcats (5-25, 4-12) the win. A report in Wednesday's edition listed an incorrect first name for Mara.

Wheeling had 16 hits and was led by Matt Holmes (4-for-5, 4 RBI) and Bobby Beelen (3-for-5, 4 RBI).

Notre Dame 5, St. Viator 4: Joe Romano hit a game-winning 2-run homer in the bottom of the seventh for Notre Dame (19-12, 10-7) in the East Suburban Catholic. Phil Bar went 3-for-3 for Viator (15-15, 5-10).

BG 6, Hersey 4: Jeremy Salzman and Mike Fu combined on a 3-hitter and James Hurley homered for Buffalo Grove (12-17, 7-9) in the MSL East. Salzman went 52/3 innings and Fu finished for the save.

Prospect 7, Elk Grove 3: Miles Osei had 10 strikeouts in 62/3 innings and John Coen went 3-for-5 for Prospect (14-15, 7-9) in the MSL East victory.

Hoffman 14, Conant 8: Freshman Mark Roberts had 2 doubles, a homer and 3 RBI and Chris Fett and Don Rathje had 3 RBI for Hoffman (8-22, 4-12) in the MSL West. Derek Wojcik had a grand slam and 5 RBI for Conant (18-10, 10-6).