Bartlett slugs way past St. Charles North

Braving the strong winds and frigid temperatures was well worth it for the Bartlett baseball team as the Hawks hosted St. Charles North in an Upstate Eight Conference crossover game.

With 16 hits, some help from 4 North Stars’ errors and a strong outing from pitcher Doug Van Dyke the Hawks earned a 13-2 win over the North Stars (6-6, 2-4) in five innings on Friday afternoon.

Already leading 4-2 heading into the bottom of the second inning, the Hawks (5-2, 4-2) put the game out of reach with a 6-run frame. The big inning was setup by 2 errors which led to 5 unearned runs.

Jake Barrutia and Matt Vitulli both hit RBI doubles and Mike Roberson and Colin Nowak RBI singles in the second inning as Bartlett chased North starting pitcher Sawyer Chambers after 1 innings of work.

“I thought for the first time this season we had confidence at the plate,” Hawks’ coach Chris Pemberton said. “If the other team gives you something you have to take advantage, and we did.”

Vitulli, Nowak and Roberson each finished 3-for-3 with 2 RBI with Vitulli hitting a pair of doubles and Nowak one double. Both Nowak and Ryan Karrick scored 3 runs.

“You’ve just got to stay focused and mentally ready with this weather,” Vitulli said. “You don’t know if you’re going to play on any given day.”

Ben Havel drove in a run in the effort and Justin Blanchett’s 2-run double in the bottom of the fourth inning gave the Hawks the 13-2 lead to end the game after five innings.

Van Dyke said his curveball was effective with the wind, and he allowed 2 earned runs on 7 hits in the complete-game effort. He struck out 6 and walked 1 as he improved to 1-1 bouncing back from a 5-2 loss against St. Charles East in his first varsity start.

“In this weather, you just have to focus and have faith in your defense an faith in your pitches,” said Van Dyke, whose defense committed just one harmless error.

Tim Misner was 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles and a run, and Cory Wright was 2-for-3 with a run for the North Stars. Nick Drawant had an RBI single in the first inning and Kurt Barbeau an RBI single in the second.

The North Stars’ 4 errors led to 7 unearned runs.

“It had nothing to do with the weather,” said North Stars’ coach Todd Genke. “We didn’t do what we’re supposed to do. We did not come prepared, and that’s on me.”