Baseball/Fox Valley roundup
South Elgin 5, Conant 4: The visiting Storm scored once in the top of the seventh to tie this nonconference game and once in the eighth to win it. David Goins doubled with one out in the seventh, advance to third on Riley Halter’s groundout and scored the tying run on a wild pitch. Courtesy runner Tyler Christensen scored the winning run on David Palmer’s basehit to center field in the eighth inning. Ryan Nuthof () earned the win with 4 innings of scoreless, 1-hit work in relief of starter Alex Wolfe, who allowed 4 runs (1 earned) on 5 hits. Wolfe and Nuthof combined for 13 strikeouts as South Elgin (6-3) improved to 3-1 in games decided by a run.
Hoffman Estates 9, Larkin 0: The Hawks scored all 9 of their runs with two outs, including a 6-run, first-inning outburst. Sophomore Will King took the loss for Larkin (3-5), which was outhit 12-6.
Lake Park 3, Bartlett 3 (suspended): This Upstate Eight Valley contest was suspended due to darkness in the top of the 11th inning with the teams tied 3-3. Neither starter will factor in the decision. Bartlett ace Colin Nowak allowed 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits in 8 innings. He walked 2 and struck out 4. Lake Park pitcher Rhett Rapshus held the Hawks to 3 earned runs on 8 hits in 7 innings. Nowak was also 3-for-4 at the plate with a solo home run, and Jake Barrutia was 2-for-5 with a double and 2 runs for Bartlett.
Burlington Central 8, Harvard 0: Senior Alex Bell struck out 13 hitters in a 5-hit shutout to lead the Rockets to a Big Northern East road win. Bell (1-1) issued a lone walk in a 95-pitch effort. Mike Lee tripled and drove in 2 run, Drew Wiss tripled and scored a run and Blake Alexander doubled twice in 4 at-bats and scored 3 runs for Burlington Central (5-4, 4-0).
Aurora Central Catholic 3, St. Edward 0: Matt Miller (2-0) fired a 1-hit shutout with 15 strikeouts as Aurora Central (14-1, 7-0) tightened its grip on the Suburban Christian Gold lead. Ryan Nudd’s third-inning leadoff single was the only hit for St. Edward (7-3, 5-2), which received a strong outing from sophomore starting pitcher Jake LaFrenz (2-1). He allowed 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits, walked 3 and struck out 5 in 52⁄3 innings.
Huntley 8, Grayslake North 0: Senior pitcher Bryce Only held an opponent scoreless for a second consecutive start and the Red Raiders supported him with 5 first-inning runs en route to a Fox Valley Conference victory in Huntley. Only held the Knights hitless in 4 scoreless innings. He struck out 6 and issued a lone walk. Jake Wagner pitched 2 scoreless innings and Adam Kalish tossed a scoreless seventh inning for top-ranked Huntley (12-0, 6-0). The offense was paced by Colin Lyman (3-for-4, 2 2B, 2 R), Mark Skonieczny (2-for-4, 2 2B, RBI) and Tommy Kiriakopolus (2-for-3, 3B, RBI). Matt Eney suffered the loss for Grayslake North (5-4, 2-3).
Cary-Grove 9, Johnsburg 1: The Trojans used a 5-run third-inning to post a Fox Valley Conference crossover victory in Cary. Zach Marszal (2-for-2, 3B, 3 RBI), Matt Ewert (2-for-4, 2 2B, RBI) and Jeremy Vasquez (1-for-3, 2 runs, 2 RBI) led the offense. Andrew Brierton (2-1) earned the win by holding the Skyhawks to 1 earned run on 3 hits in 5 innings. Reliever Brandon McCumber pitched 2 scoreless innings for Cary-Grove (11-2, 5-0).
Crystal Lake South 8, Crystal Lake Central 0: Tyler Parquette (2-0) pitched a 4-hit shutout with 3 walks and 2 strikeouts to lead to the Gators to a Fox Valley Conference crossover win over the visiting Tigers. Tyler Hall had 2 hits, including a double, and drove in 2 runs. Tom Gaede went 2-for-3 and scored twice, Jake Bigos was 2-for-4 with 2 runs and Max Meitzler went 1-for-2 with 4 RBI for CL South (9-0, 6-0).
Hampshire 4, McHenry 2: The Whip-Purs used a 4-run third inning to snap a 4-game skid in a Fox Valley Conference road game at Petersen Park. Mike Merchut doubled in the first run of the game and Mike Laramie followed with a 2-run double. Senior right-hander Michael Dumoulin (2-1) limited the Warriors to 2 earned runs on 4 hits in 6 innings. Brandon Wescher pitched a scoreless seventh inning to record his first save for Hampshire (4-5, 1-4). Kyle Snedeker (2-2) took the loss for McHenry (8-6, 3-1), allowing 4 earned runs on 5 hits with 3 walks and 4 strikeouts in 4 innings.