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Simpson, Libertyville eventually top Glenbrook South

After Jimmy Govern led off Libertyville's nonconference baseball game at Glenbrook South by reaching on an error, Conor Simpson took the first pitch for a strike.

Then came thunder.

Not off Simpson's bat, mind you.

Stormy weather forced both teams to take cover. When Saturday's game resumed - 2½ hours later - Simpson stepped into the box again.

Then came more noise - off Simpson's bat. The senior smashed a base hit.

Two batters later, Matt Reed singled both Govern and Simpson in, and Libertyville was on its way to a 9-8 win in Glenview.

Libertyville (8-2) overcame a couple of early deficits, before taking the lead for good in a 5-run third inning.

"It felt good to finally be able to play again (after the weather delays)," said Simpson, who finished 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI. "I swung the bat aggressively and things came out well.

"It's hard to stay focus after a long delay like that," he added.

"Simpson swings at pitches around the plate and he got some key hits for us today," Wildcats coach Jim Schurr said. "He runs so well that he manages to get on base for us almost every time."

Libertyville starting pitcher Andrew Plunkett tossed 2⅓ innings, He gave up 5 runs, 8 hits, struck out seven and walked three.

"It feels good to win after coming back to some nice weather," Plunkett said. "It was difficult to pitch because I had to warm up again, which is never fun, but I try not to let it affect me."

Andrew Mack pitched the final 4 innings. He gave up 1 run on 1 hit, both coming in the seventh.

Down 2-0, Glenbrook South responded in its half of the first, taking a 4-2 lead as Tom O'Hara and Ben Samborn each hit 2-run doubles.

Libertyville pulled even at 4-4 in the second, but Glenbrook South went back ahead at 5-4 in the bottom of the second.

In the third, the Wildcats sent 9 batters to the plate, scoring 5 runs on 3 hits to take a 9-5 lead.

The Titans added two runs in the bottom of the third and one in the seventh. Cody Carroll led off the seventh with a triple and scored on Paul Jones' bunt single.

"We battled back a little bit," said coach Steve Stanicek, whose Titans dropped to 6-3. "We had some opportunities early to score, but in the end we just didn't take advantage, and (Libertyville) made some pretty big plays."

Ben Manski went 2-for-3 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI for Libertyville.

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